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Board links tax increase to loss of surplus, special articles and highway reserve
Summary
During discussion on the proposed rates the board identified a roughly $200,000 increase in tax need tied to the absence of last year’s surplus and to special articles for highway and equipment; members cited bridge repair and truck replacement as key drivers.
Board members spent substantial time explaining why the town needs to raise more in taxes this year. Connie told the board that although the general fund budget itself did not increase, ‘‘we have to raise about $200,000 more because we didn't have a surplus to bring down what we had to raise in taxes.’’ She said the highway reserve accounts for a large portion of special appropriations and pointed to a $360,000 highway item that includes bridge repair (expected to be reimbursed) and about $160,000 earmarked for truck maintenance/replacement.
The board also discussed fire department appropriations (about $39,000 in total across three items) and the town trash collection program, which voters have recently chosen to continue funding. Members noted that voters’ consecutive approvals for trash service indicate a preference that the board must respect when setting funding priorities. Several members urged finding ways to rebuild surpluses either by trimming budgets or improving delinquent tax collection.
