MEXICO — Voters on Tuesday will decide whether to accept a 2016-17 municipal budget that is about $27,000 less than the current spending plan.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday downstairs at the Town Hall.
Town Manager John Madigan said salaries are up 1.5 percent and insurance is up 9 percent for an overall 3.76 percent increase in salaries and benefits. The insurance increase is mainly because three employees are moving from single to family coverage.
However, some of that increase has been offset by departments benefiting from lower fuel and heating costs. Under the Debt Service account, a reduction of $106,938 is reflected. Madigan said that’s because the town has paid off the first $500,000 bond for roads.
The town will also benefit from the mild winter.
Madigan said comparing the end of this February with the same time last year, the Highway Department saved $64,499. Included in that is $17,000 in overtime, $12,000 in diesel fuel and $16,000 in sand and salt. He said the department has a two-year supply of sand and is budgeting $2.50 per gallon for heating oil, compared to $3 last year.
The Fire Department budget includes an increase of $8,742 to $286,651. Madigan said $6,442 of that increase is in health insurance in going from a single to a family plan.
Chief Gary Wentzell said the budget includes a gas leak blower, a GPS for the rescue ATV, Velcro signs to detour traffic and an additional $300 for the fire prevention education program.
In the reserve accounts, the town is seeking $170,890, an increase of $18,000 over the current year. Among the increases was an additional $10,000 to assist the Recreation Department in its work at the park for the cooking materials in the new snack shack and a water line, and other items. The police equipment account has an additional $5,000 to buy a new cruiser in the near future.
If the Highway Department receives its $55,000 for equipment, there will be $191,000 in the account. The department needs a new plow truck and rigging, a sidewalk plow and a one-ton pickup.
For economic development, selectmen recommend $2,000 for the town’s economic fund and $750 each to the Chamber of Commerce and the Growth Council.
A total of $8,000 had been presented by the town manager, but only $3,500 was recommended. Last year, the town did not fund the chamber or the Growth Council.
bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net
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