LEVERETT — As Leverett approaches a tax rate capped by limits of the state’s Proposition 2½ law, residents at annual Town Meeting Saturday will be presented a $6.05 million budget that preserves most existing services, while minimizing the impact on property taxes.
The municipal budget is up just $83,103, or 1.4 percent, over the current year’s $5.97 million, with an effort underway to restrain an increase in the current $21.05 per $1,000 valuation tax rate. The state sets a ceiling of $25 per $1,000 valuation.
In this month’s town newsletter, Selectboard member Peter d’Errico writes that “in a nutshell, Leverett must restrain its budgetary growth well below accustomed levels to avoid hitting the tax cap precipitously.”
Also as part of the 33-article warrant, which will be taken up beginning at 9 a.m. at the Leverett Elementary School gym, voters will have a chance to prepare the town for the possibility of retail marijuana establishments or cultivation facilities by assessing a 3 percent local excise tax on sales.
The main budget driver is the $3.97 million for public schools, with $2.48 million for the elementary school, an $85,904, or 3.6 percent, increase, and $1.49 million related to the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, which is $30,198, or 2 percent less, than the current budget.
The elementary budget includes an additional $20,000 that is being appropriated on a one-time basis to offset lost revenue, but will not be part of the base budget in future years. Even so, some cuts in programming will take place.
Like Town Meetings in Amherst, Shutesbury and Pelham, Leverett will be asked to amend the regional school district assessment formula.
Adjustments to the town budget includes adding $10,680 for part-time police officers, increasing that line item to $44,680, to allow more shifts to be filled, and adding $24,313 to the fire department for additional hours for the fire chief and deputy chief.
Other spending will come from the Community Preservation Act account, free cash and transfers from the stabilization account.
Among CPA projects are $28,400 to begin restoration of 55 gravestones at the Mount Hope Cemetery on Chestnut Hill Road in North Leverett; $25,000 that will pay half the cost of replacing the east side roof and add rain gutters and heat tape on the west side roof, at the Leverett Crafts and Arts building on Montague Road in town center; $21,000 to hire a land use planner from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments to develop an open space and recreation plan; and $5,000 to complete a survey of historical assets.
Free cash spending will include $88,521 to finish repairs to the sprinkler system at the elementary school, $11,500 to paint the exterior of the Leverett Library and $2,600 to repoint the chimney at Town Hall, with $25,000 to be placed in the stabilization account to fund the capital plan. An additional $29,656 from free cash goes to the Other Post Employment Benefits trust.
Stabilization account transfers, which will require two-thirds majority votes, include $38,184 for a new vehicle for the fire chief and $15,000 to buy and equip a trash compactor for transfer station.
Another article would make the town clerk an appointed position. Town Administrator Marjorie McGinnis said that, if passed, this will require a change in the town bylaw and a subsequent ballot vote.
Other items on the warrant include two zoning changes that clarify Planning Board and Zoning Board site plan review and special permits and a citizen petition resolution calling on the United States to be a world leader in preventing nuclear war.