Mayor Puts an $82 Million Budget in the Hands of Council Members

Mayor George Apel has delivered a proposed budget of $82.5 million for the 2013-14 fiscal year to the Town Council.

A legal notice outlining the budget was delivered to council members on Friday.

The bottom line totals $82,585,933. That represents an increase of $1,986,773 over the approved 2012-13 budget of $80,599,160.

The budget is scheduled to be reviewed for the first time on March 16 at 9 a.m. at Town Hall.

According to the figures on the notice, the school system is getting the entire increase - and it's a fraction of what the Board of Education requested.

The school board asked for $51,669,787, an increase of $3,488,790 over this year's spending plan. The number includes the implementation of all-day kindergarten systemwide. Apel sent a memo to school system officials saying he was taking $1.5 million out and he did just that, leaving the school board with a $50,169,787 request.

That is $1,988,790 over this year's budget.   

General government totals $26,506,476 in the budget Apel sent to the council. That is $334,109 more than this year.

The capital improvement and debt service budget has been proposed at $5,909,670, a decrease of $336,126.