Annual Town Report and FY25 Budget Document.

We are delighted to present the Town of Avon's newly combined and reimagined Annual Town Report and FY25 Budget Document. Over the past eight months, our dedicated town staff has collaborated closely with the esteemed Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management at UMASS to craft a superior shared report/budget document that mirrors the best practices recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). In addition, the document offers an organized and streamlined policy and communication tool for the Town to transmit foundational information to constituents.

 

Our journey began with the Town receiving a generous $25,000 Community Compact Grant in 2022 from the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. This grant aimed to develop a budget document in line with GFOA's stringent standards and metrics. Today, we are pleased to share the fruits of our labor: a vastly improved, comprehensive report that embodies our commitment to transparency, usability, and readability. The new FY25 Budget Document offers a crisp, user-friendly layout that makes essential information readily accessible to all readers.

 

We have woven detailed financial data into a coherent and engaging narrative, shedding light on our Town's most pressing financial concerns, goals, and accomplishments. In doing so, we ensure that the budget remains a tangible, meaningful resource for our community rather than a stale collection of facts and figures. As you peruse the FY25 Budget Document, you will discover detailed departmental budgets, thoughtful revenue projections, and a wealth of additional insights designed to foster a deeper understanding of Avon's financial landscape.

 

To further enhance the reader experience, we have included comprehensive yet easy-to-digest summaries that encapsulate the essence of our budgetary objectives and strategic goals. Our goal in embarking on this ambitious endeavor was not merely to satisfy the rigorous criteria set forth by the GFOA, but to create a budget document that reflects the spirit of our vibrant Town and its residents. We believe the FY25 Budget Document achieves this objective and serves as a testament to our unwavering dedication to responsible, transparent fiscal management. Furthermore, it lays the groundwork for future enhancements such as graphically designed data representations and a direct throughline between organization-wide goals and department level goals driving budgets.