Branford's Board of Finance (BOF) undertakes three nights of budget hearings this week as it works toward making its recommendation to the Representative Town Meeting regarding a new town budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

Town Finance Director James Finch shared a copy of the budget document which will go under review beginning with tonight's meeting, March 14, 7 p.m. at Branford Fire Headquarters.  On its way to review, the proposed 2016-17 budget comes in with a 3.5 percent increase to create a bottom line of $107,246,839; with some $94.44 million of that expected to be covered from tax revenue. As it stands, the proposed 2016-17 town budget would increase the current mill rate from 26.93 mills to 27.70 mills.  A copy of the 2016-17 requested budget appears with this story.

Following tonight's budget hearing, the BOF will reconvene March 15 at 7 p.m. and again March 17 at 7 p.m. at Branford Fire Headquarters to continue its review.

Tonight's hearings will include budget presentations for the town's parks, human resources and labor relations, animal control, police services, fire services, recreation department, employee group insurance, municipal insurance and pensions and contributions, among others.

Tuesday night's budget hearings will include anticipated expenses for areas including economic development, inland wetlands and natural resources, planning and zoning, zoning board of appeals, engineering, public works, solid waste management and recycling, municipal buildings, information technology, principal debt service and interest debt service, among others.

On March 17, the BOF will hear from the town's two libraries (Blackstone and Willoughby Wallace), adult education, school age child care and the Board of Education (BOE). In February, the BOE voted to recommend a $54.28 million budget for 2016-17, which is an increase of approximately 2 percent over the current budget. That budget will now be reviewed by the BOF.