Money,
money, money
Manager and Gray Council develop budget
By Elizabeth Prata Gray--On
Valentine's day, a steady stream of Administrators
presented their hopes and wants to the Council and
Manager for the FY 2005 budget. A day-long super-budget
meeting from 8-5 at the Public Safety building in
Gray yielded reams of paperwork, loads of questions,
and the rudiments of a budget.
All that was in the face of a potential state-wide
tax cap referendum that may reduce the municipal budget
by half, if Carol Palesky's bill passes.
The Council met again on Thursday, February 19 to
further digest the Administrative and Departmental
requests. The budget, which will change as discussions
continue, so far is $653,041 over last year.
However: This does not include the Town Office Center
Committee's recommendation for salary increases, a
recommendation that will be coming along in the next
few weeks. Also: The revenue line for the proposed
FY 05 budget includes capital improvement money, which
is 1.8 million dollars, 1 million of which would be
a warrant article for the town office center. The
budget is available at Town Office or call 657-3339
FMI.
Left to right, Gray Assessor Helen Taylor, Gray Councilors
Matt Sturgis, Lynn Olson, Jack Goosetrey, Dick Barter,
Chair Pam Wilkinson, and Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz.
The Monument: Prata photo
Highlights and excerpts (The full draft budget is
available at Town Office. )
The Capital Investment Program lists upcoming estimates
of project funding needs below. These funds would
be borrowed.
Pennell: $1.6 million
Muni-Services Complex (Transfer Station, Public Safety,
Fire House) $3 million
Stimson Hall: $.450 million
Library: $1 million
SAD 15 School renovations? $13 million Gray share
Reserves
The Town of Gray also wants to establish these capital
acconts in the Capital Projects section:
Pennell: $1,000,000
Public Safety Vehicles $260,000
Public Safety: $9,000
Library Shelves: $7,000
Library: $40,000
Stimson Hall: $7,500
Public Works Vehicles: $185,000
Technology: $19,250
Transfer Station: $3,000
Wilkies beach: $10,250
Bridges: $535,000
Gray--On
Valentine's day, a steady stream of Administrators
presented their hopes and wants to the Council and
Manager for the FY 2005 budget. A day-long super-budget
meeting from 8-5 at the Public Safety building in
Gray yielded reams of paperwork, loads of questions,
and the rudiments of a budget.