Budget committee approves multiple department budgets; solid waste discussion deferred

The Alton Town Budget Committee voted on Oct. 30, 2024, to approve operating budgets for multiple town departments, including the police department, fire department and the Department of Public Works, while deferring a planned decision on the solid waste budget until a later meeting.

The approvals came after department heads reviewed line-item changes and explained the primary drivers of increases, most commonly wages, health insurance and retirement costs. The committee approved the police budget at $1,574,856 and the fire budget at $1,125,689; it also voted to approve the Department of Public Works operating budget as presented. Committee members repeatedly cited payroll and benefits as the main causes of year-over-year increases and pressed staff for clarifying figures where available.

Why it matters: the budgets approved set spending levels that will be recommended to the Board of Selectmen and, if included in the warrant and approved by voters, will affect the town's tax rate and service levels next year. Several high-profile items discussed could influence future warrant articles, including a proposal to add full-time firefighter positions and a separate decision the selectmen will take up about replacing contracted solid-waste transportation with a town-owned roll-off truck.

Most…