Easton maintains 14.65 mil rate
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
EASTON — Officials have finalized the annual budget for 2011, setting a commitment of $3,078,308 — an increase of $18,963 over last year’s figure of $3,059,345.
The goal was to keep the mil rate from increasing.
“That was our challenge. We were able to keep the mil rate at $14.65 per $1,000 in valuation,” said Town Manager Jim Gardner.
According to Gardner, one of the problems facing the community was new valuation rates following the end of TIFs last year for businesses in Easton.
“There was $80 million in new valuation, due to those TIFs ending. Easton’s rose from $155 million to $236 million by state valuation,” he said.
In addition, Easton’s share of the county tax for 2010 was $161,000, while its share for 2011 was $240,000.
“Our County taxes were up $79,673 — about a 49 percent increase,” said Gardner. “Fortunately, the school figures were only up about $28,152 over last year’s budget.”
In 2010, the Easton school system’s budget was set at $2,200,345. The 2011 budget is $2,228,497.
When municipal officials met to put the budget together, Gardner said they found themselves about $151,000 in the hole.
“We lost another $36,000 from a loss in state revenue sharing. We went back and made some major adjustments, including eliminating outside services and we eliminated a grant-writing position,” said Gardner, noting that position is one he can fill. “I’m a grant writer, so this helped reduce overlay.”
Gardner said he was impressed with the ability of municipal and school officials to come to an agreement on budgetary needs.
“One of the greatest things I’ve ever seen in my career in town management was seeing the school board and selectmen meet right here (Town Office) to work out the budget. We (municipal and school departments) do a lot of sharing. The Highway Department takes care of the buses, for example,” said the town manager.
He said he was pleased to be able to maintain the mil rate at last year’s level of 14.65.
“This allows our residents to keep more money in their pocket for spending on other needs and not on taxes. For example, in Easton a home valued at $55,000 at the current mil rate would result in a tax bill for $805.75,” said Gardner.
The town manager said this is great news for the community as a whole.
“This is great for the residents and for businesses,” said Gardner, noting that keeping taxes lower means property owners, including businesses, have more money to invest in other things. “This may mean the difference to a farmer of whether or not he can buy that new piece of equipment. In turn, that equipment means he’s more productive and better able to generate income.”
“We (town officials) continue to work to make Easton a great place to live and work. We’ll keep looking for ways to improve the community. It’s a great place with great people,” said the first-year Easton manager.
