Untitled - Town of Windham

TOWN ADMINISTRATORI am pleased to submit my annual report for 2012. This report, which focuses on our budgetrecommendations for the upcoming year, is complemented by the Board of Selectmen’s Report emphasizingseveral of the accomplishments achieved by Town departments and staff last year.As we enter into 2013, we continue to be challenged by a slow economy, however, after four years ofreducing our annual budget appropriations we have reached a point where we need to strategically increaseour spending in certain areas to maintain the level of service we provide; as well as to update and improvesome our critical equipment. Many of these needs are highlighted in this report.Our 2013 budget request, explained further in this report, shows a 2.59% increase over last year’s budgetappropriations. As detailed below, much of the increase comes from items we are recommending as part ofthe Town’s portion of the Capital Improvement Program.2013 BUDGET DISCUSSION: As shown in the table below, the overall total tax rate for 2012 was lowerthan the total tax rate in 2011 by ($.03/1000) valuation; a decrease of (.1%). The detailed breakdown of the2012 tax rate as compared to 2011 is shown to fully illustrate how the individual components of the Town’stax rate impacted the overall rate adjustment.2012 TAX RATE HIGHLIGHTS(assumes valuation changes [real rate])2012 NetAppropriation 2012 Tax Rate2011 NetAppropriation 2011 Tax Rate% Increase(2012–2011)Town $7,439,840 $ 3.64 $7,664,816 $3.79 (4.0%)Local School $32,417,117 $15.88 $31,943,108 $15.77 .7%State School $4,979,627 $ 2.46 $4,949,753 $2.46 0.0%County $2,193,758 $ 1.07 $2,143,277 $1.06 .9%Total Property Tax assessed $46,806,754 $23.05 $46,471,472 $23.08 (.1%)Net Assessed Valuation $2,042,007,370 $2,025,025,370While the overall rate decreased ($.03/1000), the Town’s portion decreased, as well, ($.15/1000) or (4%).This follows a reduction in the town rate of ($.20/1000) in 2011. These reductions were due in no small partto the efforts of our department heads, committees, and the Board of Selectmen collectively working tosuccessfully maintain or lower the town’s budget and its portion of the tax rate.As we developed our budget proposal for 2013, we continued to maintain a fairly conservative approach toour spending however, as noted above for the first time in several years we have recommended an increase inour budget spending. Much of this increase is concentrated in the area of equipment enhancements, many ofwhich are reflected in the Town’s portion of the Capital Improvement Program. In total, the budgetrecommendation for 2013, as submitted to the Deliberative Session, has increased $320,293.72 from 2012.Of this total, $233,263.72 is due to an increase in the Town’s CIP allocation of $233,263.72, and $75,000 isfor improvements to computer systems. The remaining balance of $12,030 stems from all other salary andoperating budget accounts.For the purpose of comparing year to year, the charts below highlight our annual appropriations anddifferences from 2002 to 2013, exclusive of any warrant articles submitted by petition which are not includedin the overall budget as recommended by the Board and staff.2012 ANNUAL REPORTS 38 TOWN OF WINDHAM, NH