By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — Call it a preliminary, preliminary budget.

The Board of Finance is holding “informal” hearings on the town’s proposed $235 million spending plans for 2023-24 at the Westport Library.

It would mean $83.7 million in town-side spending, $136.4 million for the schools, and the rest for debt service and other accounts for the Westport Library, Health and Transit districts, etc.

That represents a 6.5 percent increase for the town, and a 5.2 percent increase for education. (The Board of Education adopted its budget request Jan. 30, and forwarded it to the Board of Finance for its next review.)

Wednesday, police, fire and library officials discussed their proposed budgets.

The next hearing is at 6 p.m. Thursday The Aspetuck Health District, Earthplace and Westport Transit District are to present their requests.

Department heads have been appearing with their budget requests in a relaxed environment. No clanging swords or sparks flying.

But the season is young.

First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker will officially present her budget to the Board of Finance on March 1.

By mid-April, the Board of Finance is expected to forward its recommended changes to the Representative Town Meeting.

The RTM has to adopt a town budget by May 1.

Thane Grauel, executive editor, grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond more than three decades. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.