Budget Meeting Chooses Projects for Next Year

The town’s Select Board and Finance Committee met to decide how much money would go toward new projects. They looked at the town’s total budget of $34. 66 million, which is about $1. 83 million less than last year’s amount. A big part of that money, 57 percent or $16. 47 million, is for the local school district. To run day‑to‑day government work, the town has $11. 01 million in revenue. But it needs $13. 3 million to cover those costs, leaving a gap of $2. 28 million. The town can fill that shortfall with free cash, which it has about $3. 83 million available. After covering the gap, roughly $1. 55 million remains for new projects. The town normally keeps between $500, 000 and $900, 000 in its free‑cash account.So it can afford about $1 million for capital projects this year. The committee had to pick from $6. 53 million of requested spending, including $4 million for road repairs. After reviewing each request for about an hour and a half, they approved about $783, 600 in projects. The list includes equipment for police and fire departments, minor road work, new trucks, a water line extension, and a town hall boiler replacement. Some items, like the water department’s projects, are paid from retained earnings and not counted in this year’s capital budget. Other departments will use revolving funds for small purchases such as buoys and a new mower. The school district’s request was discussed at length, and its final outcome will be reported later in the week.