Mayor Proposes 2 Percent Increase to Budget

Attleboro residents would see no reduction in city services, but have to pay more for trash pick-up and water in Mayor Kevin Dumas' $125.7 million spending plan for fiscal year 2012-13, which begins July 1.

Dumas presented the proposed municipal budgets to the City Council during a rare Friday evening meeting. The proposal includes $110.2 million for the general government budget (2.11 percent increase from 2011-12), $6.3 million for water service (2.32 percent decrease) and $9.2 million for wastewater service (2.38 percent decrease).

Dumas' plan calls for the cost of annual trash service to go up $5.68 and for a a 50-cent hike on bag fees. This would be the first increase in four years. Dumas told the council it was needed because of "contractual increases and tonnage requirements."

To maintain a balanced budget, Dumas proposed an increase in the water fee by 26 cents per 100 cubic feet. No cost change was planned for wastewater service.

Dumas said he was proud city services would not be reduced.

"This [general government] budget not only maintains the critical services of public safety, but also continues to provide the quality of life enhancements that many other municipalities have been forced to go without," Dumas said.

A public hearing on the budgets will take place June 19. 

Attleboro-Seekonk Patch will attach the proposed budgets and related documents to this article later today.