FY22 Tewksbury Budget: Montuori Proposes 2.7% Tax Increase

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury Town Manager proposed a level services budget that would result in a 2.7 percent increase to the tax levy for Fiscal Year 2022, which begins July 1, in a presentation to the Board of Selectmen Tuesday.

The proposed general fund budget is $122.9 million, up $2.1 million from Fiscal Year 2021, with almost $500,000 additional in reserve for additional needs like contracts. This represents a combined 2.2 percent increase to the general fund budget.

Montuori's budget presentation includes a $16.6 million drop in total appropriation, but that mostly represents the Water, Sewer and Stormwater Enterprise Fund Budgets, which will be funded by their own revenues and were not projected as part of the budget presentation.

The budget projects $100 million in property taxes, including $12 million in town and school debt exclusions, funds appropriated beyond the standard levy limit for particular projects.

This is a 2.7 percent increase to the total tax levy, and would represent a $196 increase to the average single-family home bill if everything else were held equal, including the median home value and the tax shift.

Without a tax increase, the town would have to make cuts to town and school salaries, resulting in service cuts and layoffs, Montuori said.

Montuori projected state aid and local receipts would be level with the current fiscal year; local receipts are down about $5 million from Fiscal Year 2020. On Thursday, after the presentation, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said local aid would increase 3.5 percent in Gov. Charlie Baker's proposed budget.

The planned Public Works/Schools facility is "on hold," Montuori said, saving the town money.

The budget and related documents are available here and Montuori's presentation to the selectmen is available here from TewskburyTV.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.