February 26, 2026
.com
Clinton, Westbrook, & Old Saybrook Vol. XXIX Iss. 9
$55M Old Saybrook Proposed Budget Gets March 3 Hearing By Eric O'Connell Staff Writer OLD SAYBROOK
An initial $55,189,596 budget proposal in Old Saybrook for 2026-27 calls for an increase of $2,346,188 over the previous year’s spending, a 4.4% increase. The proposal heads to a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Old Saybrook Middle School.
The total budget comprises a town budget and an education budget. The proposed town budget is $22,623,966, an increase of $627,986, or 2.9%. The proposed education operating budget is $32,565,630, an increase of $1,718,202, or 5.6%. According to Old Saybrook Finance Director Lee Ann Palladino, the town budget increase is due mainly to salary and benefit increases.
“The general government budget is comprised of two pieces, general government operations which is up 2.5% and there are no unusual items contributing to the increase just normal salary and benefit increases and slight increases to operational expenses such as electricity,” Palladino said. “The debt service budget is up 5.5% as the See page 7
Becky McClain has published a new book about her long road to justice...........................................2
Battling the Blizzard Snow plows clear East Main Street in Clinton on Feb. 23 as a blizzard brings whiteout conditions to the region. Forecasters expect up to 2 feet of snow and wind gusts reaching 70 mph.
Photo by Wesley Bunnell/ Harbor News
Skid Snapped Westbrook boys basketball picked up a well-earned victory...............12
A Wonderful Struggle An upcoming program at the New Haven Museum retells the story of Jewish women in the labor movement...................................19
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