At a meeting of Princeton Council on Monday evening, March 27, a public hearing was held on the proposed municipal budget of $62.4 million for 2017. Scott Sillars, chairman of the Citizens Finance Advisory Committee, presented an outline of the proposed budget, which had been introduced on February 27.

Since some amendments were made by Council after Mr. Sillars’ presentation and some comments from the public, another public hearing will be held at the next Council meeting on Monday, April 3. At that time, the governing body will be able to vote on the measure unless more amendments are made.

Princeton resident Kip Cherry was the only member of the public to voice comments, expressing concern about the proposed property tax rate increase. “If we are to have a diverse community, we need to hold the line of the tax rate,” she said, adding that the town should stick with last year’s expenditures instead of what was proposed.

Municipal administrator Marc Dashield then outlined some cost-saving amendments. The town would use $130,000 of a $230,000 surplus to hire a planning consultant for the planned Neighborhood Character Study and master plan. The remaining $100,000 would go back into the budget. “There was a bigger surplus than anticipated,” said Mr. Dashield.

Another cost-saving change involves the reorganization of the town’s health department. The position of health officer would be eliminated and become part of the job of the assistant administrator, saving approximately $75,000.

Last November, former health officer Jeffrey Grosser was named to the post of assistant administrator but still served as health officer after assuming the new position. While a replacement for the health officer was originally planned, it has been decided that Mr. Grosser will continue the current arrangement.

Other minor adjustments to the budget were made. “At the end of the day, there is about a $308,000 reduction in the amount taxpayers will have to pay in this year’s budget,” Mr. Dashield said. “So what was about a $90 increase when budget was introduced is now about $50.”