How Democratic leadership is transforming Greenwich’s fiscal management and saving you money
For years, Greenwich’s fiscal strategy quietly ran on autopilot. Through a passive routine known as “incrementalism,” town departments were accustomed to asking for simple, flat percentage increases year after year. Nobody was asking whether the original spending baseline was actually necessary, effective, or aligned with modern needs. Over time, this hands-off approach allowed budget inefficiency to creep in undetected, leaving some departments overfunded while others were stretched dangerously thin.
That cycle ended when Democratic leadership took the helm of the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET), introducing a ground-up shift toward modern, data-driven fiscal management. The change in management was immediate when in early 2026, the board voted unanimously 12–0 to trim more than $6 million in excess from the First Selectman’s initial proposal. By diving into the details and collaborating directly with department heads, they eliminated waste while protecting the town’s essential public services and preserving Greenwich’s status as the municipality with the lowest mill rate in Connecticut.
The auto-pilot is off
Building on that momentum, the BET secured a near-unanimous 11–0–1 bipartisan vote to institute a bold new strategic framework for the FY28 budget cycle. Under this modern blueprint, automatic budget roll-forwards will be phased out. Future funding requests will begin to be grounded in real, historical spending data rather than abstract “budget-to-budget” comparisons, and staffing levels will strictly reflect measurable changes in service demand. Departments are also auditing long-unadjusted service fees against actual delivery costs and neighboring towns, ensuring local taxpayers no longer subsidize out-of-date rates.
To ensure these operational improvements endure, Democratic leadership spearheaded by Laura Erickson resulted in a unanimous 12–0 update to the town Policy Manual which is the first comprehensive refresh of Greenwich’s governance guidelines in years. Armed with modern standards, the town is actively pursuing forward-looking investments designed to shrink long-term operating costs. These include adopting AI tools for routine administrative tasks to auditing software and exploring dedicated energy management to tackle the town’s $10 million annual utility bill.
By passing these guidelines early in July, the BET gave department heads the runway they need to build thoughtful, structural efficiency directly into their proposals. Greenwich taxpayers will be served well by a pathway to a predictable, stable tax environment where every dollar spent will be backed by performance metrics, clear value, and a modern commitment to fiscal integrity.
The Democratic-led BET is delivering the change in management they promised, saving taxpayers time and money.
Two Republicans just resigned as Camillo’s legal attacks on the BOE continue
It’s time to end the moot suit
In the past week, two Republican members of the Greenwich Board of Education (BOE) resigned, including the board’s chairman.
Their departures come as First Selectman Fred Camillo’s lawsuit against the whole BOE nears the two-year mark. The court case has placed volunteer board members under enormous stress, distracted the board from their duties, raised fears about potential personal legal exposure, driven down morale, and already cost Greenwich taxpayers more than $500,000 in legal fees, with trial not scheduled to start until spring of 2027 at the earliest.
These board members are volunteers who stepped up to serve our community and our schools. Public servants should not be trapped in a lawsuit with the town. Our tax dollars should not be used to attack volunteers who are serving our community.
And for what?
The underlying dispute that triggered the lawsuit is now moot. Yet the First Selectman’s litigation continues, the legal bills keep growing, and the toll on the people serving our town is becoming increasingly clear. And it’s not just the BOE—every town volunteer is at risk.
The harm is mounting and Fred Camillo can drop the case whenever he wants. He should do so now.
What we’re reading
Recent heavy rainfalls remind us of the continuing threat of flash flooding and the importance of infrastructure repairs. Recently, the needed repairs on two bridges in Byram came into sharp focus. U.S. Representative Jim Himes, U.S.Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal along with U.S. Representative George Latimer of New York sent a joint letter to the commander of the New York district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to urge quick action to repair these bridges.
Stories abound as to how Dumpling Pond in North Mianus got its name. Greenwich’s Lisa Figlioli traces the tales in this enchanting story published in the Journal of the American Revolution.
Action Calendar
August 7. Walk with trees.
Join the Greenwich Tree Conservancy and Greenwich Conservation Commission at 9 a.m. for a one-hour walk with ecologist Neil Pederson as he discusses the history of Connecticut forests and what we can learn from our trees. Register here. Mianus River Park, Cognewaugh Road entrance.
August 8. Stay healthy.
Get a free health screening, connect with local health services, and enjoy food, refreshments, entertainment and activities for all ages at the Family Centers Community Health Fair, 1-3 p.m., 75 Holly Hill Lane.
August 11. Vote.
September 13. Campaign Kickoff picnic.
For an afternoon of food, conversation, and community, meet local, state and federal leaders, connect with neighbors, and help us build critical momentum for the upcoming election. Click here to sign up and purchase tickets. 12 noon–3 p.m., Clambake Area, Greenwich Point Park, Old Greenwich.
September 13. Learn.
| Volume 5, Number 6 • August 6, 2026 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |