General Manager's Budget Calls for 3.6 Percent Tax Increase

General Manager Scott Shanley presented his budget proposal for the 2013-14 fiscal year to the Manchester Board of Directors Tuesday, which includes a 3.6 percent increase in the town's mill rate. Overall expenditures for the town would rise to $169,388,904, up 2.4 percent over the current budget. 

Of that increase, 1.2 percent would be on the general government side of the budget, while the town's education budget would increase by 3.1 percent, or $3.16 million. The Board of Education was seeking a 5.5 percent increase, or an increase of $5.6 million. 

In his proposal, Shanley noted that the state anticipates increasing Manchester's Alliance Grant Funding from $1.3 million in the current budget year to $2.9 million, although that money cannot be used to fund "core education programs." 

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Under Shanley's proposed budget, the mill rate in town would rise 3.6 percent to 32.72, which would result in a tax increase of $135 on the value of the median home in town valued at $118,300. A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. 

The grand list, or total list of taxable property in town, grew by 0.5 percent, or about $625,000, in the current budget, but state aid decreased by $1.87 million. 

Under Shanley's budget, the town will also take $900,000 from its reserve fund balance to apply to the budget. 

Shanley's budget does not call for any layoffs, but does not fund three currently vacant positions in town. 

The Board of Directors will hold a series of budget workshops over the next month, where they can add, subtract or amend Shanley's proposal, before holding a vote on the budget on April 9, 2013. The first oft he budget workshops is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Lincoln Center Hearing Room at 494 Main St.