Tewksbury Town Manager Proposes 3.2 Percent Budget Increase

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury Town Manager Richard Montuori proposed a general fund budget increase of over 3 percent for Fiscal Year 2021, with increases in both the town and school budgets. All else being equal, this would mean a $16.39 per $1000 assessed valuation residential tax rate, versus 15.97 currently. For the average single-family home, that would represent a $183 increase.

The largest portion of the budget increase came from $1.26 million in debt service for a new facility for the Department of Public Works and the school maintenance department. Other increases came from general operating expenses, retirement, and insurance. Salaries declined, due to police dispatchers' salaries being taken off the police budget. Debt exclusions will begin to decline in Fiscal Year 2021, for both school and town debt.

"This budget that I'm presenting is truly a level-service budget," Montuori said, presenting the budget at the Selectmen meeting Tuesday.

The largest source of revenues is the tax levy, which is projected to increase 2.6 percent, to $96.98 million. State aid and local receipts make up most of the remainder.

An initial $2.2 million appropriation to plan the DPW/school maintenance facility was approved at the special town meeting in October. The plan, presented in the budget, is to borrow $20 million and use $5 million from reserves, without requiring a debt exemption.

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