Friends,
The Town's
Budget Public Hearing is coming up on Monday, May 4, at 7 pm.
This
proposed budget calls for a 7.4% increase in town spending over
this year. This spending level will draw $3 million out of our
Unassigned Surplus (Emergency Reserve) fund and still increase
taxes by several hundred dollars for many of our homeowners. Due
to the economic uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, Charlestown
Residents United does not support a spending increase of this
magnitude.
Additionally,
this budget takes $3 million out of the Unassigned Surplus. Last
year, voters set aside $74,000 to survey taxpayers and residents
to determine what we want to do with this money. This budget
decides for us where the money will be spent, before we are even
asked.
There are
items that can be removed from the budget this year, to reduce
the draw-down of the town's Unassigned Surplus. Town Council Vice
President Deb Carney drafted an article (you can read it here) that outlines some of these
items.
Your
opportunity to express your thoughts on this will be on Monday,
May 4th, or you can email the Town Council before the Budget
Public Hearing.
The Budget
Public Hearing will be held this Monday, May 4th. This year will
be a Virtual Meeting. You must register in advance to
participate; instructions are included below.
After this
public hearing, the Town Council will vote, at their May 11
meeting,
on the
budget for the Town Financial Referendum, to be held June 1,
2020.
CRU does
not support a 7.4% increase in the budget during this time of
economic uncertainty. CRU also does not support withdrawing as
much as $3 million from our Unassigned Surplus at this time.
We
encourage people to let your voice be heard, either by attending
the Virtual Budget Public Hearing or by emailing the Town
Council.
Information for participating in the online budget
hearing
The public
hearing on the town budget will be online through WebEx.
Participants
(to either view the meeting or comment during the meeting) must
register in advance by going to this webpage. Several informational items in
the registration must be completed for a registered voter to be
verified and count toward the required quorum.
All
participants/viewers must register to gain access to the meeting.
Registration
can be completed anytime. People are encouraged to register
early.
See you
(virtually) Monday night!
Jodi
Frank, Chairperson, Charlestown Residents United
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