The budgetary process began at the Council's February 19 budget workshop with a proposed budget presentation given by city Treasurer, Barri Avallone, culminating with a public hearing on May 6 and the final adoption at the Town Council’s May meeting.

The general fund budget was approved in the amount of $6,360,110, which is $359,648 less than the $6,719,758 allocated in the current year’s budget. The utility fund budget was approved in the amount of $6,299,968, which was $760,661 more than the $7,060,629 allocated last year.

The total approved budgetary package totaled $12,660,078, $1,120,309 less than the curret budget of $13,780,387. The Council also voted to maintain the tax-rate at its current level of $0.37 per $100 of real estate assessment.

Significant increases in anticipated general fund revenue include $38,850 from streets, $103,412 increase from city taxes, and $2,000 from zoning and code enforcement. The fund also gained $4,000, reallocated from the water restoration line item.

Significant increases in general fund expenditures include $210,774 for streets, $150,000 in capital outlay for police, and $84,712 for public safety. Significant increases in utility fund expenditures include $114,140 for sewer capital outlay, $35,831 for water debt service, and $28,593 for sewer.

Water expenditures increased $28,593. Sewer expenditures increased $35,831. Water debt service increased $6,509. Water capital outlay decreased $961,000. Sewer debt service increased $15,266.

Only a few changes to the proposed budget were made since the February budget workshop include an additional $90,000 having to be added to expenditures, a result of increased waste tipping fees, recycling increases, and an increase in number of customers served, and removing a proposed $351,091 from city bridge work that has actually already been spent during the current year, according to James Wieprecht, acting city manager.

Wieprecht further noted that $140,000 was added to the proposed budget for the restoration of city hall as the result of completion of the work bid process, which produced final cost estimates, and the $90,000 for two additional police cars which had been proposed for 2019-2020, has moved to 2020-2021, because of the coronavirus related shut-down of the automobile manufacturers.

Councilman Joe Vigliotti, moved to amend the budget to include funding for an additional police officer for the force. However, the motion failed for lack of a second.