HARDWICK — Voters are being asked to approve a budget of $4,018,083 at this year’s town meeting. Select Board Chair, Eric Remick writes in the town report that that 7.5% increase came about “after several months of adjustments and refinements” when “the first draft of the budget showed an alarming 14% increase over the previous year.”
The budget “includes the expansion of one town position from part-time to full-time. This expansion is to create capacity to deal with the increased administrative burden of managing long-term flood recovery,” wrote Remick.
Town Manager David (Opie) Upson wrote that the most difficult parts of the budget to control are the “rising costs of services and all fuels (vehicle fuels, heating fuels, etc.)” He says that the budget increase may be controversial. He encourages community members “to show up” at town meeting so they can be part of the conversation and have their chance to vote.
Upson points to the importance of the “robust public safety budget to help keep the community safe” for families and children. He indicates that current work to modernize the town by-laws may help improve the availability of affordable housing opportunities in Hardwick.
If approved, the proposed budget and appropriations of $46,900 will add a total of $267.74 to the estimated tax on a $100,000 home.
Remick wrote, “We look forward to a lively budget discussion at town meeting.
See the Town Meeting Planner elsewhere in this issue for meeting information.
