Coronavirus Update-Revised Budgets, Discussion of Education and the Ability to Reopen, Testing Expanded, New Unemployment Data, Eat Local/Win Local Winners & Case Data

May 10th–Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers!  

Today, the Board of Selectmen received a number of emails about possible reductions to the Library and Trackside grants.  I understand resident concerns, as I am and have been a donor to both organizations. Unfortunately, we are at a time, which may require shared sacrifices.  I am sharing my response to those emails, so all taxpayers have the same facts:   

The Board of Selectman is required to make reductions to the submitted budgets because we now have Coronavirus pandemic related expenses, not previously included in the FY2021 submitted budget.  In addition, the Board of Finance has requested we provide revised budgets which are flat to FY2020 and 2%, 5% and 10% less than the current FY2020 budget.  The Board of Finance, which is responsible for setting the FY2021 budget, has expressed concerns about residents’ ability to pay property taxes, Town liquidity issues if residents don’t pay their taxes and the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic.

In preparing the new proposed budgets,  Town departments and I needed to prioritize spending, with an emphasis on necessary spending to allow the Town to continue to adequately address the emergency and to ensure continuation of necessary services that serve the entire community.

The first recommended and voluntary reduction was a $30,000 or 21.6% cut to my salary, both as an act of leadership, but also as a reflection of the 15% to 20% estimated current unemployment rate in Wilton and the loss of income happening in many Wilton households.

To achieve a flat budget, $757,000 of proposed cuts were made to previously submitted Town department budgets, which translates into reductions in services and the elimination of all new initiatives including Schenck’s Island and the clearing of the Norwalk River along River Road. A $56,000 proposed cut was made to the Library‘s previously approved grant and a proposed $10,000 cut to Trackside’s previously approved grant. 

To achieve a 2% budget reduction, $1,271,000 of proposed cuts were made to the previously submitted Town department budgets, which translates into reductions in employees, widespread reduction in employee hours and further reductions in services,  $157,000 in cuts to the Library grant and $65,000 in cuts to the Trackside grant.  The Library was prioritized over Trackside as it services the entire community, while Trackside services a small segment of the community.

The town department heads and I did not take this task lightly.  No one wants to cut services and no one wants a reduction in pay, but we are in unprecedented times with much uncertainty.

The following are links to the proposed Town Department reductions and the Wilton Library and Trackside responses to possible budget cuts.  After you have had an opportunity to review the documents, I would sincerely be interested in your thoughts.

https://www.wiltonct.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif10026/f/agendas/budget_adjm...

https://www.wiltonct.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif10026/f/agendas/wlaresubmis...

https://www.wiltonct.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif10026/f/agendas/tracksidere...

Tomorrow a roundtable is being held with CT education leaders to discuss the impact of the virus on the State’s education system and its ability to reopen. Residents are encouraged to send questions to reopen@ct.gov in advance of the discussion.  The discussion is being live streamed on the CT Network.

In case you missed Thursday’s announcement, a doctor’s order is no longer required for Coronavirus testing. In addition, pharmacists can now order and administer testing.  CVS currently manages the free rapid test center in New Haven.  As more information becomes available about other test sites, it will be shared in future updates. 

CT Department of Labor provided further information on initial unemployment claims by the Town of Wilton.  The information is based on 293,959 statewide initial claims filed or only 61% of the 477,000 new claims filed since the start of the pandemic.  The Wilton unemployment rate with only 61% claims provided is 13%.  When including the remaining 39% of claims and those filed in NYS, as employees must file in the state in which they work, not where they live, we anticipate the actual unemployment rate for Wilton residents is between 15% and 20%.

This week’s winners of Eat Local/Win Local are Steve Gottschalk, Gail Latone, Melissa Roos and Christine Slone.  Congratulations and thank you for supporting Wilton restaurants.  You will be contacted by my assistant Jackie. 

Today, CT DPH reported 33,554 or 570 new laboratory-confirmed statewide cases.  Of those 13,236 and 206 new cases were in Fairfield County and 180 cases in Wilton.  300 cases have not yet been assigned to a municipality.  

Statewide, deaths rose by 35 to 2,967.  Deaths in Fairfield County rose by 7 to 1,024.

Statewide hospitalizations decreased by 59 patients to 1,242 and Fairfield County hospitalizations decreased by 21 to 403.  Patients now hospitalized in Fairfield County is approximately the same number as on April 3rd

Today, the Governor did not issue a new executive order.

What are the most important things you can do to protect yourself and others?

  • Unless you have a health condition that prevents wearing a face covering, comply with the Governor’s executive order and wear a face covering while in public, whether outside or in a retail outlet and when you can can’t maintain 6 feet distance from any other individual.
  • While out running or walking, if you aren’t wearing a face covering, maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others running or walking on the same road, sidewalk or trail. 

As always, if you have any questions, please email the appropriate town department or me at lynne.vanderslice@wiltonct.org.

Thank you,

Lynne Vanderslice

First Selectwoman

Visual of Connecticut Cases by Town