Meetings begin on North Stonington's fourth budget bid

North Stonington - The Board of Finance held the first of two meetings Wednesday night to set the budget for the current fiscal year in its fourth attempt to pass it at a town referendum.

The board reviewed notes from Monday night's community dialogue in which taxpayers shared their views on what they would like to see in this round of revisions. Board members agreed that there must be more visibility both in the budget revisions as well as generally with government processes in town.

"They want to see stewardship, they want to see governance," said finance board Chairman Dan Spring, later adding that the board has to "demonstrate the numbers."

Spring sid the board must keep public safety a priority in the budget based on resident concerns, and that clearer communication is necessary on how money is spent on infrastructure and repairs in town, such as with the under-construction Town Hall Bridge.

Discussion continued past press deadline. The next finance board meeting will be Sept. 26. A town meeting regarding the budget will be held Oct. 15, one week before the Oct. 22 referendum.