Preston panel hears $880,000 budget increase driven by personnel, benefits and Riverwalk planning

First Selectwoman Sandra Allyn-Gauthier presented Preston’s proposed 2026–2027 Town Government budget on March 25, telling the Board of Finance the plan reflects an approximately $880,000 increase driven primarily by rising personnel and benefit costs. She said the proposal includes a 3.5% wage increase pool intended to help retain and recruit municipal employees.

Gauthier highlighted more than $24 million in grant awards the town has secured across economic development, infrastructure, recreation, general government, health and public safety. Major grants cited included a $5.4 million Transportation Alternatives Program award and roughly $1.5 million in bridge-related funding. Officials said those grants reduce the need to borrow for several capital projects and pointed to an illustrative comparison that borrowing similar amounts over 20 years at about 3.85% would yield roughly $9.7 million in interest costs.

Officials told the board Preston currently operates with about 33 full-time equivalent positions across town departments and relies on cross-training, shared positions and regional partnerships to provide services. Gauthier said Riverwalk — described as the largest regional economic development project in decades — will create additional recurring staffing needs across several departments, including the Selectmen’s Office, Assessor, Treasurer/Finance, Planning and Zoning, and a new Water Pollution Control line. She said some Redevelopment Agency expenses are expected to fall when Riverwalk conveys, but that a delay in conveyance could keep certain costs higher for longer.

Budget drivers discussed included rising healthcare and pension costs, employees moving from single to family plans, and inflationary pressures on goods and utilities. Officials noted several smaller appropriations in the draft budget, including $25,000 for the next property revaluation and modest funding for early voting operations, open space and municipal advisory needs. The town also plans to continue pursuing grant funding and to show CIRMA member equity distributions as revenue in the current budget.

Chairman Andrew Sawyer and other board members questioned whether voters will accept the combined increase when the Town and Board of Education budgets are taken together. Sawyer said many requests appeared reasonable but that the cumulative effect of personnel additions, benefit increases and road work could be difficult for taxpayers to support. The board discussed phasing or postponing some Riverwalk-driven staffing if conveyance is delayed.

The meeting closed after a public-comment period in which resident Andy Depta praised the presentation as “one of the best and most understandable budget presentations the Town had seen” and asked that electronic copies of the updated budget documents be made available; officials said the materials were posted to the town website and could be provided electronically on request. The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.