Proposed Budget Would Mean 3.12% Tax Increase for Guilford

At Thursday night's Board of Finance Workshop, the Board unanimously voted to recommend the proposed budgets of both the Board of Education and the Town's budget, presented by the Board of Selectman. Next, the budget will head to a referendum on April 9 after a public town meeting April 2 on the proposal.

The proposed budgets combined total around $85 million, which represents an overall 2.6% increase over the current fiscal year. Here's the breakdown:

• Board of Education- $54.5 million, 2.98% increase over current fiscal year
• Board of Selectman- $30.8 million, 1.96% increase over current fiscal year

"The Board of Finance liked that this wasn't a status quo budget," said First Selectmen Joe Mazza, who attended Thursday night's meeting. "This is a budget that looks towards the future and keeps moving us forward. Bonding projects for both Boards were also approved, and no amendments were made to the proposals."

What does the proposed budget mean to Guilford taxpayers?

If the budget passes the referendum, Guilford's mill rate would increase .70 mills, which would bring the rate from it's current 22.36 mills, to 23.06 mills. The bottom line tax increase for taxpayers in Guilford comes to 3.12%. These changes would go into effect July 1, 2013.

"This would be the lowest tax increase we've seen in the last five years at least," continued Mazza. "Last year there was a 3.88% increase, and back a few years ago we had a 4.44% increase."

For details on the budget, please see the attached PDF. Check out some of Guilford Patch's coverage of this year's budget meetings:

• Proposed Board of Selectman Budget Comes in at 1.96% Increase
• Proposed Board of Ed Budget "Moves Us Boldly Forward," says Superintendent
• Guilford Could See Raising of Several Coastal Roads in Town
• Guilford Board of Selectman Sends Proposed Town Budget to Board of Finance
• All-Day Kindergarten Not in Proposed BOE Budget