Town Meeting Passes $229 Million Budget

Brookline Town Meeting voted to pass a $229 million budget for the Fiscal Year 2014 on Tuesday evening.

After well over two hours, Town Meeting members voted unanimously on Article 8, the Annual Appropriations Article. The largest issue facing the budget is the influx of new students in the Brookline School System.

The budget included a $3 million improvement plan for the Old Lincoln School so that it can serve as a swing space to host displaced students while the town builds new school facilities. The vote also skirted the budget issues, which would have cut the enrichment and music programs.

The budget also included a plan to add a new Kindergarten through Eighth Grade school in either one building or in several sites at a cost of about $56 million, as well as a $90 million renovation project already planned for the Devotion School. 

Here is how The 2013 Town Meeting voted on the other articles:

Article 1: Measurers of Wood and Bark: Voted in favor.

Article 2: Collective Bargaining Agreements: Voted in favor.

Article 3: Compensation Balance Agreements: Voted in favor.

Article 4: Close-out of Special Appropriations/Bond Authorizations: No action.

Article 5: Approval of Unpaid Bills: No Action.

Article 6: Acceptance of Legislation to Increase Property Tax Exemptions: Voted in favor.

Article 7: Budget Amendments: No Action.

Article 8: Annual Appropriations Article: Voted in favor.

Town Meeting will resume Thursday at 7 p.m. in the High School auditorium. They will be addressing the issue of a zoning by-law, which would put a moratorium on the sale of medical marijuana, a noise by-law, and three articles addressing the expansion of the Coolidge Corner Theatre among others.