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By KARA O'CONNOR

Villager Staff Writer


WILTON -- The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a $29,288,989 operations and capital budget request Monday for fiscal year 2011, a 2.67 percent increase over the current fiscal year.

The requested operations budget, $27,957,184, represents a 1.87 increase over FY '10, while the requested capital budget, $1,331,805, is 23 percent higher than FY '10.

"During the weeks of department budget reviews, every effort was made to reduce operating expenditures," said First Selectman Bill Brennan in a statement issued from his office. "Almost all of Wilton's departments requests reflected a flat or minor increase over the year."

Capital funds are used to replace vehicles, pave roads, and purchase mandated safety equipment, according to the statement. Brennan also said in the statement that these funds cannot be indefinitely deferred, and an increase was required for the 2011 budget.

The Board of Selectman recognize the economic stress in the community, the statement reads, the statement continues, and believe that this budget request balances operating cost efficiencies while maintaining services to the community.

The Board of Selectmen also approved the 2011-2015 Capital Improvements Program on Monday, which is a detailed five-year projection of expected capital expenditures. The program includes projects primarily for town and school facilities and equipment, such as new information technology, vehicle replacement and renovations for town facilities.

According to Brennan, the budget process is far from over.

"The budget is not approved at this point," said Brennan in an e-mail. "The 2.67 percent increase proposed by the Board of Selectmen will now go to the Board of Finance."

The Board of Selectmen's budget will be forwarded to the Board of Finance on Friday, March 5 and both will meet on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall to review and discuss the budget.

On Thursday, March 25, the Board of Finance will hold a public hearing on the selectmen's budget. The voters will have the final say on the budget on Tuesday, May 4.

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