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WINDHAM BUDGET PAGE FOR 2008-09
This page provides links to all four portions of Windham's budget for 2008-09 with specific cost center breakdowns as of the Manager's Transmittal on April 1, 2008
The Town Manager's proposed budget for the year July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 has been transmitted to the Town Council as per ordinance on April 1, 2008. This comprises of the Municipal, School, Adult Education and Cumberland County budgets.
The combined budget represents an increase of 3.82%. Individually, the school committee’s proposed budget increases 4.25%; however, due partly to the expected loss of some state school funding, school taxes are expected to increase by more than $1,000,000, or just over 8%. Adult education spending would increase 6.87%, with tax support of adult ed also increasing by about 8%. The manager’s recommended budget for municipal services would increase by 2.85%; tax dollars for municipal services would increase by just over 4%, and be in compliance with a state-imposed tax limit.
The tax rate for 2008 is project to increase 8%, from $11.30 to $12.20 per thousand. More than 83% of that increase results from the combined K-12 and adult education budgets, and the county tax. County taxes are assessed to all municipalities, which must include this in their tax levies. The tax rate for municipal services would increase by an estimated 4.1% from $3.65 to $3.80.
Due partly to a slowing economy and its effect on other revenue sources, total spending is up less than property taxes. This has prompted some cutbacks, including reduction of one full-time position through attrition, reduced hours in one other full-time position, reductions in or elimination of other part-time positions, and increases in employee shares of health insurance costs, among others. However, the bulky waste drop-off program is planned to resume in the fall of 2008 almost completely supported by user fees.
The town council has scheduled budget workshops for April 15, April 29 (beginning at 6:00 p.m.), and May 6. The public is invited to address the council during “budget public inquiry periods” at each of these workshops as well as during “public participation” at each regular council meeting (2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers).
A formal public hearing on the budget is expected to be scheduled before the council acts on the budget that it will send to town meeting. Council action on the proposed town and school budget is planned for May 27.
Town meeting will be at the Windham High School auditorium Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Due to recent changes in state law, a follow-up referendum “budget validation vote” on the school budget will take place within ten days following town meeting.
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