09/22/26 Board of Finance - Budget Committee

The Town of Fairfield Board of Finance Budget Committee met on September 22, 2026, to review budget-process improvements and the schedule for the upcoming budget cycle. Members discussed the calendar issued to department heads, standardized budget narratives, department goals and risks, multi-year trend data, and clearer presentation of personnel costs using a blended benefit-rate assumption (approximately 37%). The committee also discussed monthly departmental run rates, revenue assumptions, and internal budget reviews beginning in December, with public meetings anticipated in February. Members favored continuing to use Google Docs to organize questions and planned to report the committee’s recommendations to the full Board of Finance at its October 6 meeting. The minutes of the July 8, 2026 meeting were approved; no spending or procurement vote was identified.

Discussion touched on the Board of Education budget, potential capital needs, and approximately $900,000 in town-side support spread across roughly 20 agencies, including questions about whether nonprofit funding should be reviewed in a more consolidated or formula-based way. Private-school bus transportation was noted as an existing contract/accounting item, and a firefighter union contract was mentioned as moving toward Board of Selectpersons consideration; neither resulted in a procurement decision at this meeting. No contract award, vendor selection, bid approval, or new purchasing activity was identified.