She said $150,000 earmarked for Berlin Falls park was for an “unspecified capital project” and part of that would go toward project coordinator David Deutsch’s contract. 

“We felt like it made sense to put to put money in the budget because we’ll probably be doing some work in the park, it’s just not clear exactly what right now,” she said. 

Allen said a 24.45 percent ($433,819) decrease in the administration portion of the general fund was because money put into administration last year for Berlin Falls was moved to the capital budget. A more than $1 million decrease in general fund revenues was also tied to the park and a $611,253 drop in the police portion of the general fund is because of the new police station being constructed on Flower Street. 

Of the three major parks and recreation expenditures, Allen said at least one of those would likely be removed before the final budget is approved. The town received a grant to install prefabricated bathrooms at Dr. William Henry Park and some funding to repair the tennis courts at Stephen Decatur Park. The $137,250 allocated for bathrooms at Stephen Decatur Park, however, would likely come out. 

“We just found out we’re not going to get the money for that from Community Parks and Playgrounds, in part because we’ve got money for the Henry Park restrooms and the tennis courts,” Allen said. “That granting agency decided we’ve got too much of their money at this point. We’re not going to be doing the Stephen Decatur restrooms this cycle, so we’re in the process of adjusting that now.”

Allen said early budget drafts included many similar wish list items that are winnowed down or refined as the town receives replies from various state and federal grant agencies. 

She said money allocated for a water and sewer rate and capacity study, spread out over the water and wastewater funds, would help the town set municipal rates in the future. The town has not done a study in five our six years, Allen said, and the last rate increase was in 2013. 

“What these studies would do is they would take a look at our development plans and tell us what we should be planning in terms of capacity and [whether] your rates are covering your costs or not quite covering your costs,” Allen said. “If rate increases need to happen, the plan is to get in front of it in such a way so there can be gradual increases as opposed to big, substantial increases that really have an impact on people’s wallets.” 

More than $1 million in stormwater grants from the Department of Natural Resources and FEMA must be spent before the end of the calendar year. Allen said that money would go towards the William Street culvert replacement and stormwater upgrades on Graham, Grice and Nelson streets. Stormwater work on Flower Street is essentially finished, she said. 

She said a $144,000 increase in residential impact fees, along with several similar increases, were tied to the new Oceans East apartment complex on Seahawk Road. 

Allen said the town also is working on a fire company audit. The council allocated $250,000 for operating expenses for the company and set aside $150,000 for fire and EMS studies. 

A $48,000 decrease in credit card fees was largely thanks to Finance Director Natalie Saleh, Allen said. She said Saleh was able to negotiate the rate down under new financial systems provider Tyler Technologies. 

The town absorbs the fees, associated with residential and commercial utility bill payments done online, so customers would not feel an impact, Allen said. 

“Really, all it means is the town is being efficient and effective in the way it manages its money, and we’re being smart about how we negotiate contracts with vendors to make sure we get the best deal possible,” Allen said. 

Employee health insurance is projected to increase $4,895 under new provider Evergreen Health.

Overall, Allen said, the numbers in the budget draft were “pretty close” to what the final numbers will likely be. 

“There’s a couple things we’re doing right now. We’re looking at capital project budgets to see how accurate they are, because we don’t want to shortchange anybody when we go into the New Year. And also, we’re hearing from granting agencies, so if we get a grant then we’ll move quickly to get it in there,” she said. “Right now I’m not expecting any substantial changes, but you never know.”