Here’s the skinny on tonight’s Town budget meeting. The turnout was relatively good, with approximately 300 in attendance. (That’s out of 5,223 registered voters, so the Town budget was decide by approximately 6% of the voters.)
Articles 1-8, which are procedural and policy issues regarding the Town meeting and tax collections all passed on voice votes.
Here is a rundown of the budget articles:
Article 8 Police Dept.
Police Dept. 705,464
Animal Control 9,648
Dispatch Center 286,613
Total 1,001,725 –Passed on a voice vote
Article 9 Fire Department
Fire Dept 168,937
Emergency Management 5,213
Emergency Rescue 80,000
Water Assessment/Fire Protection 299,735
Total 553,885-An amendment to reduce this item by $10,000 failed to pass on a hand vote (193 no to 89 yes). The full amount passed on a voice vote.
Article 10 Public Works Dept.
Town Hall 73,500
Community Center 69,217
Highway 638,073
Public Facilities 37,550
Town Garage 12,450
Transfer Station 273,554
Solid Waste Transp 76,638
Total 1,180,982 – An amendment to reduce this item by $15,000 passed on a hand vote. The final passed amount was $1, 165,982.
Article 11 Capital Improvement-Roads
CIP Roads 200,000-Passed on a voice vote
Article 12 General Government
Town Council 3000
Town Manager 149675
Control/Collection 187943
Computer 34845
Administration 156619
Tax Assessment 96197
Employee Benefits 668320
Street Lights 43000
1991 CIP Dept 56000
Community Center Dept 98247
Young Street Debt 59106
Compensated Absence Reserve 20000
Total 1,572,952-An amendment to reduce this item by $10,000 passed on a hand vote (168 yes to 113 no). The final amount is $1,562,952.
Article 13 Records
Town Clerk $62,697-Passed on a voice vote.
Article 14 Code Enforcement
Code Enforcement 62483
Planning 87776
Economic Development 2000
Historic Commission 250
Zoning Board of Appeal 160
Total $152,669-Passed on a voice vote.
Article 15 Public Welfare Dept.
Social Services 69,471
Social/Civic Contributions 4685
Total $74,156-Passed on a voice vote.
Article 16 Recreation/Parks and Conservation
Recreation $64,013
Conservation Commission $4,850
Total $68,863- Passed on a voice vote.
Article 17 Library
Library $109,708-Passed on a voice vote.
Article 18 Capital Improvement Reserves
Highway Equip 55,000
Office Equip 10250
Police Equip 5000
Transfer Station Equip 5000
Town Buildings 15000
Total $90,250-An amendment to reduce this item by $20,000 passed on a voice vote. the final item passed for $70,250.
Article 19 Capital Improvement
Roads $250,000 – This was amended to be reduce to $118,000 and was passed at that amount on a hand vote.
Article 20 to appropriate the funds for the budget of approximately $2,275,232 (This will be adjusted to reflect the budget as passed) passed on a voice vote.
Article 21 to increase the LD1 tax levy was not necessary since the budget came in under the cap, but needed to be moved on, and was voted down on a paper ballot.
To the best of my knowledge, the budget that resulted from tonight’s meeting will mean that there will be about a 7 cent increase in the tax rate this year. The increase will go to the $118,000 that was voted to go towards capital improvements to Witchtrot Road. (Note from Molly: correct me if this is wrong, it was a long meeting and my math abilities may be short circuiting.)
