Sharon town budget plan shows 2.04% rise

SHARON — After multiple budget workshops that scrutinized each expense line, the Board of Selectmen approved the final draft of a proposed Sharon budget for the 2022-23 year at their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 8.

Carrying a 2.04% increase in net expenditures, the proposed budget was scheduled to be presented and detailed at the Board of Finance regular meeting on Tuesday, March 15, beginning at 6 p.m., after this issue went to press. The meeting was scheduled to be held in person at Town Hall and on Zoom.

The proposed budget anticipates total expenditures of $4,330,454, an increase of $86,383 (2.035%) over the current year.

Selectman Dale Jones said he was pleased with the net bottom line and Selectman Casey Flanagan termed the increase “reasonable.”

“We focused on being sure that employees’ wages kept pace with the market and also kept up the equipment replacement fund,” Flanagan added.

With no bids having been submitted for a project to renovate Community Hall in response to the town’s request for bids, the selectmen agreed that Parks and Recreation could contact local contractors directly to attract proposals for the project. The bid process is intended to provide a cost estimate to guide decisions on details of the work.

Sharon Classic May 7

The Sharon Day Care Center’s Sharon Classic road race is on for Saturday, May 7, but with a new route planned. Stacy Hudson, representing Sharon Day Care, reported that the race will begin and end at Veterans’ Field. Departing from the town garage driveway, runners and walkers will proceed to the tavern and turn left to proceed to the Millerton Road for a short distance. They will make a left onto Mudge Pond Road, turn onto Drum Road and return to Veterans’ Field.

Responding to the selectmen’s initial concerns about safety for those participating in the race, First Selectman Brent Colley explained that the new route has fewer miles along state roads and that by using Veterans’ Field there will be more space for race day activities for children and adults. The race has traditionally started and ended on the town Green.

To ensure safety, Hudson added that more route signs will be posted and that the Sharon Fire Department will provide volunteers to help with traffic control in places where the road narrows.