DARIEN - The Board of Selectmen approved a 2006-07 budget proposal Tuesday, which would lead to a 5.63 percent increase over the current budget. With projected revenues, the budget would increase by approximately 4.5 percent. The selectmen’s proposal stands at approximately $21.1 million.

The budget will be presented at a Board of Finance budget hearing on Thursday, March 2.

The selectmen agreed on almost all of the previously proposed modifications to the budget, including a reduction of $25,000 of police overtime, and an addition of $35,000 for the Noroton Fire Department Building Project.

A previously proposed cut of $5,500 for a police motorcycle set up was not supported by the selectmen, so it remains in the budget.

While an additional $2,250 for Youth Options did not receive enough support to remain on the budget, $3,000 for The Depot teen center was supported and added to the budget.

“I think that we need this for the teenagers to maintain their programs right now, with the issues today,” Selectman Susan Young said.

Selectman Barbara Thorne agreed.

“The Depot is open more, and more people are using it — they are serving more students,” she said in voicing her support for the additional funding.

An additional $150,000 for the Darien Housing Authority was added to the budget for a proposed pre-construction study on renovations and expansion of the Allen-O’Neill Moderate Income Family Homes. Although the project was the subject of discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting, the approval of the $150,000 on the budget was supported by the board.

“It’s a gesture of good faith,” said Thorne.

Following the final vote on the budget, Klein thanked everyone for their hard work and said that everyone should pat themselves on the back for a job well done.

“It was as pleasurable as a budget process could be, and it continue to be a road map so that the town can move forward,” she said.

Special thanks went to John Crary and his staff, she said.

“Everyone did a good job, and we have a budget! Good work!” Klein said.

© Copyright 2006 by Hersam Acorn newspapers