Weston Financiers To Review Town Budget Tonight

Weston's financiers will review the town's proposed operating and capital budgets for the 2013-2014 fiscal year tonight before looking over the schools' budget proposal tomorrow. 

As it stands now, the budget basics are as follows:

• The Weston Board of Education unanimously approved a $46.29 million budget in January, which represents a 1.55 percent increase over the current budget. (Citing increased per pupil expenditures and a budget increase despite declining enrollment, the selectmen are recommending a reduction of $100,000 to that number.)
• First Selectman Gayle Weinstein proposed a $11.69 million town budget, which represents an increase of 3.32 percent over the current budget.
• Weinstein recommended a capital budget of $733,728, which represents a 36 percent decrease from the current budget.
• Weinstein recommended $6.554 million for debt service, a decrease of $262,268 from the current amount.
• When combined, the town and capital budgets and debt service represent an overall decrease in the town's spending from 2012-2013 to 2013-2014 of $37,433, according to Weinstein.

According to Weinstein, when combined, the town's total budget request for 2013-2014 is $65.65 million. If approved as is, the mill rate would rise from $20.02 to $20.16. If the selectmen's recommend school budget reduction of $100,000 came to fruition, the mill rate would settle at $20.12. 

The detailed town budget request can be seen here. 

Both meetings are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room at town hall.