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Ashland - Local Town Pages

Voters To Act On Budget, Sustainability Goals

By Patricia Roy
Voters at the annual town meeting will act on a budget topping $83 million as well as considering articles on allowed demolitions of buildings deemed to be historic and progression towards zero net greenhouse gas emissions.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. May 4, at Ashland High School, 65 Union St.
Of that budget total, $71,677,750 is proposed to be directed to the General Fund.
An article seeks funding for the town’s public schools at $37, 907,473, up 4.83 percent from last year. The town’s share of funding for Keefe Technical Vocational High School has been set at $1,126,966 or a 14.84 percent decreased over last year.
Also included in the education budget is debt amounting to $6,249, 810, about $445,000 of that is excluded debt. 
Public safety spending is up just over five percent, at $6,664,533 with police costs rising less than 2 percent at $3,845,630 while the fire department has gone up to $2,818,903, an increase of more than 10 percent.
The costs of benefits and insurance for the town’s employees, including retirement, workers compensation, unemployment compensation and group health insurance to $12,188,273 for an overall increase of nearly six percent. 
Approval for the water enterprise fund is being sought at $3,108,623 an increase of nearly seven percent over last year. The sewer enterprise fund is set at $6,119,034, an increase of more than four percent.
Department of Public Works requested funding amounts to $2,222, 059, a five percent increase over last year. This includes building and property maintenance, highway expenses, snow and ice removal, streetlights, fuel and cemetery expenses. 
Voters will also be asked to approve a strategic framework for the town with the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2040. The goal was approved by voters in 2019 who charged the Sustainability Committee with developing the framework.
The Community Preservation Committee will request funding from Fiscal Year 2023  estimated revenue totaling $158,910 each for Historic Resources Reserves, Community Housing Reserve and Open Space Reserve. The Undesignated Reserve is sought at $1,112,369.  Committee Administrative Expenses are requested at $83,637 from the same source.
The Oak Street Bond Payment is requested to be funded at $148,275 from the Community Preservation Funds. Voters will also be asked to approve $314,475 in the same funds for athletic fields at Ashland High School.
An additional $156,562 is being sought from the funds for the Warren Woods bond payment and $46,836 is being requested for the Valentine Estate on West Union Street.
Voters will also give consideration to two articles seeking to  amend a bylaw regulating the demolition of buildings deemed to be historic or architecturally significant. 
The demolition permit could be delayed by up to two years in some cases until someone is found who is willing to purchase, repair or restore the building.