FAIRFIELD — Fairfield has scheduled a special town meeting for September to reconsider two budget articles voters rejected during the annual town meeting in June.
One article funds an administrative assistant position through the general government spending line item.
The other article covers capital expenses — including computer hardware, town building maintenance, public playgrounds and a state-mandated property revaluation — drawn from the town’s capital reserve budget.
The town’s previous administrative assistant resigned months ago to pursue other interests. Town Manager Michelle Flewelling identified a replacement in May, contingent on voters approving the proposed administrative budget at the annual town meeting. However, voters scuttled that plan when they rejected the funding article.
The town council and budget committee met last week and proposed trimming $28,000 from the two articles. The compromise maintains the administrative assistant as a full-time position but delays hiring until January, saving six months of salary.
The plan cuts $18,416 from general government administration and $10,000 from capital spending.
The new articles coming before voters do not frame the proposals as cuts. Instead, officials present them with the same wording as the original warrants, recommending lower bottom-line spending amounts.
For instance, voters at the annual town meeting originally faced a $1.2 million request for general government administration. The new article requests $1.18 million without specifically mentioning the administrative assistant position.
Meanwhile, the original capital improvement and reserve accounts article sought $260,000.
The new article asks for $250,000, pulling the $10,000 cut from the town’s revaluation reserve account. Reserve spending for the Police Department, Public Works Department and computer equipment remains unchanged, as does $50,000 for town office improvements.
Residents can attend a public hearing on the revised articles at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, at the Fairfield Community Center at 61 Water St.
Voters are slated to consider the revised proposals during a special town budget vote Sept. 8 at the community center, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
