Expenses

When I was Chair of the Finance Committee, in 2013, we recommended not raising taxes to the full 2 1/2 %.  The trend of not spending to the maximum has continued, resulting in approximately $2,300,000 NOT being requested or spent over the past six years.

The Town's budget has increased upwards of $9,792,135 since 2014. The Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee carefully review all budgets each year and require justification for all expenses.

 This fiscal year, 2019 the total budget is $48,119,681. The school’s costs for 1,200 Kingston students are $24,168,020 with the remaining $23,951,661.00 providing services to almost 14,000 residents of Kingston.

 The increase in dollars, not percentage, gives a clearer picture of what had occurred with the town budget. Below I have shown, in the order of dollar increases where the increase of $9,792,135 came from.

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Summary

  • Education consists of Kingston's portion of the Silver Lake assessment and the cost to staff and operate Kingston's Elementary school and Intermediate school. There are approximately 1,200 Kingston students attending these schools.  The employees’ Health Insurance for active and retired employees is reflected in the Town's Employee Benefits budget. The School employees represent approximately 38% of the Health Insurance line item. The total six (6) year increase is $4,680,176.00 with an average yearly increase of $780,029.00. This year's School's budget is $24,168,020.

  •  Employee Benefits contain twelve (12) different line items, with a six year increase of $1,754,287 and an average yearly increase of $292,381. The line items are; County Retirement Fund, FICA (Medicare), Group Health/Life Ins, Unemployment Compensation, Worker's Compensation, Life Insurance, Senior Tax Workoff  Deductions, Training Seminars, Medicaid Billing, Medical Costs, Medicare B Premium Penalty and Drug/Alcohol Testing (Dot).

  •  Public Safety consists of six (6) different Departments, with a six year increase of $1,415,851 and an average yearly increase of $235,975. The departments are; Police, Fire, Inspectional Services, Sealer Weights/Measures, Animal Control, and Harbormaster.

  •  General Government consists of twenty-three (23) different Departments, with a six year increase of $974,495 and an average yearly increase of $162,416. The departments are; Moderator, Selectmen, Finance Committee, Reserve Fund, Capital Planning, Town Accountant, Assessors, Revaluation, Treasurer, Collector, Legal, Wage & Personnel, Information  Technology, Tax Title, Town Clerk, Election/Registration, Conservation, Planning Board, Zoning Board Of Appeals, Rent Control, Green Energy, General Operation and Facilities.

  •  Non-Town Net Metering Project increased $572,241 over the past six years with an average yearly increase of $95,374. The revenue generated by No Fossil Fuel’s wind turbines is reflected in this line item. The Town receives the revenue and then payouts out 99% of the revenue to No fossil fuel retaining 1% for the Town’s Administrative expenses.

  •  Public Works contain four (4) different line items, with a six year increase of $276,782 and an average yearly increase of $46,130. The departments are; Snow & Ice (dependent on the weather), Street Lightning, Solid Waste and Streets, Trees & Parks.

  •  Culture and Recreation contain six (6) different line items, with a six year increase of $131,311 and an average yearly increase of $21,885. The departments are; Library, Adams/Heritage Center, Recreation, Historical Commission, Local Historic District (was active at one point in time) and the Cooperative Extension.

  •  Human Services contain four (4) different line items, with a six year increase of $123,935 and an average yearly increase of $20,656. The departments are; Board of Health, Council on Aging, Veterans Benefits and the Commission on Disability.

  •  Insurance increased $61,280 over the past six years with an average yearly increase of $10,213.

  •  Debt decreased $198,223 over the past six years with an average yearly decrease of $33,037.

Points of Interest

  •  In the past three years, our departments have competed for and received over $2,000,000 in grants covering everything from Council on Aging Programs, the restoration of Gray's Beach, bulletproof vests, firefighter's gear, new telephone systems for the Town, energy efficient grants and more. These grants allow us to provide all these additional services at no cost to the residents.

  •  The Selectmen's Office has been proactive by appointing the Town Accountant to oversee the Assessor's Department. The Accountant has been able to provide the Assessor's Office with the guidance and structure needed to serve the community. We are already seeing positive results under the Accountant's direction.