ARUNDEL — After much discussion, the Budget Board held its final budget deliberations meeting on Wednesday, April 18.
Two
proposed budgets will go before voters June 14: A $5.6 million budget
from the Budget Board and the Board of Selectmen's proposal of $5.7
million.
Town Manager Todd Shea said both would result
in a mill rate of around $14.65, which includes the estimated cost of
education and county taxes. That figure is up from this current year's
mill rate of $13.86.
Shea said that
approximately $10.50 of the $14.65 tax rate comes from education costs
and municipal budgets are typically no more than one-third of a total
budget, with the rest made up of education costs and county taxes.
In
their final deliberation, Budget Board member Ray Ward said that he was
concerned about the future of where taxes in Arundel are headed.
"What's
going to happen next year?" Ward asked. "Everyone will want more.
People can't keep paying, paying and paying. You're putting the people
of Arundel under a lot of strain."
Calling the
process "rubber stamped," Ward said he was "disgusted" by the way
budget deliberations were held due to how many items passed with
approval from both the Board of Selectmen and Budget Board.
"Unfortunately a lot of things have passed," Ward said. "We need to watch where the budget is."
Among
topics of highest concern were the obligations to RSU 21, with Ward and
Chairman Shawn Hayes openly voicing their support for withdrawal from
the district.
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