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Waterford selectmen tentatively approve $54.3 million FY27 budget; 2-1 split on pension and capital items
Summary
On Feb. 10 the Waterford Board of Selectmen tentatively approved a $54,307,884 FY27 town budget after a series of amendments that cut retirement funding and produced split 2-1 votes on several capital and budget totals; the First Selectman's five-year CIP was also ratified.
The Waterford Board of Selectmen voted on Feb. 10 to tentatively approve the town's FY27 operating, capital and debt budget at $54,307,884 after making several targeted reductions and amendments. The board's vote on multiple line items was often split 2-1, with Selectman Rich Muckle and First Selectman Robert Brule voting together in favor of most final totals and Selectman Greg Attanasio dissenting on several measures.
The meeting opened at 4:07 p.m. and included a public comment from Glenn Patterson, who asked for clarification ahead of an agenda ratification item. The board adopted a standing motion to proceed through departmental budget requests and then considered each major budget area.
Insurance: The board tentatively approved the town's FY27 insurance budget of $5,947,106 by unanimous vote (MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio; VOTE 3-0).
Retirement Commission: Members debated the Retirement Commission request (originally $8,301,874). After motions and discussion, the board approved a motion reducing pension and OPEB funding: "MOTION by Brule, seconded by Muckle to reduce the amount proposed for line item 51940, pension contributions, in the amount of $250,000 and line item 51949, OPEB, in the amount of $750,000 for a total of a $1,000,000 reduction with a new total of $7,295,523." That motion and the tentative approval of the $7,295,523 total passed 2-1 (Muckle and Brule for; Attanasio against).
Debt service: The proposed FY27 debt service budget of $7,922,996 was tentatively approved unanimously (VOTE 3-0).
Current Year Capital (CIP): The board considered $3,699,490 in current-year capital requests. Selectman Attanasio moved to reduce the amphitheater allocation by $30,000; that motion failed 1-2. The CIP package was then tentatively approved 2-1 (Muckle, Brule for; Attanasio against).
Transfer to Capital Non-Recurring (CNR): The board tentatively approved a transfer to CNR of $816,971 (MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio; vote 2-1).
Totals and final approvals: The board voted to not read each departmental summary (3-0), then amended and approved the Total General Government Operations at $41,898,427 (amendment passed 3-0; final approval 2-1). They approved Total Capital and Debt Service at $12,409,457 (2-1) and amended the Total Town (Operating, Capital, Debt) budget down from $54,568,767 to $54,307,884 (amendment passed 3-0) before approving that final total 2-1.
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) process and Five-Year CIP: The board approved a procedural change making the Board of Selectmen the requesting agency for projects submitted under Transfers to the CNR fund and authorized the First Selectman to forward recommendations to the Board of Finance and the RTM. Selectman Attanasio successfully moved an amendment to the CIP paragraph requiring that, when the Board of Finance and RTM consider appropriations from the CNR fund, they will be informed by the First Selectman's charter responsibilities and afford the First Selectman an opportunity to review and comment. That amendment and the acceptance of the amended paragraph passed unanimously (3-0). The board then ratified the First Selectman's Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2027—2031 by a 2-1 vote (Muckle and Brule for; Attanasio against).
What happens next: These tentative approvals and the ratified five-year CIP will be forwarded to the Board of Finance and the RTM for their consideration and action on the FY27 budgets. The meeting adjourned at 6:04 p.m.
Votes at a glance
- Insurance ($5,947,106): approved 3-0 (MOTION by Muckle; seconded by Attanasio). - Retirement Commission (reduced to $7,295,523): approved 2-1 (motion reducing pension/OPEB by $1,000,000: Brule/Muckle). - Debt Service ($7,922,996): approved 3-0. - Current Year Capital ($3,699,490): approved 2-1; amphitheater $30,000 reduction failed 1-2 (Attanasio for). - Transfer to CNR ($816,971): approved 2-1. - Total General Government Operations (amended to $41,898,427): amendment passed 3-0; final approval 2-1. - Total Capital and Debt Service ($12,409,457): approved 2-1. - Total Town Budget (amended to $54,307,884): amendment passed 3-0; final approval 2-1. - Five-Year CIP (FY2027—2031): ratified 2-1.
All motions and tallies cited above correspond to actions taken during the Board of Selectmen's Feb. 10, 2026 special budget meeting.
