Kent budgets go to town meeting
KENT — After hearing residents’ comments during the annual public hearing on the proposed town budget, the Board of Finance voted at its meeting on Friday, May 5, to move the 2023-24 budget on to a town vote May 19.
Immediately following the public hearing, the Board of Finance met to discuss the budgets in light of residents’ comments. A proposed restoration of $16,000 to the police protection line to allow for more hours of seasonal duty by state troopers failed to win the finance board’s approval.
The Board of Finance voted unanimously in favor of taking $300,000 from the undesignated general fund balance to reduce budget impact and create a proposed mill rate of 18.83, based on the proposed budgets. A mill rate does not become effective until after residents vote on the proposed budget and the Board of Finance meets again to set the mill rate officially.
The town budget vote on the proposed budget will be held on Friday, May 19.
The Board of Selectmen’s proposed operating budget for 2023-24 projects total expenditures of $4,906,668, an increase over the current year of $332,994 (7.28%).
The Board of Education proposed operating budget for the year projects total expenditures of $4,954,047, an increase over the current year of $171,637 (3.59%).
