Warren council finalizes preliminary 2025–26 budget changes, sets tax rate at $14.89 per $1,000

The Warren Town Council approved multiple preliminary budget adjustments at a final budget meeting on Monday, April 14, adopting a $28,680,756 tax levy and setting the real estate tax rate at $14.89 per $1,000.

The council voted to remove a $10,000 general-fund line item for Hope and Main and to allocate $10,000 from a restricted social-services donations account (referenced in the meeting as account 35101010000 / 3510101000) to support Hope and Main's food program. Council members approved the change by voice vote.

Council members also reduced the line item for a planned rescue truck from $103,000 to $85,000 after staff research recommended remounting the town's current vehicle and financing the purchase through a five-year lease. Council discussion noted a proposed lease payment in the neighborhood of $80,000 per year from one lessor (the council ultimately approved a $85,000 line), a quoted interest rate of about 4.97 percent, and a three percent prepayment penalty. Staff said the remount would have a faster turnaround (about 210 days) and that, if a lease were signed July 1, the first payment would likely be paid from reserves while the remaining payments would be budgeted in the next fiscal year.

Other budget adjustments approved included lowering equipment-replacement funding for public safety from $167,000 to $149,000 and changing the total grants and contributions line to $326,519. A separate motion set the sewer-use revenues at $2,234,236, equating to $450 per unit in the town's calculation, with council members noting the increase would allow repayment of reserves used this fiscal year and make the sewer fund more self-sustaining.

The council approved a tangible-personal-property tax rate of $18.01 per $1,000 for commercial tangible property. All votes recorded in the meeting transcript were taken by voice and were approved by the council.

Council members and staff discussed practical details and timing tied to the rescue-truck financing: whether the town would be asked for an up-front payment for a cab and chassis, whether signing the lease would make the full amount immediately available, and whether reserve funds would be used if an upfront demand occurred before delivery. Staff said the remount option shortens turnaround time and that the town would not necessarily pay for the truck until delivery, but cautioned there may be requests for partial payments earlier in the process.

The council concluded the meeting after approving the changes and adjourning.