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Patch Candidate Profile: Mike Rettger For Ridgefield Board of Finance

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  Published in Business and Finance on Saturday, September 20th 2025 at 11:58 GMT by Patch
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Mike Rettger – A Proven Finance Leader for Ridgefield

When a town as small and storied as Ridgefield, Connecticut, is looking for a new member of its Board of Finance, the question isn’t simply “who can keep the books balanced?” It’s also “who can keep the community’s trust intact while making tough budgetary decisions with transparency and foresight.” That’s the promise Mike Rettger brings to the race for the Ridgefield Board of Finance seat in the upcoming election.

Who is Mike Rettger?

Rettger is a Ridgefield native who has lived in the town for more than 30 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Connecticut, followed by a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Hartford. Over the past two decades, he has worked in a variety of roles that span the private and public sectors—including serving as Chief Financial Officer for a mid‑size manufacturing firm and as a consultant for several municipal governments in the state.

Beyond his professional credentials, Rettger’s personal life reflects a deep commitment to Ridgefield. He and his wife, Karen, have three children who attend local schools. The family is an active part of the community: they volunteer at the Ridgefield Public Library, sit on the boards of the local Rotary Club, and regularly participate in town‑wide “Tree‑Planting Day” events. These experiences have given him a first‑hand view of how the town’s finances directly impact everyday life.

Why a Board of Finance Member Matters

The Board of Finance is the town’s chief fiscal oversight body. Its responsibilities include approving the annual budget, setting policy for property taxes, managing debt and bonds, and ensuring that town departments stay within their financial limits. It is an often‑unsung position, but it’s also the linchpin that guarantees the town’s long‑term fiscal health. The board’s decisions have ripple effects that touch schools, parks, public safety, and the local infrastructure that keeps Ridgefield functioning.

Rettger’s background in both public budgeting and private finance positions him to bring a blend of prudence and innovation to the board. He understands that while budgets must be realistic, they also need to leave room for strategic investments that foster growth and quality of life.

Key Issues and Positions

1. Balanced Budgets and Responsible Debt Management

Rettger has spent the last two years studying the municipal debt portfolios of comparable towns across Connecticut. He argues that Ridgefield can keep its debt service at a “reasonable” level—below the state average of 2.4 % of the town’s revenue—by prioritizing high‑impact capital projects and avoiding unnecessary bonds for non‑essential upgrades. In a recent interview on the town’s local radio station, he noted that “a balanced budget is not about cutting everything; it’s about making smart choices that keep the town financially resilient.”

2. Property Taxes and Community Equity

The topic of property taxes has long been a touchstone for Ridgefield residents. Rettger has pledged to maintain current property tax rates while exploring “alternative revenue streams” such as targeted municipal fees for certain services and partnerships with local businesses. He also wants to make the tax assessment process more transparent by adopting an open‑data platform that lets residents see exactly how their assessments are calculated.

3. Fiscal Transparency and Citizen Engagement

Transparency is a recurring theme in Rettger’s campaign. He is a firm believer in open data, arguing that the Board should publish its minutes, budget documents, and audit reports on a publicly accessible portal that anyone can download. He’s already begun working on a proposal for a “Fiscal Dashboard” that would show real‑time financial metrics like current cash balances, debt service schedules, and projected tax revenue. His plan also includes quarterly town‑hall meetings where residents can ask questions directly to board members.

4. Sustainable Growth and Infrastructure

Rettger recognizes that Ridgefield’s population is growing—especially the influx of young families drawn to the town’s schools and parks. He wants to ensure that the Board allocates sufficient resources for infrastructure upgrades, such as road resurfacing and public transportation expansions. He has been an early advocate for a “Sustainable Growth Plan” that balances new housing developments with green spaces.

Community Support and Endorsements

A key part of Rettger’s candidacy is the breadth of local support it has already garnered. The Ridgefield Historical Society’s Board of Directors publicly endorsed him, praising his long‑standing dedication to preserving the town’s heritage while looking forward. The local newspaper, The Ridgefield Journal, ran a feature article detailing Rettger’s record in the private sector and his recent volunteer work on a citywide “Green‑Building Initiative.” Additionally, several small‑business owners have signed an endorsement letter, noting that Rettger’s experience in corporate finance could help the town better manage its own “back‑office” operations.

Rettger has also formed a coalition of civic leaders—spanning the local Chamber of Commerce, the Ridgefield Library Board, and the Ridgefield Parks Commission—to build a broad-based platform for fiscal responsibility. The coalition’s “Community Fiscal Task Force” met last month to draft a white‑paper on “Fiscal Resilience for the 21st Century,” which was subsequently adopted by the town’s council.

Follow‑Up Links for Deeper Insight

While the original candidate profile gives a clear snapshot of Rettger’s qualifications, several additional resources provide a more granular view of his positions and past work:

1. Rettger’s Campaign Website – A dedicated portal (http://mikerettgerfinance.com) that hosts his platform, FAQs, downloadable budget proposals, and a calendar of upcoming town‑hall meetings.

2. Ridgefield Board of Finance’s Official Site – The Board’s official website (http://ridgefieldct.gov/finance) includes archived meeting minutes, budget documents, and a “Transparency Dashboard” that tracks the town’s financial health.

3. Local News Coverage – A series of articles on the Ridgefield Journal website (http://ridgefieldjournal.com/tag/mike-rettger) provide third‑party analyses of Rettger’s stance on various fiscal issues, including a piece titled “Balancing the Books: How Rettger Plans to Keep Ridgefield Safe.”

4. Municipal Bond Analysis – The Connecticut Association of Towns publishes a quarterly report on municipal debt (http://connecticuttowns.org/debt-report). Rettger’s blog post on his website cites these reports, comparing Ridgefield’s debt metrics with state averages.

5. Transparency Initiative – A proposal for the Fiscal Dashboard was uploaded to the town’s Open Data Portal (http://ridgefieldct.gov/open-data). The dashboard allows residents to monitor real‑time financial data, a direct embodiment of Rettger’s commitment to transparency.

A Call to Action

Rettger’s candidacy is more than a mere run for a fiscal oversight role; it’s a promise to safeguard the town’s financial integrity while embracing innovation and community input. Whether you’re a long‑time resident or a newcomer looking to understand Ridgefield’s financial priorities, the upcoming election will determine who will guide the town’s budgetary decisions for the next four years.

For those who believe that fiscal responsibility and transparency go hand‑in‑hand, Mike Rettger presents a candidate with both the professional acumen and the local roots to make a difference. As the election approaches, residents will have the chance to weigh his proposals against the town’s needs and decide who will keep Ridgefield’s finances—and its future—on solid ground.