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Summit Examines Town's Debt

Everyone needs to plan carefully when taking on debt in this economic climate, and the Town of Fairfield is no exception. First Selectman Kenneth Flatto and the Board of Finance held a summit Monday night with members of the Board of Education, Public Works Director Richard White and members of the Representative Town Committee to discuss Flatto's rough plans for selling bonds over the next five years.

"This meeting is not to review specific projects," said finance board chair Thomas Flynn. "Our goal is to review the First Selectman's plan in an open forum, and to pressure-test it."

Based on capital repair projects suggested by the school board and the DPW, Flatto created a rough plan in which the town would take on $30 million in new debt over the next five years. Flatto factored in projects such as renovations to Penfield Pavilion, school maintenance, repairing the fire department's training facilities, improving the town's bridges and upgrading Fairfield Woods Library. Under the plan, more than $27 million of Fairfield's budget would go toward debt repayment by 2016, up from $23 million this year.

RTM members in attendance were concerned about one portion of Flatto's plan – the process for prioritizing projects. For example, the Board of Education submitted a long-term projection for about $27 million in renovations. Flatto's plan accounted for about $19 million in work, assuming that budget constraints would limit the projects the town could complete, but did not choose specific cuts.

Selectman James Walsh agreed with the RTM members that Flatto should be more clear about his criteria for deciding which projects to undertake. "Without priorities, it's going to be anyone's guess how we're going to spend $30 million over five years," Walsh said.

Flatto responded, "We can't really predict the priorities beyond what we know today."

The few residents who spoke during Monday's summit were against any bonding at all, fearing higher tax rates as the town is forced to pay down its debt. "If you keep spending more money, I will have to leave this town," said Gaylord Meyer of Spruce Street. "I am mad because I cannot pay the taxes."

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