By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — The Naples Budget Committee recently heard the thought process behind the town manager’s budget proposal.

“Being my first budget year, I am coming in asking for what I believe I need to properly administer the needs of the town, and also reflecting the concerns and interests reflected by members of the community as well as staying in line with the overall comprehensive plan for the Town of Naples. That’s the framework I looked at throughout this budget,” said Naples Town Manager Jason Rogers.

Rogers was hired in October 2023, and as he stated, this winter is his first budget season.

On Feb. 7, Town Manager Rogers presented first what he considered to be the biggest changes in the proposed FY 2024-25 budget. Essentially, the proposed budget would increase spending for Capital Improvement projects — some of which can be covered through TIF account. There is almost $1,000,000 in TIF that can be spend on these improvements, he said.

“You’ll notice across the board [the Town is] looking to decrease capital reserves. There is no increase,” he said, stating the decrease is $247,700.

The town can afford to reduce the Capital Reserves without sacrificing road improvements because there is already a balance of road repair money.

“We are looking at a balance of $680,000 [in the Capital Reserves]. We bonded for another million [dollars] for road repairs,” Rogers explained.

“Road repairs — it is appropriate to fund that but not to the level it was previously. This is an opportunity for me to decrease the entire budget. That is the most drastic change,” he said.

Earlier in the discussion, Rogers presented the Capital Improvements portion of the budget proposal. The total is $355,300. Last year, the town budgeted $104,000.

Some of the items on the Capital Improvements list are:

• New potable water at Naples Fire Station: Purchasing and installing a reserve osmosis system to address salt levels in water, $12,000,

• Songo Locks Cemetery fencing: Standardizing the appearance of the fence around Songo Locks Cemetery, $22,000

• Purchase and Installation of heat pumps at town buildings: Starting with Naples Animal Control Building on Route 302 (smallest brick building on Village Green), $5,000

• Community Center planning and preparation, land survey, $30,000

• Singer Center repairs, $45,000

• Route 11 Outdoor sports area and ice rink with pavilion, between $200,000 and $240,000

He described the concept for the outdoors multi-use sports area, which would have a larger, concrete surface that is painted for specific sports like pickle ball or basketball. There would be pavilion over the area and picnic tables in the shade. Additionally, the area could provide linemen and tree removal employees with a place to lay down equipment during weather-related emergencies.

On Feb. 7, the budget committee went over Capital Improvements and Capital Reserves among other items on the agenda during the two-hour long meeting, which was actually a combined agenda. Also, there was some time spent providing updates on Outside Groups that the town supports financially. That discussion was in reference to the budget committee’s first meeting on Jan. 17.

So far, the budget committee has met four times, including this week. Those budget committee meetings fall on Wednesday, start at 6 p.m. and are held at the Naples Town Hall.

On March 20, the budget committee will hold the public hearing on the proposed budget as it goes through the process of being finalized and readied for annual town meeting on May 16.

Rogers stressed that the budget is not set in stone.

“These are town manager’s proposals to meet the town’s needs. Ultimately, it comes down to the residents of Naples to decide how they spend their money,” he said.