Tri-community figures down from last year
Staff Writer
Voters in Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman took to the polls over the past week to determine the municipal portion of each community’s budget.
“Each community’s budget for 2010 actually came in below the 2009 figure. Last year, Mapleton’s totaled $910,889; Castle Hill’s was $244,734; and Chapman’s came in at $308,482. This year voters approved Castle Hill’s for $235,347 and Chapman’s at $293,335. The only discrepancy came with Mapleton’s 2010 proposed figure of $894,484,” said Martin Puckett, town manager for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman.
Puckett said Mapleton voters initially opposed the proposed budget because of cuts to the Recreation Department.
“Everything in the budget passed the first time, with one line item amended this week to increase the Recreation Department budget by $2,271. This will enable us to continue to offer arts, crafts, tennis, baseball, swimming and nighttime Little League,” said Puckett.
With the adjustment made, Mapleton’s 2010 budget is tentatively set at $896,755, but that figure, according to Puckett, could change — as could Chapman’s and Castle Hill’s — once the school and state determine their budgets.
“We’re awaiting school and state revenue sharing figures, once the state’s budget is determined. We’re actually anticipating an increase in the tax bills for next year, partly due to an adjustment to the Homestead Exemption,” he said.
Puckett credited a mild winter and other factors for helping each community reduce their outlay for the coming year. He said town officials were able to reexamine capital improvement expenses and other items to help keep costs down.
“We looked at paving and what we were putting in funding accounts — we do a 10-year plan for equipment, roads. We’re ahead of schedule, so we were able to reduce what we put in our reserve accounts. We’ve reduced the amount of paving we’ll do in all three towns and were able to reduce line items in our budget,” Puckett explained.
Puckett takes pride in noting that all three communities are “debt free.”
“That’s helpful in keeping the budgets in line. We’re able to save up,” he said.
Like cities and towns everywhere, revenues are down. “That’s why we’re looking at how to balance expenditures. The numbers change week to week on what revenues will be. Two areas hit the hardest are revenue sharing with the state — which is down in all three towns — and the reduction in the Homestead Exemption,” he said.
On the bright side, Puckett said an uncommonly mild winter has helped all three communities save in other areas.
“We haven’t spent nearly as much in our employee costs — nearly no overtime. Road maintenance is down due to the mild conditions,” Puckett said. “Insurance rates are holding steady; the selectmen made a policy change for new hires, so we’re spending less than three years ago. We’re holding the line because of the changes.”
On Monday, March 22, voters elected the newest member of the board of selectmen.
“Monday’s meeting took about 45 minutes. During the meeting, Tim Scott defeated Shane Clark to take Kevin Carter’s seat — a seat Kevin has held for 25 years,” said Puckett.
Puckett said he’s pleased with each community’s respective budget and expects the mil rates to remain lower than most communities in the area. While the number might go up slightly, once school and state budgets are determined, the town manager said he didn’t expect the figures to go up much over the 2009 totals.
“Each community is valued at 100 percent. In 2009 the mil rate for Castle Hill was 10.75, Chapman was 11 and Mapleton was at 12.2. While we anticipate an increase in property tax bills, we’re hoping to keep the mil rates down in all three towns,” said Puckett.
