SANDWICH A budget of more than $82 million, a plethora of zoning articles and a number of private citizen petitions are set to go before voters at Monday s annual town meeting.
Voters will be asked to approve an $82,431,491 budget for fiscal 2022. That figure represents about a 3% increase over the current fiscal year.
Town Administrator George Bud Dunham said the words “flexibility” and “patience” were the key terms used when planning the new budget, which he said is in good shape.
Between the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen, town officials set up a conservative budget that left out many big-ticket items.
Voters have a choice at the May 3 Town Meeting and May 8 Town Election. They can choose a healthy environment that supports economic vibrancy and draws residents and visitors to the townâs shores, rivers and bays. Or,they can choose the continued degradation of the townâs lifeblood, the very water that runs through it. The decision is that stark.
Mashpee has been working to deal with excess nitrogen from septic systems and the resulting algae blooms, fish kills and other undesirable consequences. Decisions before voters on the townâs Clean Water Plan could be a leap forward, without burdening taxpayers.