Mason’s overall budget is expected to come in within 2 percent of last year’s budget and warrant requests.
The budget is currently being finalized for a remote public hearing scheduled for next Thursday, but Selectwoman Louise Lavoie said Tuesday the Select Board is anticipating an increase which is in line or below the cost of living increase when compared to last year’s warrant.
Last year’s budget was approved at $2,050,983. In addition to the budget, voters also approved $234,565 in monetary warrant articles. Of the warrant articles, approximately $173,483 was expected to be raised through taxes, with the remainder coming from capital reserve funds, revolving funds, or the town’s unexpended fund balance.
“Currently, it’s a difference of about 1.5 percent,” Lavoie said.
Lavoie said that while the town’s operating budget expenses are higher than last year’s the town anticipates requesting less in it’s other capital warrant articles, resulting in only a narrow difference between the amount that will have to be raised by taxes.
Several of the town’s contracted services are expected to increase this year. The town’s ambulance service is expected to increase in cost by about $6,000, based in part on call volume.
The Wilton Recycling Center budget is projected to increase by about 6.94 percent for Mason, which is a customer of the center. The budget had already undergone a significant increase in the 2020 budget as Wilton invested in infrastructure improvements.
As with towns across the state, Mason is also anticipating an increase in mandated programs such as the state retirement fund and insurance rates.
The filing period for Mason’s elected offices is open as of Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m., and closes on Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. Those interested in running for office must file in person at the Mason Town Clerk during regular office hours in the Mann House, located at 16 Darling Hill Road. A list of open offices and Town Clerk open hours is available on the town’s website.
Election voting is currently scheduled for March 9 at the Mason Elementary School. Town Meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held in person at the Elementary School, pending guidance by the Secretary of State to election officials.
The Select Board are scheduled to conduct a public hearing on the budget on Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. A full draft budget is expected to be posted on the masonnh.us website this week, under announcements.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.