Preliminary Marion budget up 3.55 percent

Feb 1, 2022

Town Administrator Jay McGrail presented a preliminary FY23 town budget of just over $26 million to the Select Board at their Tuesday, Feb. 1 meeting.

The projected preliminary budget of $26,189,671 represented an increase of 3.55 percent over the current FY22 budget of $25,292,948.

The main drivers of the budget increase include the addition of a police officer and administrative support for the police department, the impact of Covid, including illnesses of town employees; the increasing expense of pension liability; and the cost of curbside collection and the trash station, McGrail said,

McGrail also presented a preliminary FY23 school budget of $12,238,125, a hike of 2.7% above the FY22 figure of $11,915,067. 

The school budget includes Sippican School, Old Rochester Regional High School, Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School and Bristol County Agricultural High School.

McGrail stressed these numbers are very preliminary and will be fine-tuned as Marion makes its way to Town Meeting May 9.

The school budgets have not been voted on yet by their respective school committees. 

The Finance Committee will meet weekly to review individual department budgets. A final budget will be recommended to town meeting members.

A “pre-Town Meeting’’ meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. April 27. This meeting will allow residents to preview warrant articles and better understand the issues they will vote on May 9.