Town Manager Andrew Flanagan Proposes 5.76% Budget Increase

ANDOVER, MA — Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan proposed a $211,698,353 budget for Fiscal Year 2021, a $11,538,271 increase over the current year. That represents a 5.76% bump. Flanagan will present the budget Saturday, March 7.

The budget increase would result in a projected 4.6 percent increase in the average tax bill. The Select Board has the option to bring that down to 3.65 percent, by reducing the pension fund appropriation by $1.7 million. Flanagan recommended a bigger-than-required increase in pension fund appropriations—a 19.2% increase in total—to capture one-time growth in property values.

The budget includes a 3.86 percent increase for the schools, bringing the school budget to $89,246,700. Town departments would see a 2.75 percent increase to $43,497,093. Between them, the two total just under two-thirds of the Fiscal Year 2021 budget.

The full budget proposal is available on the town's website.

Correction: An earlier version of this story had an incorrect date for the town manager's budget presentation.

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