The Newtown Bee had the opportunity to sit in on an interview with First Selectman Bruce Walczak and Superintendent of Schools Anne Uberti discussing the proposed 2026-27 municipal and school budgets during a recording of the Two Guys And A Pint podcast on Tuesday, May 12.

The two officials bantered with podcast co-hosts Gavin Arneth and Brian Hartgraves for roughly 40 minutes on the upcoming budget referendum, to be held from 6 am to 8 pm Tuesday, May 19 at Newtown Middle School.

When asked if she was ready to talk budgets, Uberti stated she was, and she had been talking budgets for a "solid six months." She said her budget process starts in October with the school principals, and goes on until early January when she presents her first draft of the school budgets to the Board of Education.

She also noted that the school budget is large and complicated, and that the schools are "not granted a budget like a company," the voters have to vote to approve it.

Walczak noted that the referendum was "really one of the times" residents have to "really impact" their day to day lives with their votes.

"You don't get any closer than how the town spends your tax dollars," said Walczak.

Walczak discussed the turnout and said he felt that the 82% of the voters that did not come out to the April 28 referendum (that referendum had a turnout of 18%) were likely "happy with how things are."

Uberti said she felt the town and schools presented a "respectable budget," with data to back up the needs presented. She said that when a budget doesn't pass, "It's a blow."

"We're stuck when there is no budget," said Uberti, noting that until a budget is passed things can't move forward for the district because they don't know what may be removed from the budget and what will remain.

Arneth asked the two about the budget process, which Uberti had already addressed. Walczak noted for him, he also crafts his budget prior to January 1, working with town department heads.

The town budget then faces the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance, and then finally the Legislative Council, before going to voters.

"At each step there are always cuts and it can be painful to watch," said Walczak. "You go to meetings and they say you got it wrong, and when you go to voters and they turn it down, it's devastating."

Uberti agreed that watching the budget be cut "hurts," because she "believe[s] in what [she] put in the budget."

Arneth asked the two what the big drivers were this year in the budget.

Uberti said that 2026-27 was very different from 2025-26, because in last year's budget there was a large increase in the town's and school's self-insurance that had to be made up. This year, Uberti said, was a "rollover budget," meaning it was largely just driven by increases in salaries and benefits. She said 80% of her budget was salaries and benefits, and most contracts increased by three percent, making up much of the 3.3% spending increase. Additionally, inflation was 3.2% over the last year.

Uberti said her budget contained new positions, but most of those were for special education, and there are legal requirements for what the town needs to do to supplement special education. She also said the PAL (Program for Adaptive Learning) program has been growing. Six years ago there were only five participants and now there are 20, and those non-verbal students require one-to-one learning from staff. She said it is "huge savings" for taxpayers to teach them in-system rather than to bus them elsewhere.

"The program has grown exponentially and it needs help," said Uberti.

Uberti also noted that the school system finally got increased Educational Cost Sharing from the state after that had stagnated for roughly 20 years. She noted Connecticut is unusual in that a lot of education is paid for locally rather than by the state.

Walczak also noted that his budget increased due to three percent salary increases, and that his budget contains an extra emergency staffer and an extra police officer as both are short staffed. His budget is responsible for Parks & Recreation, snow plowing, garbage, and "all the pieces that make the town run."

As to the $470,000 in cuts to his budget following the budget not passing on April 28, Walczak said he felt the council "made a sincere effort to minimize impact to the taxpayers" and there "wasn't much room to cut."

Uberti said her budget was cut by $400,000, and cut by $125,000 prior to the referendum for a total of $525,000. She said she had a list of possible cuts she would recommend to the Board of Education should the budget be cut at certain levels: $200,000, $300,000, and $500,000. However, they would not vote on any cuts until a final budget was approved.

Arneth asked both officials what they felt the biggest myths about the budgets are — Walczak said "the budget is going to go down someday," and Uberti said "that the budgets are padded."

When asked to give one word to describe Newtown residents, Walczak said "concerned" and Uberti said "respectful."

When asked one thing they'd like to erase from Newtown, Uberti said "social media" and Walczak said "traffic congestion."

They were asked to give a movie title they felt summed up budget season, and Uberti said "Gauntlet" while Walczak answered "Gladiator."

Those wishing to listen to the full Two Guys And A Pint podcast may do so at bit.ly/42R75ch.

Walczak noted the full budget is available for review at newtown-ct.gov/finance-department/pages/budget-2026-2027. Walczak also noted that he and Finance Director Glenys Salas were always willing to sit down and answer questions regarding the budget.

Information on absentee ballots may be found at newtown-ct.gov/town-clerk/pages/absentee-ballots-are-available-budget-referendum-tuesday-may-19-2026.

Editor Jim Taylor may be reached at jim@thebee.com.