Readers' Guide: 2011-12 Town Budget Tracker

The Board of Education has adopted its $98.3 million budget, and First Selectman Gordon Joseloff is seeking $66 million for town departments in his unofficial budget. Those numbers could be changing as the 2011-12 budget makes its way through local government.

Your tax rate could also be changing if those numbers are approved.

The total budget of $179.3 million is 2.42 percent spending increase, but the Board of Finance has the next say. The town's seven-member fiduciary body has the power to mandate deeper cuts, as they have since the onset of the economic collapse.

Everything from the quality of the schools to the cleanliness of Compo Beach is at stake. This week, the Board of Finance will wrap up informal budget workshops with each of the town departments.

Where We Were, Where We're Going

• Jan. 31 The Board of Education approved a $98.3 million budget, with slight modifications from what Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon proposed.
• Feb. 14-16 (6:30 p.m. in room 309/07 at Town Hall):  With a copy of a yet-to-be finalized version of First Selectman Gordon Joseloff's budget in their hands, the Board of Finance offered workshops with each town department. The $66 million budget is a from the current fiscal year.
• March 2 (Town Hall). This will be a big night. The municipal and education budgets will be presented to the Board of Finance. While there will be no action that night, public discussion is encouraged.
• March 22 (7:30 p.m. Town Hall): Another big night. The Board of Finance will weigh in on the municipal budget. They might be happy with the numbers presented, but that is unlikely. They will probably ask for some cuts. If needed, the meeting will continue on March 23.
• March 24 (7:30 p.m. Town Hall): On this day, it’ll be the same process with the schools. Board of Finance members will debate and discus the merits of the budget, and public input is encouraged. The proposed school budget will either stay as is or shrink.
• April 6 (Town Hall): After the previous Board of Finance meeting, both the schools and the town will weight their options. They can both ask to have money restored to their budgets, which has happened in the last two years. The Board of Finance’s say on the budget is final. Their orders must be followed.
• May 2-4 (Town Hall): This is the final (and most grueling) step before the budgets are finally approved. The Representative Town Meeting has the final say, and they have the power to make recommendations about what should happen to the budget. In the past two years, motions to restore money to the budget failed because of not enough votes in the town’s legislative body. Public discussion is not only encouraged at the meeting, but expected. It’s the final chance to speak up.

• May 18 (Town Hall): This is a quick and quiet meeting, but still important. The Board of Finance will set the tax rates for the 2011-12 fiscal year. How much –or how little – you pay will be determined on this night.

This guide is based on the "," which was published in January.