Selectmen set 29.17 mill rate, approve public works transfers and routine budget adjustments

With the fiscal year budget adopted last week, the Winchester Board of Selectmen on June 2 set the 2005–06 mill rate at 29.17 mills and approved several line‑item transfers and routine financial items to close out fiscal year 2025.

Town Manager Paul Harrington told the board the mill rate — based on the grand list dated Oct. 1, 2024 — would allow the town to issue tax bills on schedule. The board voted to set the real estate, personal property and motor vehicle rate at 29.17 mills; the motion carried unanimously.

Public Works Director Jim Rollins and Harrington presented a proposed transfer of $88,000 from an underspent general labor line to cover overtime and vehicle/repair needs. The board approved transferring $88,000 total: $38,000 (corrected line) to overtime, $30,000 to maintenance of vehicles and $20,000 to fleet repairs, to allow ordering parts and refurbishing vehicles. Rollins said much of the spending keeps older plow trucks and service vehicles operational and that staggered vehicle usage can lengthen equipment life.

Board members also approved several smaller transfers: $1,050 moved into town-clerk restoration and office-supply lines; a recommendation from the tax collector to authorize refunds totaling $9,824.28 was approved; and the board approved the recommended line‑item transfers unanimously.

Selectmen and staff discussed that the transfers are intended to cover year-end needs now that the budget is in effect and to pre-fund some maintenance so that larger capital purchases can be better planned next fiscal year. No new taxes or budget increases were proposed during the meeting.