CHARLEMONT — Annual Town Meeting on Sunday will seek to pass a town operating budget that is nearly level-funded, and is meant to carry the town at least until the state government’s budget projections are better understood.
The meeting will start at 1 p.m. at the Charlemont Fairgrounds on Park Street. Voters are asked to bring their own chairs, to wear masks, and to socially distance themselves from people who are not in their own households. Though voters are asked to bring their own masks, Fire Chief Dennis Annear will have some extra masks available.
With only four articles on the warrant, town officials expect the meeting to be short. All four articles serve to establish a basic operating budget.
The budget was estimated, as of Monday afternoon, to be $3,580,557, according to Finance Committee Secretary Carlene Hayden. She noted that a few details regarding assessments are still being determined, so the number may be different by Sunday.
By comparison, the budget for the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, was $3,560,670.
Notably, this budget does not include capital expenses or any expansions, said Selectboard member Marguerite Willis. She pointed to the uncertainty in the state’s budget, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as reason to wait on deciding to pursue projects that are not totally necessary to the operation of the town.
Once the state budget has solidified, Willis said, Charlemont will probably have a Special Town Meeting to revise the budget and potentially add capital expenditures.
The full warrant is available at bit.ly/30DinQy.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.