CHATHAM – Chatham Selectmen are looking over the details of a balanced, level-service operation budget for Fiscal Year 2018 that was presented last month by Town Manager Jill Goldsmith.
The $30.12 million operating budget fits under the Proposition 2 ½ levy limit.
But it does not include $9.3 million to educate the town’s children, a capital budget of #2.2 million and $3 million in water department expenses.
“We are projecting at this point, a 4.8 percent increase, that’s all inclusive, with everything,” said Chatham Finance Director Alix Heilala. “Our local receipts are going to slightly decrease, other available funds decrease and state aid is flat.”
The spending plan calls for the town to use about $200,000 less than it would be allowed to do if it were to raise property taxes by the 2.5 percent allowed by state law.
“The balanced budget revenues for FY18, and this is omnibus, $53.7 million in expenditures, that includes borrowing articles, our state assessments, all the municipal departments, the school assessments, water,” said Heilala.
The increased cost of employee benefits, which is up 11 percent at $530,000, represents the biggest increase in the proposed budget.
Police and Fire overtime was increased to almost six percent, adding more than $345,000 to the budget.
The projected budget increase includes staffing additions and additional funding for the town’s legal budget.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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