Norwalk BET tentatively approves $451.5M operating budget after hours of public comment on schools, libraries and transit

The Board of Estimate and Taxation on March 26 tentatively approved a $451,458,000 operating budget — a 3.3% increase from the prior year — after a public hearing in which dozens of residents, parents, educators and civic leaders urged increased school funding and protested proposed cuts to libraries and transit.

The vote, taken at the end of the hearing at Norwalk City Hall, passed 6-1. The budget as proposed keeps the Board of Education cap at 4% while setting the city's portion at about 2'+% and will be transmitted as the tentative operating budget to the Common Council for review before final mill-rate decisions in May.

The debate matters because many of the speakers tied the tentative budget's line items to direct services: classroom teachers, counselors and specialized supports for students; part-time library staff who have not received raises in a decade; and Norwalk Transit District services that riders say are at a crossroads as the agency prepares a major network redesign.

Parents and teachers repeatedly urged the BET to back the Board of Education request. David Cahill, identifying himself as a parent, told the board: "Find the money elsewhere. Using the rainy day fund for 4% isn't kicking the can down the road." Several parents and school staff warned of layoffs and program cuts if the BOE did not receive full support; multiple speakers cited a district estimate that roughly 120 teaching positions could be on the line.

Barbara Smith, identified during remarks as Common Council president and an advocate for the Community Resource Hub, told the board the hub "has helped thousands of vulnerable Norwalk residents" and urged the BET to restore funding for the hub's family navigator positions. "I do hope that you will, fully fund the community resource hub. Thank you," she said.

Library advocates asked the board to reinstate $50,000 that, they said, had been removed from the library's part-time staff account. Moina Noor, chair of the Norwalk Public Library Board, said the funds would allow pay increases for 45 part-time workers and noted the library's monthly visitor counts and programming. Michael Paris, a longtime library user, said: "I respectfully asked to ask the the board to, reinstate that $50,000."

Public transit riders and advocates urged the BET not to approve a steep cut to the Norwalk Transit District operating grant. Speakers including Paul Fox and Tanner Thompson said a proposed large reduction would come as NTD implements a comprehensive operational analysis and network redesign set to take effect in August. One commenter said earlier committee discussion had shown a proposed cut from $6.61 to $6.11 (a roughly $50,000 reduction); speakers warned that deeper cuts discussed in other forums would jeopardize the network overhaul and outreach needed for the transition.

Speakers also raised equity concerns and specific budget drivers: food services and busing costs, special education increases, and rising fringe benefit expenses. Elise Williams, speaking as a parent and an accountant, cited line-item increases in the BOE request, saying food services were up 10.6%, busing about 10%, special education 13.6% and health insurance/fringe benefits 18.2%.

Board members discussed process and timing at length before the final vote. Several BET members said they wanted more time to digest the public comments and the list of open items; others noted the charter requirement to forward a tentative operating budget to the Common Council by April 1 and pointed out that line-item adjustments can continue until the mill-rate adoption in May.

Votes at a glance

- Tentative operating budget (fiscal year 2026) — Motion approved, 6-1. Key details: overall increase 3.3% ($451,458,000); Board of Education allocation set at 4% (as proposed). The board recorded one dissent (member Yang) and characterized the approval as the tentative operating budget that will be forwarded to the Common Council for further review before final mill-rate action.

Next steps

The BET's tentative approval sends the budget to the Common Council for its April 1 review; the transcript and speakers at the March 26 hearing made clear several items remain contested and are expected to be revisited in the weeks before final mill-rate adoption in May.