Marlborough Mayor Proposes 4% Increase In 2023 City Budget

Marlborough MA

25 April, 2022

10:40 AM

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MARLBOROUGH, MA — Last year, Marlborough didn't increase the combined city and school budget at all. But as fiscal year 2023 approaches, the budget could increase by as much as 4 percent. Mayor Arthur Vigeant submitted his proposed fiscal 2023 budget to city council this week. The increase, which equals about $7.2 million, will largely go to pay higher utility costs, and toward hiring new staff positions, Vigeant said in his budget message. "Enclosed for your review and approval is the proposed FY23 operating budget in the amount of $181,260,899.00 representing a 4.18% increase over this year due primarily to increased staffing needs and fuel and utility costs," Vigeant said in the message to councilors. Marlborough Public Schools accounts for more than 50 percent of the annual budget, with a proposed fiscal 2023 allotment of just under $70 million — a 4.2 percent increase compared to the current fiscal year. Other large departments like police and public works will see increases of just over 3 percent. Some smaller departments could see a big year-over-year increases. Vigeant is proposing a nearly 30 percent increase ($238,765) for the inspectional services department, largely to hire a new full-time code enforcement officer and a part-time plumbing inspector. The assessor's budget could increase by about 20 percent ($85,998) due to a wider restructuring in the department that will reclassify several positions. Vigeant's budget recommends using about $111.8 million of the city's total $161.6 million tax levy capacity to pay for the fiscal 2023 budget. That levy is only about $1 million higher than the current year, which may mean tax rates could remain flat or go down — however, property value increases may mean higher tax bills for property owners. Outside the tax levy, the rest of the budget would come from local aid from the state. Chapter 70 funding from the state for Marlborough Public Schools will rise by about $6.5 million in fiscal 2023, according to the budget. Over the next few weeks, city council will hold hearings before approving a final fiscal 2023 budget. The 2023 fiscal year begins on July 1. You can read the Marlborough fiscal 2023 line item budget here.