Budget is ready

KENT — A public hearing on the town’s proposed budget for fiscal 2010-11 is scheduled for Friday, May 7, at 8 p.m. at Town Hall. The town meeting for residents to vote on the proposed budget is scheduled for Friday, May 21, at 8 p.m. at Town Hall.

The proposed budget for fiscal 2010-11 proposed by the Board of Selectmen is $2,645,477, a 1.4-percent increase over this year’s budget.

The total budget for fiscal 2010-11 proposed by the Board of Education is $6,220,339, a 0.15-percent increase.

The Board of Finance met on Tuesday, April 20, at Town Hall to discuss any potential changes to the budgets. Instead of asking either the selectmen or the Board of Education to make any cuts or changes, they left both budgets alone.

They also approved a proposed tax rate of 14.02, which is lower than the current 14.11 mils.

A mill represents $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value. A 15-mill tax rate would translate into a tax bill of $1,500 for the owner of a home assessed at $100,000.

Town residents can request changes be made at the hearing. However, once the budget goes to town meeting, voters can only approve or not approve the spending plan.

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