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Bozrah selectmen forward 2026–27 budgets to finance board after workshop; raise transfer station and personnel items discussed
Summary
After a budget workshop March 17, the Bozrah Board of Selectmen unanimously forwarded Version 3 of the 2026–27 General Government and Capital budgets to the Board of Finance, with members flagging a $6,500 transfer-station bag allowance, a proposed pay raise for the administrative assistant to $22 per hour, and a requested Fire Marshal increase to $2,000 plus a software line.
The Bozrah Board of Selectmen voted unanimously March 17 to forward its proposed 2026–27 General Government and Capital budgets (Version 3) to the Board of Finance for review, after discussing multiple line-item changes and efficiency measures.
First Selectman Glenn Pianka raised the possibility of replacing the town's IPS permitting system used by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Building Official with a SECCOG-promoted system he said would be less costly and more efficient. Selectman Bill Ballinger flagged a pay discrepancy between employees running summer camp (about $22 per hour) and the Board of Selectmen administrative assistant (about $20 per hour), proposing the assistant's pay be increased to $22. Selectman Jeremy Tarasevich requested increasing the Fire Marshal line to $2,000 and adding a new software/subscription line.
After those discussions, Selectman Bill Ballinger moved to send the General Government and Capital budgets (2026/2027 Version 3) to the Board of Finance for review with any mathematical corrections; Selectman Jeremy Tarasevich seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance: MOTION 1 (approve minutes of Feb. 12, 2026) — moved by Bill Ballinger, seconded by Jeremy Tarasevich; unanimous, carried. MOTION 2 (authorize First Selectman to sign Jonathan Trumbull Library agreement) — moved by Bill Ballinger, seconded by Jeremy Tarasevich; unanimous, carried. MOTION 3 (forward General Government and Capital budgets Version 3 to Board of Finance) — moved by Bill Ballinger, seconded by Jeremy Tarasevich; unanimous, carried. MOTION 4 (move to executive session after public comment) — moved by Bill Ballinger, seconded by Jeremy Tarasevich; unanimous, carried. MOTION 5 (enter executive session at 8:12 p.m.) — moved by Bill Ballinger, seconded by Jeremy Tarasevich; unanimous, carried. MOTION 6 (adjourn at 8:27 p.m.) — moved by Bill Ballinger, seconded by Jeremy Tarasevich; unanimous, carried.
Why it matters: the Board's direction to the Board of Finance advances the town's budget process and signals likely areas where the Board wants spending authority or staffing adjusted. The selectmen identified specific cost items for review — permitting software, transfer-station supplies, and personnel pay — that will affect the town's FY2026–27 budget deliberations.
Next steps: the Board of Finance will review Version 3 with any mathematical corrections; the selectmen discussed line-item requests that the Board of Finance will consider during its review. No final salary or appropriation decisions were made at the March 17 meeting.
