Milford board hears budget proposal that would raise municipal levy amid one-time drivers

Milford’s Selectmen on Jan. 12 held a public hearing on the town’s proposed 2026 municipal budget, which town officials said would increase overall appropriations and raise the municipal portion of the tax rate.

Town Administrator Laurie Radke and Finance Director Troy Neff presented the $21,369,930 proposed budget, telling the Selectmen and residents that a cluster of timing and statutory items produced an unusually large single-year increase. Radke said, “By now, everybody should have received their tax bill,” and reminded residents bills were mailed in late December and due Jan. 23. Neff and Radke said key drivers include a scheduled revaluation/equalization adjustment, an extra payroll period that occurs in the 10-year cycle, higher property and liability insurance costs and lease payments for equipment and vehicles approved in prior years.

Neff said the town has also agreed to cost-of-living increases and higher benefit costs and that automation investments (new accounting and timekeeping software) were intended to lower long-term operating costs. Neff estimated that, after a full conversion and process improvements, the town could save roughly $50,000 a year: “Right off the bat… the taxpayer $50,000 a year just by switching,” he said.

Radke and Neff showed calculations tying the proposed spending level to tax-rate impacts. Using the town’s municipal base of about $2.0 billion in net assessed value, the presenters said the current municipal rate of $6.06 per $1,000 would rise under the proposed budget to roughly $6.50 per $1,000; factoring all warrant articles could push the combined municipal estimate toward $6.84 per $1,000. The presenters emphasized the default budget and the voters’ role: if the proposed budget fails, the default figure would apply.

Board members and residents pressed staff on particular line items. Some Selectmen urged additional detail or changes — notably about paving and one-time capital requests — and asked for clarity on which capital items would be paid as bonds, lease purchases, or operating line items. Several residents urged the board to find further savings to reduce the tax impact; others said rising costs (insurance, mandated payroll timing and benefit increases) left little room for cuts without reducing services. Radke said the board had directed department heads to sharpen the budget and that the presented proposal reflected those reductions.

The board voted informally to move the operating budget forward for posting and to prepare the required MS-636 filing with the Department of Revenue Administration so the operating budget and warrant are available to voters ahead of the Jan. 31 deliberative session.