Town comptroller presents FY2025 operating and capital budget; board opens combined hearing through Dec. 11

Comptroller Gottwein presented highlights of the Town of Greenberg’s FY2025 preliminary budget, reviewing fund structure, the tax‑levy calculation and the proposed capital program. She reported combined governmental funds of about $152.9 million, total appropriations and transfers across A and B funds, and capital requests of approximately $19 million, with roughly $18.5 million planned as long‑term borrowing and about $500,000 anticipated from grants.

Gottwein explained drivers of higher expenses, including wages and fringe‑benefit increases, and said the town’s assessed valuation increased compared with the prior year. She showed examples of the tax impact: for a $500,000 assessed house, the Town A budget rate implies an annual town tax example cited on the slides. She also explained how appropriation of fund balance reduces near‑term tax pressure but may not be fully used each year depending on revenues and expenditures.

Board members asked how a tighter state budget could affect local revenues; Gottwein said the town does not yet know the state’s final allocations and will report back after the state budget is finalized. After public questions and comments — which ranged from requests for more explanation of contingency lines to concerns about possible legal expense appropriations — the board voted to hold the combined operating and capital budget hearing open and continue the hearing on Dec. 11 and to close the record after additional public comment opportunities.

What happens next: the board will continue the hearing Dec. 11, accept additional public comment, and is scheduled to vote on the budgets at a later meeting once hearings and requested follow‑ups are complete.