Manchester Town Manager's 2024-25 Budget Proposal: The Highlights

MANCHESTER, CT — Manchester residents and taxpayers next week will get an up-close look at the town manager's $243.5 million proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

A public hearing for the budget presentation is slated for March 12 at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Center.

"This spending plan continues Manchester's proud tradition of being financially sound while providing the necessary resources for important programs and services for our great residents," Manchester Town Manager Steve Stephanou said. "As Manchester continues to grow, the goal of this 2025 budget recommendation is balancing the needs of the community, expectations of Manchester residents, and the obligation to develop a financing plan that is fiscally responsible. It builds on prior year’s investments in our town's provision of basic city services and public education, while ensuring the on-going support for the community’s most vulnerable populations."

Here are some highlights:

• Board of Education spending increases by 3.89 percent or $4.78 million
• In response to "increasing public safety demands," the budget plan included an additional assistant fire chief and an additional police officer, while also "continuing to fund police transparency initiatives."
• The budget includes a new property maintenance code enforcement officer because if an increased workload.
• Human services and equity investment positions now in the town budget that were funded by American Rescue Plan funds include an early childhood engagement specialist, a part-time senior center bilingual assistant and a a health equity worker.
• "Critical city service" programs that had been funded by ARPA include police body cameras and cruisers and the town's MS365 network operating system.
• The budget plan reduces the ARPA subsidy of capital improvements from $1M to $520,000.
• An increase in assistance to community agencies by roughly $50,000 "to ensure Manchester’s most at-risk residents can receive the support services they need."

Debt service increases by $1.9 million in the proposal. The number reflects the first major installment of funding for construction of a new library as well as recurring public infrastructure and roadway investments.

Retiree health and pension costs increase by $1.4 million in accordance with actuarial valuation of those benefits programs.