This budget has been shaped by both local and national events. The Town of Blandford went through a period of transition with the departure of the full-time Town Administrator in September 2021. The Town’s budget process, which normally begins in late October or early November, subsequently did not begin to advance until February 2022. Given the compressed time frame, Departments were asked to submit requests reflecting a level-funded budget and a 2.25% increase for wages and salaries.
A conservative approach to the budget was warranted by events at the national level. While economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of lockdowns and temporary shuttering of businesses have receded as of early spring 2022, the Fiscal Year 2023 budget will very much be shaped by macroeconomic trends. Concerns over inflation and disruptions to the global supply chain have been compounded by fuel and energy price increases. The result is a financial climate with a high degree of uncertainty that is best approached at the local level by building reserves and approaching larger changes to the operating budget cautiously.
Other important developments that played a role in the creation of this proposed budget include:
- Robust new growth from Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) agreements with solar developments that are accounted for under Personal Property Taxes
- The release of a Compensation & Classification study report on the Town with recommendations on approaches to salaries, wages, and stipends
- Major capital projects on the horizon, most prominently the construction of new Highway and Fire garages, as well as the longer-term project of expanding the Porter Memorial Library
Review the full 2023 Budget Overview here →
• FY23 Anticipated Revenue Report
• FY23 Expense Report
• FY23 Pie Graph
• FY23 Proposed Budget Summary Report