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Annual and Special Town Meetings, Monday, April 24 at 7pm, Town Offices Annex

Updates regarding Budget review process, proposed Town Meeting Articles, and Capital Planning
Posted on: February 17, 2023 - 5:00pm
Budget policy direction

Fiscal Year 2024 budget season is here!

The Select Board, Finance Committee and Capital Improvements Committee reviews of proposed FY24 (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024) operating budgets and Town Meeting warrant articles are now underway!

Voters will convene for the Annual and Special Town Meetings on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 7pm in the Town Offices Annex.  At that time, votes will be cast that will establish next year's town and water operating budgets, record residents' position on the proposed Pentucket Regional School District operating budget (which will ultimately be set based on the 3 towns' votes), and either approve - or not - approximately 40 Town Meeting warrant articles.

All residents are encouraged to participate in the process leading up to Town Meeting, as each of these matters is considered in a number of public meetings.

The Select Board voted on February 6th to close the Town Meeting warrants, and to refer the proposed operating budget as well as a number of proposed Articles for review by the Finance Committee.  Certain articles, due to either their cost, funding source, and/or investment in capital improvements, will also be reviewed by the Capital Improvements Committee (CIC) and/or the Community Preservation Committee.

A great deal of information regarding the proposed operating budget and Articles can be found on the FY24 Budget webpage linked from both the Town Manager page and the Finance Committee page on the Town website.  The page is located at: https://www.wnewbury.org/budget-information/pages/fy24-budget-information and will be updated regularly as the Finance Committee proceeds through a series of meetings through mid/late March.

The Capital Improvements Committee's review of proposed FY24 capital expenditures, as well as an overall multi-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP), is well underway.  The CIC will meet again on Thursday, March 9th at 7:30pm to vote its recommendations.  Additional information, including the complete proposed CIP, can be found on the Capital Improvements Committee webpage.

Each of these topics will also be discussed at regular meetings of the Select Board, which meets every other Monday at 7pm with additional special meetings as needed.

In parallel, the proposed FY24 Pentucket Regional School District budget review is now ongoing in all three communities.  The best source for current information regarding the Pentucket budget is online at: PentucketBudget.com.

In addition, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 7th to consider proposed amendments to the Town's Zoning Bylaws.  The Conservation Commission has also requested a placeholder article on the Town Meeting warrant in order to propose a local Wetlands Bylaw, and will continue its consideration of this proposal at its regularly scheduled meetings.

Town residents are encouraged to check the Town website for updates, and/or to subscribe for updates sent to you by email through the "Subscribe to News" link on the webpage.  You can subscribe for regular News & Announcements (which are also posted to the website homepage), as well as subscribe to meeting agendas and/or meeting minutes for local Boards, Commissions and Committees.

The Town will also post periodic updates regarding the FY24 budget process and the spring Town Meeting to its Facebook page at Facebook.com/TownOfWNewbury. 

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact the Select Board via email or Town Manager Angus Jennings via email or at (978) 363-1100 x111.