Town holds taxes steady for 6th year

Budget hearing is set for Nov. 27

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff Writer

The Town of Burlington will hold its 2013 budget public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.

The proposed property tax levy for 2013 is $1.66 million – down about 1 percent from 2012.

The mill rate is proposed to remain steady at $2.56 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The total expenses and revenues for the town are a match at $3.43 million.

“We’re very excited to present a budget to our taxpayers that holds the tax rate flat for the sixth year in a row,” said Town Board member Tyson Fettes.

Fettes said the town is, like most governments, facing difficult times, and that the board had to work hard to keep the tax rate flat this year.

The expense breakdown for the town is as follows:

• General government costs of $503,263 – up from $384,163 in the adjusted 2012 budget.

• Public safety costs are down, from $1.13 million to just over $1 million.

• Public works costs increased from about $850,000 to about $861,000.

• Health and human services costs dropped from $50,200 to $41,000.

• Parks and recreation and conservation and development costs remained the same at $7,500 and $1,800, respectively.

• Capital outlays increased from $420,029 to $889,243 – the reason being because of a grant to do roadwork. Partnerships with other towns will defer the costs, but the Town of Burlington is listing the capital outlay.

• $114,000 for “other financing uses.”