Okay.

Good evening, everyone.

I'm going to call the meeting to order at 6 o'clock.

Okay.

So thank you all for coming this evening and taking an active role in the future of our community.

Before we begin reviewing the proposed budget, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what we have accomplished over the past year.

As you'll see displayed on the screen, this has been a year of meaningful progress in the town of Clinton.

We have strengthened our entrance to our community with the rehabilitation of 14 West Main Street and the demolition of the houses on High Street.

These highly visible gateway areas now better reflect the pride we have in our town and set a tone for the continued revitalization.

We invested in recreation and quality of life from a new pickleball court to a basketball half court by the beach to updated playground equipment.

We've expanded opportunities for residents of all ages to gather, play, and enjoy our shoreline.

New sidewalks have improved connectivity throughout the downtown area, making it easier and safer to move throughout our community.

We have also invested in public safety and public works department with crucial equipment to ensure our employees have the tools they need to serve this community effectively and safely.

Supporting these essential services strengthen our ability to respond, maintain infrastructure, and protect the well-being of our residents.

Through partnership and collaboration, we opened Henry on Maine with the Carter Henry Carter Hall Library and the Senior Connection.

What began as an idea as a pop-up library has become an incredible success story and a true example of what can happen when we work together.

With that, Bob and I will begin by reviewing the town budget overview slides with everyone, and then the superintendent of schools will present the proposed board of ed budget.

Thank you.

The process includes public workshops and opportunities for community feedback before referendum.

Developed collaborative collaboratively with department heads to reflect operational needs, strategic goals, and long-term planning.

Long-term financial stability and capital planning are considered along annual operating needs.

Based on the best and most current information available at this time, current rever revenue projections, state funding levels, and economic conditions remain in a state of flux, and assumptions may adjust as new information becomes available.

Balance is fiscal responsibility with maintaining essential services and community investment.

Some budget pressures and competing demands.

Re-evaluation that has shifted the tax burden with residential properties increasing significantly more than commercial properties.

The budget sets priorities and must be careful, must be a careful balance to address competing community needs.

Municipalities carry contractual obligations that limit flexibility in certain areas of spending.

Budget decisions affect and are affected by our residents, taxpayers, and local businesses.

Must respond both to external pressures impacting Clinton and internal pressures related to local service expectations and priorities.

The town is vulnerable to broader economic conditions, including inflation, labor markets, state funding, and cost volatility.

Okay, the uh total budget expenditures uh including the board of ed line item uh proposed to increase by 2.2 million or 3.4 percent.

Uh the tax rate uh to support the proposed budget at this time is 22.75 mils uh down from 31.14 mils decreases due to obviously the town uh revaluation.

The current tax leverage increase $3.9 million rounded or 7.5%.

Uh the increase is due to uh the decrease in use of fund balance, which is uh 1.6 million.

Uh if you decrease the use of fund balance, it it most likely is going to be uh local taxes that replace it.

Uh the decrease uh in other revenues is 101,000, and the increase in expenditures in the budget, as we said, is uh 2.2 million uh rounded.

You could see uh the proposed budget compared to the adopted uh fiscal year 26, uh divided this into uh town government operations, board of education operations debt service uh split into town and education and capital improvements uh split again into town and education.

And you can see the bottom line uh 68 million, six six two three eight three, an increase of two point two million, which is uh three point four percent increase.

So this is a uh expenditure summary, but it's a summary by object code.

Uh so it we can identify uh pinpoint the the increases as you can see on the right-hand side uh salaries increase 382,000, uh fringe benefits 700 almost 712,000, operating expenses 332,000.

Uh so we'll we'll see uh the major reasons for those those increases.

So expenditure summary, town government, major major budget drivers.

Um, salary increased 382,942 dollars or 4.79%.

Um contractual and non-salary increases are listed there for you.

Um clerical union uh 3.25, supervisors union 3.25, police union, dispatch union, public works, and non-union are 3%.

And there is a new proposed position of a school resource resource officer of $85,000.

So the $386,000 there that you see are the major drivers in that that category.

Obviously, there are some decreases and increases that add up to the 382,000.

Uh another major budget driver is fringe benefits, increase close to 712,000, uh, mainly due to active police officers shifting from the old pension plan to the state CEMOs.

Originally a year ago when we uh consulted with the actuaries and and they used the information that they had then.

Uh their latest the data and included in that is um using the most up-to-date um mortality tables.

Uh so their assumptions uh changed.

Uh we had an additional pension cost of 528,000.

Uh increased cost in medical benefits was 98,000, and the increased social security contribution due to salary increases is 32,000.

That comes up to 658,000 on those major items in uh fringe benefits.

Uh expenditure summary, town government, major budget drivers, um, operating expenses increased $332,041 or 7.51%.

The major reasons is a human resources professional services, uh additional IT small capital of 43,000, body worn cameras and in-car video systems operating lease 78,000, and engineering professional services for DPW and planning 25,000.

Um there was some reallocation of some salaries from last year's budget, which we will go into more as we get into the budget workshops, and that will be a little bit more there'll be more of a deaf uh explanation for those capital improvement plans.

Um capital funding.

Um this is for ongoing needs of critical investments, funding options, bonding, budget, fund balance, local taxes, grants, and others.