To all Andover citizens: I am writing to give you an update on the 2024 Andover Town Meeting Warrant. Attached with this article is a 2024 budget explanation page. The highlight of my writing is that the requested amount is down this year by $582,726.40.  

As citizens are aware, I would like to point out that we appropriated $1.5 million for the new Highway Garage in 2023. The very good thing here is there was no bond issued to build the Highway Garage; through good practices that the citizens have allowed, we used a system of putting money away in anticipation of the expense. 

This leads me to address how important the Capital Improvements Committee is, not only in this community but in many. Many communities use bonding on a regular basis, I was happy to see when I applied as your Town Administrator that this was not the case. Like we all do as families, we try to save money and not be indebted, paying interest. This may not always be the case in Andover, but fiscal prudence has helped here,

I was also pleased to see as your Town Administrator that this year we rejuvenated the Capital Improvements Committee. Please look for their very detailed report in the Town Report this year.  Both as a Police Chief and Sheriff, we had used this committee to deal with equipment and infrastructure issues now and into the future. This, my friends, is good planning.   

The most important thing about a Capital Improvements Plan is that it prevents what financial experts will identify as spikes and valleys in tax rates. Together with research on additional revenues “grants,” I am hoping that we can get additional help.

I would be remiss if I did not thank the many committee members who volunteer many hours to serve the citizens of Andover. I am very impressed by the volunteerism in the community. I look forward to meeting many of you at the election and Town Meeting on March 12.