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Board of Finance reviews financial statements, notes $23.8M school appropriation; First Selectman reports on projects and fire‑district support
Summary
The Board reviewed financial statements that highlighted increased health insurance costs and other departmental line items; the meeting packet included detailed expenditure and revenue reports, including a $23.8 million school appropriation. First Selectman Joe Bellavance reported on capital planning, hiring a town administrator and said town bodies voted to support dissolving the Brooklyn Fire District.
The Brooklyn Board of Finance reviewed financial statements and budget reports at its Feb. 18 meeting, focusing on health insurance expenditures and several department line items.
Shelley Cates summarized the financial materials included in the meeting packet and explained that health insurance costs had increased. The board discussed Fire Department stipends, opioid settlement funds, Access Agency payments, NDDH and ambulance services as items reflected in the financial statements. The packet provided detailed line‑by‑line fund reports printed Feb. 11, 2026, and showed the School Budget appropriation at $23,801,845 with $13,191,058.67 expended to date and the report grand total of $31,184,241.58 in budget accounts listed.
First Selectman Joe Bellavance reported that he had met with a bonding agent and discussed HVAC needs at the school, sought temporary solutions for Day Street, and is advancing plans to hire a Town Administrator to start next fall. Bellavance also said the Board of Fire Commissioners and the Board of Selectmen voted to support dissolution of the Brooklyn Fire District and that a Town Forum on emergency services is planned for April.
Dave Lee reported liaison updates from the Board of Fire Commissioners, including acceptance of both Fire Department budgets for review and a capital request from East Brooklyn for replacement extrication tools. Bob Smanik said the Building Committee will meet March 2 and expects to send an HVAC description and cost figures to the First Selectman for consideration.
The board confirmed a special meeting March 3, 2026 to review the Parks and Recreation budget, and adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
