Five things to know about today's Town Council budget meeting at Town Hall:
1. The times. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. with the council deliberating several accounts. Mayor Jason McCoy will give a brief presentation. The deliberations will adjourn to a pubic hearing at 11:05, at which time residents and taxpayers will be able to speak. The meeting is scheduled to end at 4 p.m.
2. The bottom line. The mayor's proposed budget of $79,352,355 represents an increase of $630,896 for the 2011-12 fiscal year. That is .8 percent. If approved as presented, taxes will drop from the current rate of 30.02 mills to 29.96 mills.
3. General government. Appropriations total $25,571,655 in the budget, $98,596 - or .38 percent - less than this year. McCoy's $7.7 million budgeted for public safety is $80,416 less than this year, but maintains the core of 49 officers and could add more, the mayor said. Crime is down 16 percent in town this year, he said. McCoy said trash and recycling collection will remain at the current levels.
4. Schools. The budget proposes $47,462,358 in education appropriations, $170,000 less than what Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway submitted and $96,601 less than this year. McCoy's bottom line represents a decrease of .2 percent from this year.
5. Debt service/capital improvements. The category has risen 15.04 percent to $6.3 million.
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