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Board of Finance approves FY 2025–26 budget adjustments, reduces vehicle and PPE funding
Summary
The board voted to adopt adjustments to reach the adopted FY 2025–26 budget figure, cutting vehicle replacement funding and reducing other line items; pension ARC remains funded but partial restoration was deferred.
The Torrington Board of Finance on Aug. 19 approved a package of budget adjustments intended to bring the fiscal 2026 budget to the adopted total of $71,865,471.
The adjustments included cuts and reallocations across multiple departments. City staff said vehicle replacement funding was reduced to $600,000 (down from prior planning levels of $800,000 and earlier proposals near $1 million). Personal protective equipment funding was reduced to $35,000. Staff also reduced contingency and management operations line items to shave additional dollars.
City officials said the annual required contribution (ARC) for pensions will be met in full; the previously planned phased restoration of an earlier pension cut will be slowed so that the final tranche of the multi-year restoration will not be completed this year. The administration reported that investment performance has improved funding ratios since the earlier cuts, which influenced the decision to delay the final restoration tranche.
Other adjustments cited by staff: modest savings from staffing changes in purchasing and the fire department (noting one retirement), a reduction to recreational portable-toilet contract costs after lower bids, and a modest reduction in some capital outlay items after capital reserve reconciliation. The package also relies in part on $5 million of fund balance shown in the fiscal plan.
The motion to approve the FY 2025–26 budget adjustments passed unanimously (motion made by San Macedo; seconded by Wendy Trapp). Board members thanked finance staff for the detailed work identifying more than $850,000 in adjustments and noted the difficulty of making small cuts while protecting core services.
Board members asked to be kept informed of ongoing budget monitoring and of any items that could affect overtime lines and other high-variance accounts.
