View Comments
DOVER Residents can expect a municipal tax hike as officials prepare to adopt a budget in the next few weeks, one that includes a plan to pay off millions in debt.
This year’s $25 million proposed operating budget includes a 3.86% municipal tax increase, or about $120 for the average assessed property of $239,108, due to debt, increased police and fire wages and pension bills.
Officials said they reduced the town s $41 million debt incurred under former Mayor James Dodd’s administration by more than half, but said more needs to be done to reach financial stability.
“It is very important to get this down, because it’s one thing to have debt with a plan to pay it back and another to have it sit there,” said Chief Financial Officer John Gross. “The town had to decide if it wanted to move forward with projects or reduce debt.”