There's been a lot of attention from the community about this year's town budget. I think it's important to separate fact from emotion. Let there be no doubt: Greenwich passed its largest budget in town history.

With the BET evenly divided, Republicans were forced to use their tie-breaking vote to craft a budget for everyone:

• It's a budget that fosters growth while exercising restraint.
• It supports schools, town workers, and key capital projects without overburdening taxpayers.
• It showcases the Republicans' commitment to fiscal responsibility and pragmatic leadership.

The process wasn't without friction, particularly over education funding, where the Board of Education's request was far in excess of BET guidelines.

Republicans, after careful deliberation, made measured reductions, demonstrating their ability to balance priorities without succumbing to political pressure. Democrats, however, stumbled through the process, prioritizing politics over people and nearly derailing the entire budget process.

When it comes to funding schools, even after a $4 million trim, spending will grow by $8 million from the previous year — a significant increase that underscores Republicans' commitment to schools as well as fiscal responsibility. Claims of harsh cuts are overblown; the GOP ensured education funding rose substantially.

Yet Democrats seized the moment to play politics. BET Chairman Harry Fisher offered a generous compromise —slashing the reduction to only $2 million, approving a $10 million increase — but needed Democrat support to make it happen.

Democrats flat-out refused, ensuring the full $4 million cut stood. Let that sink in: Democrats rejected $2 million they insisted schools desperately needed.

Behind closed doors, some Democrats admitted their hardline stance was a deliberate gambit — not to protect students but to stir discontent against Republicans in future elections. It's a cold-hearted strategy that prioritizes party loyalty over the well-being of Greenwich's children and educators, exposing a troubling lack of principle. I think Greenwich residents are too smart to fall for it.

Additionally, Democrats championed a budget that risked a nearly 6% tax increase. According to local projections, this could have added tens of thousands of dollars in new tax burdens for homeowners over a decade. For a community built on financial prudence, this was unacceptable.

Republicans, using their tie-breaking power as a fiscal lifeline, brought the tax hike down to under 3% — still challenging for some, but a victory for families, retirees, and small businesses.

This wasn't just about avoiding a tax grab; it was about preserving Greenwich's legacy of sound financial management.

The fact is every Democrat voted against the final budget, and without the Republican tiebreaker, it would have collapsed.

The consequences would have been dire: layoffs for teachers, police, firefighters, and other town workers, plus a freeze on critical infrastructure projects. Picture the chaos: eroded morale, strained public services, and setbacks in education and safety.

Republicans stepped up, ensuring these vital employees, the backbone of our town, kept their jobs. It's a grounded, community-first approach Democrats abandoned for political gain.