$15 Per Facebook Post? Taking a Closer Look at Town Spending
- Kathleen Sposato
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Last week, I attended the Board of Selectmen budget workshop and took the time to listen closely, take notes, and really understand where our town stands as we head into this budget season.
During the meeting, the First Selectman shared that she had hoped to bring the proposed budget down to an even 4% increase, rather than the current 4.63%—but expressed uncertainty about how to get there.
After reviewing the discussion and doing the math myself, I believe there are practical, reasonable ways to close that gap—without sacrificing the services our community depends on.
(I encourage you to listen to some of the meeting audio included in this post so you can hear the discussion firsthand.)
Where We Can Find Savings
1. Bradley Road Budget Allocation
One item that stood out immediately was the $60,000 allocation for Bradley Road.
As was pointed out during the meeting, this road was recently redone, yet it carries one of the highest projected costs—well above other roads in the budget.
I suggested a modest adjustment:
Reduce the allocation by $10,000
This still keeps Bradley Road funded above the average roadway budget
And immediately contributes to closing the gap toward that 4% goal
This is exactly the kind of thoughtful, data-driven adjustment that should be happening during a workshop.
2. The $5,500 Social Media Line Item
Another area that raised questions was the $5,500 budget line for social media.
Initially, there was confusion about what this covered—but it was clarified that this amount pays a contractor to manage the town’s Facebook page.
After hearing that, I took a closer look.
What I found:
Limited posting about actual town meetings or board activities
A large amount of reshared community content from other pages
No clear evidence of increased engagement with town business
Even if we assume one post per day:
That equates to over $15 per post
For content that likely takes only minutes to create or share
When I asked whether this investment had increased participation in town meetings, the response was clear: no noticeable impact.
So we have to ask:
What measurable value are we getting?
Are we tracking outcomes?
And is this the best use of taxpayer dollars?
At a time when we’re trying to reduce the budget, this seems like a reasonable place to cut—or at least reassess.
Could this be handled:
In-house?
By an existing staff member?
Or even through volunteer support?
These are the types of questions we should be asking.
3. Hazardous Waste Scheduling
One positive takeaway from the meeting was the discussion around hazardous waste collection.
By shifting from an annual schedule to every other year, the town can save approximately $11,000.
This is a great example of:
Reevaluating frequency
Maintaining service
While reducing unnecessary spending
A Bigger Issue: Participation and Accountability
Perhaps the most concerning takeaway wasn’t just the numbers—it was the lack of participation.
There were very few people engaged in the process, and that has real consequences.
When there’s:
Limited public attendance
Minimal questioning
And little follow-up
There’s also less pressure to:
Justify expenses
Measure outcomes
Or explore alternatives
Workshops should be exactly that—working sessions where ideas are challenged, refined, and improved.
We deserve clear answers when:
Road costs seem inconsistent
Contractor expenses lack measurable results
Or assumptions go unexamined
Small Savings Matter
We often hear that certain cuts would result in “small savings.”
But small savings—when combined—are exactly how you make meaningful progress.
A $10,000 reduction here
A $5,500 adjustment there
An $11,000 operational shift
It adds up.
And it moves us closer to responsible budgeting without compromising essential services.
Making Participation More Accessible
If we want better engagement, we also need to make it easier for people to participate.
Not everyone can attend in person.
People are:
Home with children
Caring for elderly family members
Working multiple jobs
Or lacking transportation
We should be exploring:
Virtual attendance options
More inclusive ways to engage residents
And creating an environment where those who do show up feel respected and heard
Because right now, if participation is low, we need to ask:
Why?
And more importantly:
What can we do to fix it?
Final Thoughts
This budget workshop showed that the opportunity to reach a 4% increase is not out of reach—it simply requires:
Willingness to ask questions
Transparency in decision-making
And a commitment to evaluating outcomes
Most importantly, it requires community involvement.
Every taxpayer deserves a voice in how their money is spent.
Let’s make sure we’re creating a process that reflects that.
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