The Waterford Board of Selectmen completed its budget hearings on Feb. 18, reducing the proposed budget by $3,900 from what had been recommended by the various town boards, agencies and departments.

The selectmen had not reviewed the Board of Education budget as the Times went to press. But total budget requests for FY2020 as approved by the selectmen and recommended by the Superintendent of Schools is $97,885,351.

This is an increase of $2,617,848 or 2.75% from the current year budget of $95,267,503. The FY2020 budget request to the Board of Finance was $95,299,206. The finance board and RTM reduced that request to the current budget of $95,267,503, a reduction of $31,703. This 2.28% budget increase resulted in a 2.03% tax increase in the current fiscal year.

Although the finance director has not provided an official estimate of revenue for FY2021 at press time, it certainly will not be more than the $3,736,567 that was estimated for FY2020. Unofficially, the estimated tax increase to support the budget presented by the selectmen would be 1.89% to a mill rate of 28.51, up from the mill rate of 27.98 in FY2020.

I emphasize these are my calculations and not an official calculation from the Waterford Finance Department.

The total requested general government operating budget in $34,672,018. This is an increase of $890,237, or 2.64%, from the current year budget of $33,781,781.

The Retirement Commission increase of $801,743, or 14.63%, accounts for most of this increase. By comparison debt service rose only 1.27%; insurance costs inched up 0.59% and the fire service cost was pretty much flat.

The Board of Education budget proposed by the superintendent of schools was up $1,669,079, or 3.38%. The finance board has only has bottom line approval of the education budget.

These budgets will be reviewed by the finance board on Monday March 9.

Other large ticket budgets to be reviewed include police, emergency management and information techology.

The Waterford Public Library is requesting $1,073,193. This is $585, or 0.05%, above the current year budget of $1,072,610. Recreation and Parks is requesting $1,509,608 plus a separate request for Community Use of Schools in the amount of $86,126. This reflects no change from the FY2020 budget for Recreation and Parks and a decrease of $86,126 for community use of schools.

Other budgets are hardly changing at all, including the Public Works Department’s proposed spending of $4,689,207. The capital improvement budget is actually decreasing, as is the capital and non-recurring expenditure category.

The latter fund had an undesignated balance of $117,625.62 as of December 31, a designated balance of $3,518,389 and an appropriated balance of $1,670,619.29 for a total balance of $5,306,633.91. The audited balance of the fund as of June 30 was $4,491,330.

The hearings for several categories, including public works and planning and zoning, are on Monday, March 16. The final public hearing and final budget action will be taken Monday, March 23.

The Waterford Board of Finance meets at 7 p.m. in Town Hall every Monday and Wednesday until March 23 (except for Wednesday, March 18). The Representative Town Meeting will hold its FY2021 budget deliberations May 4-7.

After the budget is approved, the finance board will set the tax mill rate.

The finance board and RTM have their work cut out for them to see if there are any reductions possible. To lower the proposed budgets, it may be necessary to reduce services. Public input always makes for a more intelligent decision.

John W. “Bill” Sheehan is a Board of Finance member.