Darien has much to be proud of in terms of fiscal management. The Darien Board of Finance is responsible for approving most budgets and expenditures and designing the tax and financing plans that fund the town. Jim Palen, Chairman of the Darien Board of Finance, will take us inside this process of financial management and discipline in a local Town Economics 101 presentation. Jim has been a member of the Board since 2015 and became chairman in 2021. Prior to that he served eight years on the RTM, including as Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee which is responsible for analyzing and reporting on financial and budgeting matters. He also is Chairman of Darien’s Audit Committee and has served on various building committees. Additionally, he has been a member of the negotiating team for numerous town and school union contracts. Jim’s career includes more than 25 years in investment banking, primarily focusing on the transportation sector. He is currently a Managing Director at Jefferies LLC, specializing in airlines and other private sector transportation clients. Previously he had a similar specialty at Credit Suisse and Bear Stearns, including specializing in municipal finance for transportation infrastructure. Jim and his wife Hallie, who have three children, have lived in Darien for 18 years during which Jim has been very involved in his children’s sports activities, has taught boating safety with the Darien Sail & Power Squadron, and has served on and been Chair and Vice Chair of the Darien Republican Town Committee.
Arranged by John Wolcott