Table of Contents
FY'20:  Weston Budget Process, now over, as described by LWV of Weston publication
What is the FY'20 final number (s) for Westonites?
MIL RATE 32.37, COLLECTION RATE 98%

MACHINE VOTE MAY 4th 12 noon to 8pm, Town Hall.  Town 371-162, School 332-202, Capital Budget 370-162 - all over except setting of mil rate
NO QUORUM (101 present) for A.T.B.M. APRIL 24, 2019, 8pm, WESTON HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

Town Budget - $15,000 cut (police budget).  $13,452,745 final number
School Budget - $393,000 cut.  $53,073,710 final number
Capital Budget Town - "'tires slashed" (proverbially) - no new 3 axle truck replacement - $470,300 final number
Capital Budget School - $28,000 W.M.S. gym floor cut.  $1,356,129 final number

• Board of Finance introduced themselves - 2 of 6 present were new faces since last year.
• Both First Selectman and Board of Education Chair. responded to questions asked...
• 9 individuals spoke/asked questions.  Roads (deterioration) and transfer station hours "hot" issues.
  
• As well as what if Hartford worst case scenario comes to pass - plan B?  Effect on education budget (and worse)?
  
• Dog Park losing side questions if this item appears in the FY'20 budget ($$ for appeal in courts the only expense).

BOARD OF FINANCE REVIEW OVER

• Board of Selectmen's Budget review March 4 and 5 if necessary, 7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
• Board of Education Budget review March 6 and 7 if necessary, 7:30pm Town Hall Meeting Room
• PUBLIC HEARING:  Tuesday, March 26th at 8pm, W.M.S. Library (and 27th if necessary, as well)
• Tuesday April 2nd, Board of Finance "deliberation meeting" - not held on Monday, April first.
  
• Wednesday, April 24th, A.T.B.M. at 8pm, W.H.S. Auditorium (quorum of 130 required in order to hold the meeting)
• Referendum: Saturday May 4th, 12 noon to 8pm, Town Hall
  
• Board of Finance meets May 9th to set mil rate.

FINANCE REVIEW OF SELECTMEN (MONDAY MARCH 4)
Should be interesting...and perhaps instructive of any direction to be taken elsewhere...

WE FOUND OUT FROM 3 SOURCES NOW THAT THE LIBRARY RECEIVED A POSITIVE 8-24 AT P&Z (conflict with.

• About Town watched the Board of Finance as they reviewed the Board of Selectmen's budget ...follow along HERE - this was exactly what was shown.
• Discussion ensued. 
  
• Chairman of the Finance Board invited everyone in town to attend the March 12th meeting of the Finance Board - who will be joined by the Board of Education and the Selectmen at 7:30pm at the W.M.S. Library.
• Although we only watched live for an hour plus (Tuesday morning we watched the rest online), it seemed clear to me that the members were furious, suspicious and ready to take on the "Progressives" at C.G.A.

(R) New Canaan Tea House - watercolor M.S. Wirtenberg
Time for another "Tea Party?"  And we're referring to the pre-American Revolution Boston Tea Party,

• As noted above, Tuesday we watched the rest of this just a bit under 3 hour meeting Finance Board meeting - perhaps we should charge for admission on Wednesday?
• (L) Retaining legal assistance to determine for ourselves as a region what is Constitutionally out of line in Hartford (my words), prior to engaging in legal action might be a course of action...
• Will this be done and end up in the U.S. Supreme Court some day?
  

FINANCE REVIEW OF EDUCATION (WEDNESDAY MARCH 6)

Finance Board MARCH 6, 2019:  To be continued?  Nope!

• Board of Finance votes to set up account for architectural service ($108,000) for Fire/EMS/Police project, and begins review of school budget.
• Board of Education stands squarely behind their budget...with who knows what coming down the pike from the Legislature...
• Will this be the year when the sky falls in and the State passes along teacher retirement onto Towns?  What was that Elizabeth Barrett Browning line?
• I can recall a freshman English assignment that required taking "Modest Proposal" (Swift) and applying it to a different set of facts - I got an "F" because I was too creative (envisioning the absurdity of launching refrigerators to the moon).  Not so absurd now?
  

     
We left at 9:35pm, when some school administrators did...
Bottom line:  Nobody likes it.  Board of Education won't budge.  Probably will continue Thursday with detailed review - nope!!!.

         
Are some thinking of suggesting selling tickets to the Board of Finance Public Hearing March 26th?  How about the "Deliberation Meeting" in MSG?
Finance takes a close look (but not too close...).  Board of Ed called on what they have achieved in keeping cost steady at 2% and the answer was make that 4% (my version of the answer). 

BACKGROUND READING:

FROM KEN DIXON:  https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/One-percent-tax-would-hit-one-percenters-hardest-13665808.php

• THE OFFICIAL REPORT:  Board of Education approves Superintendent's budget 1-24-19, minus $200k:  http://www.weston-today.com/#trim
• Board of Selectmen approved First Selectman's Budget Feb. 11, 2019.
  

• HOW WILL STATE OF CONNECTICUT'S OFF-LOADING OF TEACHER RETIREMENT AFFECT THIS?

• AT THE SELECTMEN  MON. FEB. 4 - NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN

• PRIOR TO THURSDAY'S VOTING...1-24-19.  POWER POINT of Board of Education FY'20 budget:  https://www.westonps.org/uploaded/FY_20_Budget_Presentation_1-16-2019_WSM_FINAL_EDITS_(4).pdf

Board of Education approves a FY'20 budget.1-24-19..

• WHAT HAPPENED?  5-2 vote in favor of 3.93% increase instead 0f 4.32% (thank you, Weston-Today.com).
• Board of Ed can't read tea leaves - word of shift in tax burden coming Monday at Finance Board meeting?
  
• Thursday vote on staff-proposed budget - proposed cut areas; looks as if there will be capital projects added on top of operating budget...
  
• What's up this week?  EDUCATION BUDGET discussion prior to meeting...if you are not up to reading the fine print, check out the power point!
• Well, the Board of Education, having posted Budget Q&A on its website (via CABE) is receiving comments on Jan. 22nd at 6pm prior to its Regular meeting at 7:30pm (WMS Library, we assume)
• With the request for Security funds not included in the Capital Budget, is the Board of Ed telling the Selectmen in Exec Session to watch out for an incoming Special Appropriation request in FY'20?
  

• DETAILS BY DEPARTMENT
• CAPITAL BUDGET (TOWN & SCHOOL)