MIDDLEBORO — Next year’s Middleboro budget of $113 million represents the lowest percentage increase in five years, Town Manager Jay McGrail told Select Board members at their Feb. 3 meeting.

The total figure of $113,308,199 reflects a 5.06 percent increase over current spending. The previous three years saw increases of 5.45, 6.12 and 6.75 percent respectively, he said.

Although he said that may not be a major difference, “but I think it’s positive for taxpayers to see.’’

He credited the lower increase to conservative budgeting by all departments. Budget proposals developed by all departments heeded his message about "conservative planning for the future,’’ McGrail said.

The education portion of the budget totals $41,795,605, an increase of 3 percent over current spending. 

Just over half the budget, 54.5 percent comes from residential taxes, with about a quarter, or 24.4 percent in state aid, 10.2 percent in local receipts such as meals, excise and room taxes and 11 percent from other sources.

Several issues drove the budget, McGrail said.

One is an increase of 10 percent in appropriations to cover costs for retirees. Current spending is at $10,172,439, while next year’s is projected to be $11,215,927.

The budget for Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical School totals just under $2.2 million. This includes the costs of 12 additional Middleboro students attending the school and a $1 million debt payment for the 2022 new school construction. 

Eight full-time civilian dispatchers have been added to the budget. Four will work at the fire station and four at the police station, with the ultimate goal of having them work together at a central dispatch location at the police station.

Six new firefighters have been brought on through a $2 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant grant. These positions are fully funded for three years but the costs are included in the budget to allow the spending to be accommodated when the grant runs out. 

Utility costs across all departments are also continuing to increase, McGrail said.

The average tax bill in Middleboro is $6,761, which is about $1,000 less than the state average, McGrail said.

He thanked Emily Surette, assistant to the town manager, for her help in creating the budget presentation. Department heads will attend upcoming board meetings to discuss their specific budgets.