A new $17.1 million budget and reduced mill rate is set to go into effect on July 1 for the 2024-’25 fiscal year after voters approved the plan on May 28.

The newly approved budget totals $17,102,208 in expenditures and represents a 6.2% increase in spending over the current year’s budget. The general town government share makes up approximately 30% of overall expenditures at a total of $5,167,677 for things such as services, employee salaries, and contracts. The other 70% or $11,384,531 of the budget consists of monies for the Chester Board of Education (BOE) and the town’s share of the Region 4 School District budget.

The new mill rate is 24.45 mills, marking a 18.42% decrease from the current rate of 29.7 mills. According to town officials, the rate change results from an increase in the value of residential properties in Chester, according to the BOF, and the impact of this increase will not be universal for residents. Major budget drivers include various capital expenses for infrastructure, parks and recreation, building, and education projects. Infrastructure improvements include numerous repairs and projects along roads, bridges, and sidewalks to be completed in the coming years, including some for which capital dollars have been appropriated by electors.

Electors approved a total of $791,785,48 for upgrades to public works equipment and removal of “diseased trees” in public parks, cemeteries, and near road signs, explained First Selectman Cindy Lignar.

“Anything on municipal property we have to address,” Lignar said. “It’s all about public safety.”

Roads and sidewalks needing repair include King’s Highway and the sidewalk running from Main Street to the Chester Public Library.

In parks and recreation, electors approved capital expenses of $28,600 for repairs to the playscape, field, and site preparations for a proposed pavilion at North Quarter Park, electrical services to the facilities at Robert H. Pelletier Park, according to Lignar.

“We want to have quality of life here. We don’t want our parks to fall apart, so we have to do some maintenance,” she informed electors.

For building assets, electors approved $386,000 for Town Hall properties, including repairs to a sprinkler system, a new compressor, and routine technology replacements. Utility upgrades to the HVAC and hot water heating systems at Chester Elementary School are also included.

Finally, there was an approval of $48,400 for numerous upgrades to equipment for the Chester Hose Company.

Another driver includes an allocation of $46,000 as one-third of an inter-local agreement between Chester, Essex, and Deep River for a shared animal control officer serving all three towns. There is also an expected appropriation for a part-time officer with a possible co-signing of Westbrook onto the agreement.

Editor’s note: A previously published version of this story incorrectly stated that the mill rate had increased.