Pepperell Selectmen Unanimously Approve $22.87 Million FY2017 Budget

PEPPERELL — February 29, 2016 — Pepperell Selectmen approved a $22.87 million FY2017 budget in a joint session with the Finance Committee on February 29, with a key variable unresolved. Town Administrator Mark Andrews presented a balanced $22,874,047 spending plan but told the boards the North Middlesex Regional School District's proposed assessment — $13,123,000, up from $12,133,000, an 8.35 percent jump — would break the budget if approved as submitted, exceeding Proposition 2½ growth limits by more than twice. Andrews said Pepperell is pressing the district to hold the increase to roughly 4.04 percent, with more than $80,000 of the town's $152,910 Green Communities Grant directed to school utility improvements to sweeten the offer. Select Board member Melissa Wetherbee cautioned against complacency: "Yes, we're balanced, but that doesn't mean it's perfect." The board also unanimously appointed Daniel Dion, a 28-year Army veteran and former Wilmington officer, and Daniel Adams, currently self-funding his full-time police academy attendance, as full-time officers effective March 14. A precautionary vote to authorize exceeding the $180,000 snow and ice appropriation under MGL Chapter 44, Section 31D passed unanimously, with roughly $40,000 still unspent.