2025 Budget Notes
This past fiscal year, 2024, has been a largely positive year for Town finances. The Town will exceed sales tax projections for the year and will squarely meet other revenue projections.
We are in the final year in which we need to spend or contract the Town’s share of ARPA monies. ARPA projects that will be signed for this year but take place in the next two years include: pickleball courts at Middle Grove Park; a 5-year Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for Town employees and their families; a new ambulance for our shared ambulance service with the Town of Corinth; a snow and ice management system for the Highway Department; architectural services as we begin to plan for the Town’s new Community Center; a new vehicle for Town Dog Control; and heating and cooling upgrades for Town buildings. The following sheet shows the costs of these projected ARPA expenditures. Amounts in excess of the ARPA balance will be covered by interest earned on saving the ARPA monies.
Some items included in this year’s budget have experienced large increases due to rising prices. Town attorney fees will need to be increased by 33%. Garbage disposal expenses have been increased 67% in order to facilitate town wide clean up events and standard garbage removal. The Town’s share of the Ambulance agreement has also increased 8.5% for 2025. Town employees were given a 3% raise, and some employees received more due to completed training, performance and bringing salaries to par with other towns in the county. Lastly, we have seen health insurance premiums soar by up to 18%.
With all of these factors considered, the Town is presented with this Preliminary 2025 budget which is again below the State’s tax cap and also offers a slight decrease in tax rate to Town residents.
It has been paramount to the Town that resident concerns about inflation and rising costs everywhere, be taken into consideration when formulating this budget. Here is a copy of the 2025 approved budget.
Submitted by Cara Parks,
Town Budget Officer