HEATH — Voters approved an operating budget of $1.3 million in fiscal 2020 — a rise of 8.5 percent from the current year — at Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting.
The town also approved all other expenses on the town warrant. When all capital and other expenses are added up, the town’s overall budget is $2.3 million for fiscal 2020.
To reduce the budget, the town permitted using money left-over from previous years in its “free cash” account of $136,540.
The budget translates to a tax rate of $22.31 per $1,000 of valuation, up 71 cents or 3.3 percent from the current year. At Friday’s annual election the town voted to raise taxes through a Proposition 2 ½ override in order to pay for broadband installation.
Next year, this rate is expected to exceed $24 due to broadband installation costs, Finance Committee Chair Ned Wolf said. He said if the rate increases any higher, the town is at risk of going into receivership, meaning the state will assume control of Heath’s budget.
The contribution to Mohawk Trail Regional School is $858,221, an increase of 5.31 percent or $47,237 from the current budget year. Heath has 86 students enrolled in Mohawk Trail District schools next school year, up from 74 students this year. The town also approved $6,540 for Mohawk capital costs.
The town OK’d a $101,801 contribution to Franklin County Technical School — a $55,630 or 35 percent increase due to rising student enrollment. Capital costs of $2,813 for the school were also passed.
Heath voters also approved spending $36,550 for a loan taken out by the town to pay for damages caused by Hurricane Irene. Last year, the town paid an installment in savings or “free cash.”
“We thought it better they should be on the budget,” Selectboard member Gloria Cronin Fisher said.
Reach Grace Bird at gbird@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 280.