Town Manager Proposes 4.01% Operating Budget Increase

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues recommended a 4.01 percent operating budget increase in her Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal, which she will present to the Board of Selectmen at Monday's meeting. The operating budget is $104,382,161, with roughly half, $52,991,817 going to the schools. Revenues increase accordingly, with property taxes projected to increase 4.74 percent, through a combination of new growth and the maximum allowable 2.5 percent increase.

The total general fund appropriation, which includes transfers to capital funds, is $111.2 million, a larger 7.5 percent increase. The recommended transfer to capital projects is over $4 million, by far the largest increase of any category.

Murphy-Rodrigues initially gave a 3.6 percent budget guideline, but agreed to the school department's requested 4.5 percent growth last month.

The full budget is available here.

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