Meet Andrew Okrongly, Incumbent: Candidate for Ridgefield Board of Finance
How has your personal/professional background prepared you for this role?
I studied finance in college and have built my career in the asset management industry, focusing on managing investment portfolios for institutions, endowments, pension funds, and individual investors. This work has given me deep experience in managing risk, balancing priorities, and making sound decisions with a long-term perspective—all skills directly relevant to serving on the Board of Finance.
In addition to the Board of Finance, I also serve on the town’s Pension Commission, where I help oversee the retirement assets of our police officers, firefighters, and school employees. I also serve on the temporary Senior Tax Credit Committee, which recently made recommendations to expand the tax relief available to seniors in town.
These experiences have strengthened my belief in careful, responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources while ensuring we support the needs of our community. I am committed to bringing the same hard-working, detail-oriented approach that has guided my service to Ridgefield so far to another four years on the Board of Finance, with the goal of keeping our town’s finances strong, stable, and well-managed for the future.
What do you think the Board of Finance’s greatest strengths are and how will you build on them?
Having served on the Board of Finance for the past four years, I would say our greatest strength lies in being a highly effective and collaborative group of individuals. We approach our work with a shared focus on responsible long-term planning for the town, and we do so without getting sidetracked by political rhetoric that can distract from that mission.
This collaborative mindset is especially important as Ridgefield faces significant capital projects—such as the new public safety building—alongside ongoing investments in our schools, parks, and infrastructure. Addressing these needs requires a board that not only works well together in the present but also takes a forward-looking view to develop financial strategies that anticipate the town’s needs 5, 10, and even 20 years into the future.
Our track record shows the community recognizes and values this approach. In recent years, Ridgefield residents have voted “yes” on the budget by overwhelming margins, signaling confidence in the work we do. Building on that foundation, I will continue to emphasize transparency in decision-making, careful and disciplined planning, and a commitment to balancing the community’s needs with long-term financial responsibility.
What are your top priorities for the Ridgefield Board of Finance when you are elected?
If reelected, my top priorities for the next four years will be to:
- Deliver responsible budgets that balance affordability, today’s needs, and tomorrow’s goals.
- Take a disciplined, forward-looking approach to decision-making. Whether evaluating annual operating budgets or considering major capital investments, I will focus on understanding the full impact of those decisions—not just for today, but for years to come. My goal is to keep Ridgefield financially strong so families and taxpayers can count on a stable, well-managed future.
- Remain committed to helping residents understand and participate in the budgeting process. That includes continuing the budget information sessions that Mike Rettger and I have hosted at the Library and Founders Hall in recent years.
How will you balance growth and progress while preserving Ridgefield’s character?
Growth can be valuable for Ridgefield, as it helps us maintain infrastructure and expand important services, from schools to parks and recreation. At the same time, development brings challenges such as traffic and increased demands on public safety. The key is striking the right balance, and I believe Ridgefield has opportunities to pursue smart, well-planned development that supports our community’s needs while preserving the small-town character we all value.
What are the key issues the Board of Finance faces?
One of the most immediate issues facing Ridgefield is the large number of capital projects we may take on in the coming years, most notably the new Public Safety Building. Since joining the Board four years ago, I’ve focused on making sure these decisions are guided by careful long-term planning. The budgeting and capital planning framework I helped develop gives us a clear picture of how projects will affect town finances and taxes, so we can make smart choices that balance investment in Ridgefield’s future with keeping costs manageable for families.
Another critical issue facing the Board is ensuring we continue to support our excellent school system while balancing the needs of the many other key services residents rely on. This requires listening carefully to the perspectives of different groups across our community and weighing those priorities in a fair and thoughtful way. My goal is to make sure our budgets reflect the values of the entire community, keeping Ridgefield both affordable and an outstanding place to live.
An important tool in managing this balancing act is the Senior Tax Credit program. The dollar amount of the tax credit has not been adjusted since 2008, even as inflation eroded its value over time. As a member of the Senior Tax Credit Committee, I helped develop recommendations to expand this important program over the coming years.
What is your leadership style?
My leadership style is balanced and collaborative. I believe in leading by example, through hard work, thorough preparation, and a commitment to fairness.
What is one thing voters might be surprised to learn about you?
I make wine as a hobby. My dad is a chemist and has been a home winemaker since I was a kid, so it’s something I grew up around. It’s a tradition that combines patience, attention to detail, and a bit of creativity, all qualities I value and bring to my work on the Board of Finance.
What sets you apart from your opponents?
I will leave it to the voters to weigh my background and qualifications against those of my competitors. What I offer is a steady, data-driven approach: four years on the BOF, transparent communication with residents, and disciplined long-range planning to keep taxes predictable and services strong.
Why should Ridgefield trust you?
During my first term on the Board of Finance, we delivered four budgets that passed overwhelmingly at referendum, a clear sign of community confidence. We achieved this by keeping costs under control, with mill rates changing at a pace well below the prevailing rate of inflation, while still maintaining and in some cases expanding the services that make Ridgefield an exceptional place to live.