Greenwich Post
Greenwich native Walko takes helm of town’s fiscal ship
Jan 10, 2008

Pledging to focus on public safety, education and infrastructure while holding true to town fiscal tradition and sound decision-making, lifelong resident Stephen Walko was named the new chairman of the town’s Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) on Jan. 2.

Mr. Walko, who first joined the BET in 1999, spent the previous two years as chairman of the board’s budget committee and succeeds Peter Tesei, who was elected first selectman last November. Mr. Walko is a litigator with the Greenwich firm Ivey Barnum & O’Mara; his nomination received the unanimous support of his fellow board members.

In an interview with the Post, Mr. Walko outlined his fiscal priorities for the new two-year term and said bringing the town’s infrastructure up to an acceptable level and maintaining it while keeping an eye on the bottom line would continue to be a cornerstone for the board.

“We have to make sure we fulfill our promises, that we have enough money and we plan to have enough money for the projects we currently fund,” Mr. Walko said. “That will continue to drive the budget and will continue to be our priority.”

Mr. Walko said the BET would continue to concentrate first on existing buildings and then on new projects if there is money available. Mr. Walko said the BET would also continue to be open to buying undeveloped land in town to preserve as open space if it can afford it.

At the Jan. 2 meeting, Mr. Walko said the BET would focus initially on 10 issues and special projects:

•    Development of a strategic plan for the Department of Parks and Recreation.

•    Sidewalks and the Safe Routes to Schools program.

•    Organization of land use agencies with the town’s building department.

•    Cash flow analysis.

•    Sharing services between the town and the Board of Education.

•    The future of the Havemeyer Building and Senior Center as part of the downtown area’s master plan.

•    Elderly tax relief.

•    Review of the town’s waste management agreements.

•    An information technology update.

•    Planning for the 2009 revaluation.

A lot of attention has been paid to the 15-year capital improvement plan in recent years, and Mr. Walko said that would continue. However, he said more attention would be paid to cash flow and borrowing not only in the short term but also long term.

Looking ahead to new construction, Mr. Walko said the town will have to consider construction projects like a northwest Greenwich fire station on King Street. The project was supported by former Fire Chief Dan Warzoha, and the town already purchased land next to the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, but Mr. Walko said it’s important to first hear from current Fire Chief Peter Siecienski to determine the need for the station.

“The implications of having a King Street fire station are vast,” Mr. Walko said. “Not only does it tie up capital money, but it’s a commitment on the operating side as well because the station would have to be staffed.”

The town’s future will be a heavy issue in 2008 with the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development under review. As part of this year’s budget process he wants the BET to speak with Town Planner Diane Fox and the land use agencies to fund a document that would benefit the town.

Mr. Walko said the BET has done a good job in recent years of keeping its focus on fiscal policy and not dictating town policy and he plans to continue that.

Mr. Walko said it is important for community groups and town departments to understand staying within a predictable mill rate increase is, at least currently, the “golden rule that will not be broken,” often forcing groups to make the tough choices.

“If you increase a program here that was previously unaccounted for, that means there needs to be a decrease or an offset somewhere else,” Mr. Walko said. “It’s all about choices. Individually within our own homes and our own families we have to make choices as to what’s most important to us. It’s the same in a town budget.”

Though he’s jumping into the BET’s top spot at a time when budget work is about to kick into high gear, Mr. Walko said he’s not nervous. In fact, he said, he was more nervous when he took over the school budget committee two years ago. He knows how to go through the process now and strike a balance between tough questions and being constructive in the board’s approach to town departments and appointing authorities.

Mr. Walko said he was confident in the choice of Michael Mason to succeed him as chairman of the BET budget committee and that the board is in excellent shape with three new members coming on to bring fresh voices to work with the insights of experienced members. Mr. Walko said it is his job to make sure the board works well together and that conflicts are resolved before they arise.

Saying he was fortunate to work with past chairs Mr. Tesei, Alice Melly and former First Selectman James Lash when he was chairman of the budget committee, Mr. Walko said he learned from all their styles of leadership and identified what approaches to the budget he liked.

“There’s no one right way to run the board or create a budget,” Mr. Walko said. “There are best practices and models to emulate, but taking those styles and adapting to my own style has been the greatest asset as I’ve moved through the BET.”