FY2022 Town Manager's Proposed Budget

February 23, 2021

From: Bill Giroux

Re:    Town Budget for FY2022

This letter accompanies the Manager’s Proposed Budget for FY2022 for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2021.

This budget recognizes the prior-year financial condition of the Town as reported in the latest audited financial statements. Those documents show a General Fund balance of $4,426,958 on June 30, 2020 which includes an Unassigned General Fund balance of $3,362,918 plus $85,522 Non-spendable, $126,520 in Restricted, $837,568 in Committed Reserves, and $14,430 Assigned for subsequent year’s expenditures carried forward. For FY2022 we expect non-tax revenue to rise slightly over the previous year.

This budget proposes a total municipal spending of $12,145,033, a $1,466,243 increase over last year’s approved budget. The share of the expenditure committed to the property tax would be $5,052,545, an increase of $684,972 over last year’s budget. These numbers reflect the reality of rising costs due to growth and other reasons that need to be addressed to meet the service demands of our residents.

This budget would propose a COLA of 3% and an additional market adjustment of 1% as recommended by the Personnel Committee. This adjustment is an attempt to keep inching forward so that Standish can be somewhat in line with other surrounding communities.

The budget proposes a new full-time Transfer Station worker. This budget also includes the conversion of a vacant administrative position to one that will increase our ability to attract more grant dollars and other duties. These actions reflect the recommendations of the Council’s Committee on Personnel.

This budget includes proposed capital spending approved by the Council’s Capital Committee. These include pavement maintenance, a replacement Rescue, two plow trucks, paving for Memorial Field, the salt/sand shed area and a much overdue Revaluation.

  It also adds more money for the small addition to allow a code compliant sleeping area to Public Safety due to increased construction costs.

This budget proposal will receive a Public Hearing in March followed by Council and Budget Committee review actions. The final document will reflect the policy choices of the Council and will be submitted to the voters at the annual Town Meeting in June.

          Sincerely,

         Bill Giroux,

        Town Manager