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Woodbridge finance and selectmen review FY27 budget requests with notable increases in fringe benefits and conservation spending
Summary
Boards heard FY27 operating and capital requests on Jan. 22, 2026, including a $5.58 million fringe-benefits line, large percentage increases for the Conservation Commission, and an $85,000 van request in Human Services tied to a CT DOT grant match.
The Town of Woodbridge’s Joint Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen met on Jan. 22, 2026, to hear department and commission operating and capital budget requests for fiscal year 2027. Chairman Donavon Lofters opened the meeting at 6:02 p.m., and Administrative Officer and Director of Finance Anthony Genovese presented most departmental figures.
Genovese told the boards the town’s Derby Probate Court allocation is proposed at $11,500, a 21.5% increase from FY26. He also presented a $36,980 request for Government Access TV (a 5.03% increase), a $412,161 General Administration request (7.30% increase) and a $313,098 Information Systems request (10.23% increase). The Finance Department request was $273,678, up 0.89% from the prior year.
Genovese presented the town’s debt service at $1,882,831, a 5.27% increase, and reported Employee Fringe Benefits at $5,583,330, a 6.47% increase — one of the largest single-line increases in the presentations.
Sharon DeKadt, chair of the Conservation Commission, presented an operating request of $10,700, which the minutes list as a 224.24% increase over FY26; the presentation did not specify which programs or line items account for that rise. Clifford Lynch, chair of the Economic Development Commission, presented an operating request of $4,350, reported as a 5.43% decrease from FY26.
Human Services Director Jeanette Glicksman outlined capital requests including $20,000 for classroom remediation, $20,000 for dehumidification at the Woodbridge Center, $85,000 for a replacement van (listed as a match for a CT DOT 5310 grant), $6,800 for a kitchen refrigerator and $30,000 for courtyard improvements. Glicksman also presented an operating budget request of $578,870, a 1.80% increase over FY26.
Kristine Sullivan, Land Use Analyst, presented Planning and Zoning at $66,196 (1.59% increase), the Zoning Board of Appeals at $2,460 (reported as a 7.17% decrease) and the Inland Wetland Commission at $50,300 (0.04% decrease). Town Clerk Kim Rioux presented a $257,811 request (0.02% decrease). Registrars Anna Dickerson and Pennell Hamilton presented a combined request of $111,004, a 35.12% increase over FY26.
There were no recorded formal votes on the budget requests during the meeting. The minutes record motions to adjourn: Andrea Urbano moved and First Selectman Mica Cardozo seconded the Board of Selectmen motion; Beth Heller moved and Tom Handler seconded the Board of Finance motion. Both boards recorded the outcome as "all in favor." The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
The boards received multiple line-item and capital requests that staff and elected members will incorporate into subsequent budget deliberations and public hearings; the minutes do not show final appropriations, amendments or staff directions arising from this session.
