WESTHAMPTON – Voters Saturday at the annual Town Meeting will consider a $5.21 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Town Meeting will convene at 9 a.m. Saturday in Town Hall.
The proposed spending plan represents a 1.15 percent increase from this year’s budget. There are no overrides on the annual Town Meeting warrant, according to town administrative assistant Cheryl A. Provost.
Money for the Westhampton Elementary School is the largest single expense at $1.58 million, up 4.12 percent from this year’s $1.52 million.
The amount of the town’s share of the Hampshire Regional High School budget is down 5.53 percent – $1.1 million compared to this year’s $1.16 million.
Proposed Highway Department spending totals $563,622, up 1 percent from this year’s budget of $558,013.
There is $27,995 proposed for the police chief’s salary and $53,935 for other Police Department expenses. That represents a total increase of 6 percent compared to this year’s spending.
Despite a a modest increase to the fire chief’s salary, the Fire Department overall shows a small decrease. The proposed fire chief’s salary is $11,204, up $166 from this year, and there is a proposed $100 decrease in Fire Department spending at $42,200.
There are no proposed increases compared to this year for emergency medical services at $17,000 and $14,925 for the safety complex.
Article 13 considers taking $30,000 from free cash to paint the exterior of Town Hall, Provost said.
If approved, Article 20 would allow Outlook Farm to be granted a license to sell its beer and wine for on-premises consumption. The farm is currently allowed to sell its alcoholic wares in bottles, in accordance with a state license.
The measure would be a move toward changing Westhampton’s status as one of only eight towns in Massachusetts that do not allow the sale of alcohol. Outlook would not be allowed to transfer the license to any other person or location.
Another article considers establishing a Board of Cemetery Commissioners to be appointed by the Select Board. The Westhampton Cemetery is currently managed by the independent Westhampton Cemetery Association. The association asked the Select Board to create the appointed board to move the cemetery’s management more within the town’s control.
The town already pays for cemetery expenses.
Voters will also consider a revised version of bylaws related to dog ownership. The bylaws are modified to refer more to state law, with small changes in fees.
“That way the bylaw is covered by Mass. state law if it’s revised,” Provost said. “That way we don’t have to go back and change it.”
The Fire Department’s new tanker truck is expected to be delivered during the 2017 fiscal year. Officials plan to pay down the cost through grants which are already awarded and excess bond proceeds from the elementary school roof.
Town Meeting on June 20 will consider funding the remaining $12,000 balance, which is expected to be taken from free cash, Provost said.
The Fire Department will hold an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall tol offer information about the cost of fire and emergency medical services and an analysis of Westhampton’s budget compared to surrounding communities.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com.