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Requires Collective Decisions

The Deep River Boards of Finance and Selectmen presented the proposed 2024-'25 town budget at a public hearing on April 30 attended by approximately 30 people. The $20.8 million budget requires a 1.5 mil increase.

The requested budget from commissions, boards, and departments would have reflected a $2.4 million increase. The proposed budget includes only $453,327 of those requests.

The education increase is $567,727 from last year. To minimize the impact of this increase it was necessary to cut town expenditures. Additionally, the current town budget, approved last May, used $700,000 of surplus funds to keep the mil rate down. We are now faced with making up a shortfall.

To lessen the burden on all our citizens and hold taxes stable, the boards must defer addressing many important items in the current proposed budget. Budgets throughout the town are being asked to accept reductions.

An important issue to focus on is that the proposed budget includes no long-term investment in capital. I fully acknowledge that the town must continually invest in its capabilities and resources to thrive and thus deferral must be temporary. During the budget process potential sources of future long-term funding and reductions in costs were identified and will be explored.

The budget is a process that requires us collectively to make decisions by allocating our scarce resources among competing needs. The process is intended to establish trust through its transparency and your participation. I am asking all Deep River voters to join us on Monday, May 20, at 7 p.m. in Town Hall to participate in a presentation and discussion on the proposed budget and vote in support of our efforts.

George J. Eckenroth

Deep River

George J. Eckenroth is the chair of the Board of Finance.