Wilton budget likely to fall

WILTON – With the town facing a decline in revenues of almost 13 percent, the town Budget Committee has scaled back spending as much as possible, according to member Mark Whitehill. While the budget will not be finalized until after the public budget hearing Wednesday, preliminary figures show a decline in the operating budget of about 2.6 percent.

The hearing will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall courtroom.

The decrease in revenue is mainly from state sources, Whitehill said.

Except for a request for $10,000 for an engineering study of the Mill Brook Dam, “there is nothing else unusual,” Whitehill said.

Because “future expenses won’t go away,” a contribution is being made to all of the town’s existing capital reserve funds for equipment and infrastructure. “We have to put something away,” he said. “And this year, we are taking very little out.”

Changes in the budget can be made at the public hearing, where questions can be asked.

– JESSIE SALISBURY