Norwalk budget review: mayor to fill DEI post despite state legal challenge; city departments outline costs

Norwalk Mayor Rilling said the city intends to fill its vacant Diversity, Equity and Inclusion position while department heads presented proposed fiscal year 2026 budgets to the Board of Estimate and Taxation during a March 4 informational meeting.

The meeting, held as part of the board’s multi-night budget review, included line-item walkthroughs from finance staff and presentations by corporation counsel, registrar of voters, fire and police department leaders, and human resources. No formal votes were taken; the session was designated informational and public comment was not permitted.

The DEI position drew direct attention when Tom Livingston, staff leading the budget review, and Mayor Rilling discussed whether the role would be filled amid a pending legal challenge. Mayor Rilling said, “It is my intention to fill the spot. We're proceeding very carefully.” He added of the state action, “I don't like being bullied. And this is a bully tactic,” and said the city will move forward despite uncertainty about the outcome of litigation referenced by the mayor as involving the state attorney general.

Why this matters: the mayor’s decision sets the administration’s personnel direction while a state-level legal dispute is unresolved. Filling the post would affect the mayor’s departmental salary and benefit lines and signals the administration’s approach to DEI work as departments finalize their FY26 requests.

Key budget takeaways

- Overall guidance and salary adjustments: Tom…