The Norwalk Board of Estimate and Taxation adopted Monday the almost $273.7 million operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

At $273,684,634, the adopted 2008-09 budget will increase the mill rate in the 4th Taxing District by 3.79 percent. The newly adopted spending plan marks a 4.3 percent increase from the current fiscal year.

Board of Education spending under the new budget stands at $148,218,925, up about 4 percent after factoring in additional state aid added to the 2007-08 operating budget. Spending for 2008-09 includes funding for three available police officer positions, as well as staff increases in the Fire Department, Youth Services Department and the Department of Planning and Zoning.

Norwalk Board of Estimate Chairman Fred Wilms expressed his approval of the 2008-09 tax rate and noted the caution that was taken in developing the new operating budget plans in regard to looming economic troubles.

"My biggest concern going in was the recession," Wilms explained. "I was also personally very concerned about our tax collection rates. The mill rate increase will sit at about 3.8 percent, which is below the rate of inflation. I feel very pleased that we were able to keep that down."

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Wilms also discussed education spending. "It was interesting that there wasn't as much contention with the Board of Education as there might have been," he said. "I want to commend the BOE on its improvements and for coming up with a more reasonable proposed increase."

Still, Wilms noted that not all education improvements would be reaped immediately within the community. He also said that funding towards Norwalk school renovations had increased roughly $16 million in the past year.

In addition, revised revenue projections in the city forced department heads to trim about $2 million from the developing 2008-09 operating budget. The cuts were necessitated by fewer available funds from state aid, decreased interest income, lower property sales and declining investments, among other factors.

A Geographic Information System analyst will not be available for the city under the new operating budget.

Wilms said key concerns and focuses as proposed spending was being developed included: the recession, crime rates, and components of city infrastructure such as flood drainage, transportation,and dealing with sewage treatment and disposal.

The City of Norwalk has a $30 million "rainy day fund" available for the upcoming fiscal year should economic troubles worsen.