Burlington Officials Propose 3.25 Percent Budget Increase

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington officials proposed a 3.25 percent budget increase guideline for Fiscal Year 2022 at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting.

The proposed guidelines, which received the board's approval Feb. 8, would mean a 4.99 percent tax levy increase, officials said.

The tax levy increase would increase more than the budget because officials expect no or little increase to state aid and local receipts, officials said. But they sought to keep the levy increase below 5 percent in response to comments from the selectmen around last year's budget process, Town Administrator Paul Sagarino said.

The blended rate means a 3 percent town budget increase and a 3.5 percent school budget increase.

"We probably will not end up with a level service budget," Sagarino said. "There will be cuts."

Town officials will likely ask to use some of the town's reserves at some point in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. The town has $16.1 million in free cash and $9.9 million in stabilization funds, as well as $12.6 million in excess levy capacity.

The town budget is "pretty much salaries" so if the town has to make service cuts that would mean staff reductions. The schools will also likely see cuts, Sagarino said.

The full meeting is available here from BCAT.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.