And the chair of the Prudential Committee used the opportunity to put that budget request into context.
"I understand the increase we're asking for is 10.6 percent," Richard Reynolds said. "That sounds like a large number. We're all aware this money is the taxpayers' money. We like to be very thoughtful about it.
"The town is not seeing a tax increase. And while ours is 10.6 percent, it's 6 cents for every $1,000 [of assessed property value]. So if you have a half-million dollar home in town, your tax increase for next year — not per quarter, but for the whole year — is $30. I understand that's your money, but we are trying to transform the department on a number of fronts."