Torrington board approves $380,000 in FY26-27 cuts, shifts East End fire staffing funding

The Torrington Board of Finance voted on June 16 to accept $380,000 in proposed fiscal-year 2026-27 budget cuts presented by the mayor, a package that includes a $200,000 reduction to the fire-department overtime line intended to help fund half-year daytime staffing at the East End (Torford) firehouse.

The mayor read a memo outlining the package: $200,000 from fire overtime, $50,460 from vacant HR and purchasing salaries (split $12,500 HR; $37,960 purchasing) and $130,000 in capital-project reductions (including facility condition assessment, recycling center work and East End fire facility improvements). The memo noted the Torford building work will not be complete by July 1; Chief David Trip proposed funding half a year of staffing to save about $200,000 from the original full-year proposal.

Board members asked how the $200,000 change affects overtime vs. salaries, with Chief Trip clarifying that the original request had been overtime-heavy and the revised approach mixes salaries, benefits and overtime and adds defined-contribution costs. Lieutenant Bea and other members discussed that relying on volunteers to staff a firehouse is not a near-term solution.

The motion to accept the cuts was moved by Miss Tro and seconded by Miss Hall and carried on a recorded 3-2 vote. The transcript records the result as "Three to two. Motion passes." The transcript does not list individual recorded yes/no votes by name.

Board members who supported the package praised the mayor's presentation but several said they would prefer any new permanent staffing to be funded in next year
s part of the operating budget rather than by overtime shifts this year. One member noted fire overtime had been rising toward about $900,000 and urged caution on how overtime interacts with defined-benefit retirements and payroll costs.

Capital cuts drew questions about the facility condition assessment being delayed a year and whether recycling-center work (details not fully specified in the memo) would proceed elsewhere in the budget. Staff said the deferred capital items were those judged deferrable by facilities and public-works staff.

What happens next: the board approved the cuts and the mayor and fire department will continue discussions on the East End staffing plan and related capital timing. The transcript shows the city will proceed with the reduced capital allocations and the partial-year staffing proposal under the adopted cuts.