Randolph Selectboard Adopts Budget

The Randolph Selectboard last Wednesday finally adopted a budget for next fiscal year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011).

The expenditure budget shows increases of just 1% in highway expenses and 2% in general government, while expenses are down or level in the three special districts—water, sewer and police.

Requests for special appropriations, however, are up 15% from $66,320 to $76,570, and the capital budget shows a request for $300,000 in paving costs.

The library fund, which is voted separately, shows an increase of 6% from $199,000 to $211,000. That budget will be voted on twice—once for the amount approved by the selectboard, the second time for $12,000 more that the library had asked for in its budget.

Over all, according to the budget released from town offices this year, the municipal tax rate could rise from 61 cents to 66 cents. The additional five cents would increase taxes $100 on a house appraised at $200,000.

The highway budget showed a modest increase from $1,270,299 to $1,282,484 despite a new entry of about $27,000 for “administration expense.” Overtime is budgeted to decrease, and savings are also expected in the costs of vehicle fuel, as well as gravel, budgeted at $40,000 this year compared to $60,000 last year.

The town expects to spend $10,000 more for winter sand and more also for downtown maintenance.

Paving projects are expected to include the Ridge Road, South Randolph Road, Mound Street, Stock Farm Road, Windover Road, and Water Street.

General Government

Expenditures for general government are slated to rise 2%, or $48,000, from $2,436,000 to $2,484,000.

Executive expenses, both administrative and operating, account for $24,000 of the increase, including a $5500 rise in health insurance payments and raises projected at less than 2%.

The Randolph Area Community Development Corp. (RACDC) is in the general budget for $15,000 in three separate entries, down from the $20,000 budgeted for economic development last year—although RACDC never received any of that money.

Taxes for Orange County are up $13,000 from $81,000 to $94,176 and the sheriff’s contract has been restored to $8000 from last year’s lower amount of $5000.

The fire department budgets are basically level-funded, but the listers’ office is up $10,000 and recreation up $17,000, including $8000 in an expected increase for the Boys and Girls Club, which runs most rec programs.

Several offices, including the town clerk, planning and zoning, and the cemetery have slightly lower budgets this year than last.

As part of the capital budget, the town will incur bond payment costs of about $587,000, down from $623,500 last year. That is despite the fact that the town begins paying on the Chandler construction bond next year, to the tune of $66,500. Meanwhile, however, one sewer project bond was paid off.

Special Appropriation

Eighteen organizations have requested a total of $76,570 through special appropriations, which will be voted separately at Town Meeting. Last year, 16 organizations asked for $66,320.

RACDC will be new on the ballot, asking for $5000 to help with the Joslyn House heat efficiency projects. Two organizations are back on the ballot after taking a year off last year—Adult Basic Education (for $6000) and White River Partnership (for $750). The Randolph Area Food Shelf has boosted its request from $1500 to $2500.