Waitsfield’s budgeted expenses for the coming year are up 0.7 percent, but projected revenues are down 7.8 percent leaving the town with a 5.1 percent increase in money to be raised in taxes.
That increase is offset by a fund balance of 12 percent that brings the increase in what must be raised by taxes to 4.7 percent. That fund balance, according to the town’s auditor, may go up from $63,432 to $72,364, decreasing the final increase.
Line items for town office operations show a total increase of 4 percent and expenses for the town clerk and treasurer net out at an increase of 4.4 percent.
Select board expenses are up 2.8 percent. The Conservation Commission is budgeted at $2,000 next year, up from $1,000 last year. Planning and development review board expenses are down 3 percent.
Expenses for the board of listers is up 210 percent although total expenses for the listers are only Save & Close$16,200. The percentage increase comes from increasing the assessor’s contract from $10,800 to $15,000.
Road department expenses are down by 1.4 percent for the coming budget year. The 2012 road department budget was $311,538 and the 2013 proposed budget is $307,211. Road department labor costs are up 3 percent, from 2012’s budgeted amount of $131,960 to $135,890. Road department materials costs are down 7.6 percent this year.
The town’s employee benefits costs are up 5.4 percent and that includes a 6.7 percent increase in health care costs as well as a 16.7 percent increase in life and disability insurance costs.
Fire department costs are up 13.3 percent, reflecting a 36.4 percent increase in the cost of gas, oil and grease and the addition of water costs which are projected at $1,350 for the year. Net fire department expenses will rise from $45,212 to $51,214.
Voters will be asked to approve a budget that includes a $40,000 contribution to the town’s equipment reserve fund, $20,000 to the heavy equipment reserve fund, $33,000 to the fire department reserve fund for a truck, $10,000 to the town’s restroom, recreation and conservation fund, $20,000 for the Route 100 transportation path, $50,000 for a culvert replacement reserve fund, $5,000 for the reappraisal reserve, $10,000 for the covered bridge reserve fund, $3,500 for street tree planting and $10,000 for the town office reserve fund.
Capital and one-time expenditures include $176,017 for a culvert on Brook Road, $7,000 for Bridget Street storm drainage, $8,000 for Pine Brook Bridge re-decking, $10,000 for the town garage, $140,974 for village streambank stabilization, $12,000 for FEMA repayment and $5,870 to reimburse the water project.
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