Wilton ended 2024 with $342,164.16 left in the town’s operating budget.

“We’re getting better at budgeting,” said Town Finance Officer Eric Window, explaining the unspent funds Thursday. 

The funds remaining at year’s end were the result of unfilled positions in the town.

“There were two unfilled positions with the Police Department and one at the Highway Department,” said Window, adding that a full-time building inspector position was transitioned to part-time. Window also announced at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting that the recycling center had a year-end balance of $409,570, and that scrap metal and plastics recycling were the biggest factors in this revenue. 

“The unspent funds go into unexpended funds, as the DRA (state Department of Revenue Administration) requires towns to have some funds in reserve for whatever might come up,” said Deputy Town Administrator Janice Pack. “A portion of the funds also went to offset the town’s tax rate.”

The town’s ambulance service was also in the black, as $240,000 was budgeted for the service last year, but medical receivables totaled $292,094.71. Window explained the $52,094.71 difference as the result of insurance billings from ambulance calls.

The town also received $12,988 in distribution from the state’s Rooms and Meals Tax revenues in 2024.

“This revenue sharing from the state is based on population,” said Window Thursday, adding that it was just over 3% more than was distributed to the town in the previous year. 

Increased expenses included $62,689 in payments to Hillsborough County. Window said that this was an 11.18% increase over the town’s payment to the county last year. For comparison, he said that in 2023, the town’s county payment was 7.8% more than the figure in 2022. 

“That’s the county. It’s completely out of our control,” said Window.

The board also recognized Deputy Fire Chief/Deputy Forest Fire Warden Tom Staiti for 45 years of service to the town.