Town Meeting Voters Approve $147 Million Budget, Large Expenses

Andover's Annual Town Meeting spent well over an hour talking about different sections of Andover's fiscal 2014 budget, one of the 61 articles on the warrant this year. 

Voters eventually approved the $147.5 million budget. In addition to the budget, voters approved a list of large, one-time expenses, such as town vehicle purchases and large repair projects, called capital projects. This year capital projects totaled $2.28 million. 

After subtracting fixed costs and other expenses, the the town and school budgets combined totaled $103,878,915, which represents a 3.42 percent increase from last year. 

Resident Bob Pokress asked what the town is doing to start saving for the unfunded retirement liabilities it will have to pay out in future years. Selectman Brian Major said the town started a trust fund a few years ago and has been putting between $300,000 and $400,000 in an account each year. 

He also said that the Town Manager will be presenting the board with a longterm plan to take care of this unfunded pension debt. 

"We will be putting together a plan," said Major. 

Other residents also commented about the increases in town's water expenses and whether or not the town's pension funds were being handled appropriately. 

The voters also approved $2.28 million in capital expenditures, which included $100,000 for minor sidewalk repairs, $180,000 in police vehicles and $1 million on school projects. 

Town Meeting continues tonight at 7 p.m. at the Andover High School field house.