By David Hazledine
InkFreeNews

MILFORD  — Milford town leaders held budget workshops the evening of Tuesday, July 13, to begin devising the 2022 budgets for the water, wastewater, parks, motor vehicle highway and police departments.

All departments will see increases, largely resulting from employee wage increases.

The following are preliminary estimates and remain subject to departmental changes as well as public hearings.

Water and wastewater department budgets continue to outpace revenue, though wastewater is benefiting from increased revenue from new customer BioWaste as well as more efficient operations, according to treatment plant operator Mark Brubaker. However, the plant also hired a new employee, which offsets these modest gains.

The 2022 wastewater budget will see a 6.99% increase from 2021 for a total of $591,419.50.

During water budgets discussions, Superintendent Steven Marquart lamented the loss of several revenue sources during recent years, including a laundromat, car wash, nursing home and others. “We’re not getting the water use we used to have,” he said.

The 2022 water budget will likely see a 5.29% increase for a total of $319,462.

Marquart also oversees the motor vehicle highway and park budgets. The 2022 MVH budget is expected to be $521,551.30, a 5.03% increase. The park budget for 2021 was $42,983.40; this will increase to $50,581.57 in 2022.

During police budget discussions with Chief Derek Kreider, discussion centered around increases in gas prices, upgrades of handheld radios and the need for new bullet-proof vests in the coming years. He also spoke of the need for salaries to compete with nearby departments to maintain a quality police force.

Kreider’s 2022 budget is $523,073, an 8.56% increase over 2021.

Workshops will continue at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, in Town Hall with the review of Milford Fire Department and clerk/treasurer budgets. These are open to the public.