Is it really about fiscal controls or a power grab?

Last Monday, the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting (RTM) passed a non-binding resolution (SOMR) criticizing the Town Finance Board (BET) for inadequate financial planning. The RTM warned that the town’s current capital spending plan risks breaching policy guidelines and could face a “fiscal cliff” within three years. To address this, the RTM urged the BET to involve all RTM members earlier in the budget process, suggesting September as a starting point.

RTM should stay in its lane. This proposal for earlier RTM involvement conflicts with the Town Charter, which intentionally limits the role of the 230 member RTM to the latter months of the budget process. This limitation likely reflects the impracticality and inefficiency of involving such a large body in the early stages of planning. Anyway, two RTM committees already collaborate with the BET during the early stages of budget preparation.

Who is really fiscally prudent? The BET consists of 12 elected members—six Republicans and six Democrats—with the chairperson from the majority party (currently Republican) having the tie-breaking vote. Democrats, who support higher taxes to cover the desire to spend more, find themselves at odds with the controlling Republicans, who want spending discipline and limited tax increases.

Between the Lines: While it's a good discussion, much of this appears to be political posturing in anticipation of upcoming elections.

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