The current year is but half over, but in Brooklyn department heads have been tasked with drawing up plans for the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget.

First Selectman Rick Ives recently directed managerial staff to begin crunching numbers to submit toward an eventual budget request, anticipating several capital projects that may need to be completed in the town.

“We have a roof that probably needs to be done and a highway truck that, at least according to the schedule, is up (for replacement),” said Ives.

Board of Finance Chairman Jeffrey Otto said the possibility of making the Mortlake Fire Company’s ambulance technicians municipal employees of some kind is also being investigated.

“But I have no idea whether that will actually make this year’s budget or not,” Otto said. “In fact, I cautioned the Board of Fire Commissioners at their meeting last month that they had an awful lot to look into, and it was an open question in my mind as to whether they could complete all of that work before we have to put a budget together.”

The fire commissioners are seeking to take advantage of changes made to federal labor laws in 2008 that allow it to avoid increased costs related to labor contracts.

“What we bring to the town to vote on will depend a lot on what the town departments feel they need to operate for the next year,” Otto said.

Preliminary numbers are due by the end of the month. All departments must fully report by the end of January, Ives said.

Brooklyn votes on its budget later than most towns to allow it to more accurately gauge state revenues. A town meeting likely won’t be scheduled until May.