At a public hearing on March 4, Old Saybrook residents received a presentation on the current status of the proposed town budget. The Board of Finance (BOF) will now deliberate on the proposal.

An initial $51,440,042 budget proposal in Old Saybrook for 2024-’25 calls for an increase of $1,163,298 over the previous year’s spending, an increase of 2.31%.

The total budget consists of a town budget and an education budget. The proposed town budget is $21,634,724, an increase of $187,486 or .87%. The proposed education budget is $29,805,318, an increase of $975,812 or 3.38%.

In a budget overview document available on the town website, First Selectman Carl Fortuna said that proposed capital projects include a 14-seat van for youth and family services, cameras installed at park and recreation locations, new windows and clapboard on the mini-golf booth, resurfacing pickleball courts, a clivus bathroom at Maple Avenue, a shed on Maple Avenue, an awning on the Vicky Duffy Pavilion, and concrete placement at Saybrook Point.

With the public hearing now out of the way, the BOF has control of the budget and can make alterations to it.

The Public Hearing

The hearing featured a presentation about the town and education budgets, followed by a period for members of the public to weigh in.

During the public hearing, a handful of residents voiced their opinions on the proposed budget.

Nobody in attendance was strongly against the budget, but some had critiques. Carolyn Lyle spoke on behalf of the group SOS Trees and encouraged the town to look into planting more trees around town. Her comments were echoed by other speakers. Meanwhile, several other speakers spoke of a desire to see more affordable housing, particularly as the town's population ages.

The hearing served as the final public meeting for out going superintendent Jan Perruccio. Fortuna thanked Perruccio for her work over the last 10 years, and the meeting ended with those in attendance giving Perruccio a standing ovation.