Revised FY2021 Andover Budget Restores Town, School Budgets

ANDOVER, MA — Andover's Select Board voted Monday night to recommend a third version of the Fiscal Year 2021 budget, ahead of the planned Sept. 12 town meeting.

The latest recommendation uses new information on state aid to restore the town and school operating budgets to pre-coronavirus levels. State officials have committed to level funding of state aid at Fiscal Year 2020 levels, while Town Manager Andrew Flanagan had previously cuts as large as 20 percent.

The budget still projects reduced revenues from local receipts like meal and hotel taxes.

Town meeting is currently scheduled for Sept. 12 and the town moderator said she does not expect further delays. Since the end of June, the town has operated under monthly 1/12th budgets.

In addition to restoring $1.3 million to the operating budgets, the revised recommendation increases the retirement appropriation and puts $1.1 million toward Article 5 capital projects.

The amount devoted to capital projects remained $2 million below initial plans, but the change saved free cash; the town will come out of town meeting with a free cash balance of $6.1 million, under the recommended budget.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.