Rosenthal Reviews Budget Requests

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal is poring over numbers this week as he prepares for the annual budget season, which kicks off later this month.

Department budget requests were due at the town’s finance department late last month and are now being reviewed.

Last year’s budget season focused on the Public Works Department, which had its funding “beefed” up in an effort to improve town roads. This year, according to Mr Rosenthal, the emphasis will be on Parks & Recreation and the need for more athletic fields, better equipment and new vehicles.

“They have significant increases, but I plan to meet with (P&R Director) Barbara Kasbarian and (P&R Commission Chairman) Larry Haskel because I don’t see a plan. I don’t want to spend money just to spend money,” Mr Rosenthal said.

This year, the first selectman plans to make formal recommendations to the Board of Selectmen on each department’s spending.

“I decided to become a little bit more of an active leader,” Mr Rosenthal said. “After two years, I have a pretty good idea of their thinking. As the only paid member of the Board of Selectmen, I have an obligation to come to them and say this is what I feel we should fund to follow the mission we have set out to do.”

Of course, as the first selectman points out, the other two selectman may take a different stance on spending.

The Board of Selectmen is expected to begin its budget deliberations later this month.

The Legislative Council will get its first look at the budget in February.