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Westfield council adopts 2025 municipal budget with no municipal tax increase
Summary
The Westfield Town Council adopted the 2025 municipal budget on April 22, approving a 0% municipal tax increase and committing surplus funds to town priorities including public safety, parks, paving and personnel.
The Westfield Town Council adopted the 2025 municipal budget Wednesday, approving a plan that keeps the municipal tax rate unchanged for the second consecutive year and allocates surplus dollars to public safety, parks, paving and personnel.
Acting Mayor and Councilwoman Hapgood said the budget will result in a “0% municipal tax increase for the second consecutive year, and the third time since 2018,” and noted the council will use part of the roughly $14 million surplus from 2024 toward town projects while keeping a remaining balance of about $7.2 million.
The budget approval followed a package of finance resolutions moved by Councilman Damagala, which included routine items such as refunds of recreation fees and a resolution authorizing the chief financial officer to issue payment and cancel authorized debt for property at 200 South Avenue West (the former Mister Goodlube site). Damagala moved the resolutions as a package and asked that they be considered together; the council approved the package by voice vote.
Council members and staff who were thanked during the meeting included town administrator Jim Gilday, assistant town administrator Heather Ray Ferradi and Chief Financial Officer Scott Olsen. Councilman Damagala praised town employees: “It is a very important night tonight,” he said, adding thanks to staff and department heads for their work on the budget.
During the council’s budget presentation overview, Hapgood outlined priorities funded in the plan: investments in public safety, parks and recreation, paving and drainage, public services and personnel. She directed residents to the town website for full budget documents and said specific salary resolutions for 2024 and 2025 will be presented to the council at an upcoming meeting.
The council also held the required public hearing on the municipal budget; no members of the public spoke during the hearing.
The motion to adopt the 2025 municipal budget was seconded and carried by roll call. Acting Mayor Hapgood announced the motion was carried at the conclusion of the vote.
