As we welcome the first day of spring, we’re looking ahead to an important season for the Town of Orleans. With warmer days on the horizon, we’re also preparing for our Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 12.

Town Meeting is a critical opportunity for residents to come together and help shape the future of Orleans. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be sharing updates and information through our various communication channels and in public meetings to ensure you have the details you need about warrant articles and the annual town budget.

We encourage you to stay engaged and reach out with any questions you may have. Your voice is essential to this process, and we are always here to help provide information and clarity.

Thank you for being part of this community, and we look forward to seeing you at Town Meeting!

Sincerely,

Kim Newman
Town Manager

The Orleans Town Budget: A Closer Look

Each year, the Town of Orleans embarks on a months-long budgeting process to ensure financial stability while meeting the needs of residents and businesses. With a total budget of $65 million—of which the town’s operating budget accounts for approximately $32 million—this process requires careful planning, public input, and strategic decision-making.

How the Budget Comes Together
The budgeting process begins in November, when the Town Manager identifies policy priorities for the year. These priorities are shaped with input from the Select Board, ensuring that the town’s financial direction aligns with community needs.

Once the framework is set, department heads submit their budget plans, providing a detailed picture of anticipated expenses. At the same time, the Town Manager meets with the Finance Team to assess revenue collection, which includes taxation, local receipts, and state and federal aid.

By January 15, as required by the town’s charter, the draft budget is submitted to the Select Board, marking the beginning of an extensive public review process. Over the next two months, the Select Board and Finance Committee hold a series of public meetings to refine the budget, shape the town’s financial outlook, find efficiencies, and prioritize spending based on community needs.

Investing in Orleans’ Future
In recent years, the town has prioritized investments in both its physical infrastructure—such as buildings and facilities—and its organizational capacity, including staffing and service improvements, to maintain a high level of service delivery. However, challenges such as a competitive hiring market and rising costs for retirement and benefits packages mean that this year’s budget includes a proposed override request to help fund these obligations. The Town Manager and Select Board are committed to making Orleans an employer of choice on Cape Cod, ensuring that the town can attract and retain the best staff while continuing to provide high-quality services to residents.

One of the town’s most pressing infrastructure needs is the replacement of the aging and inadequate fire rescue station, which no longer meets the demands of a modern fire department. Ensuring adequate public safety facilities is a key component of this year’s financial planning. The town is committed to providing critical, life-saving services to the Orleans community, and after years of planning, the best proposal for the community is being brought forward. This May, residents will have the opportunity to vote on a $45 million debt exclusion to fund the new fire station. Investing in this project is an investment in public safety, and we encourage the community to learn more and join in this commitment.

The Power of Residents in the Budget Process
Right now, final budget decisions are being made in real time, and public participation is critical. While town staff and elected officials put forward the best possible financial plan, the ultimate decision rests with you—the residents of Orleans—at Town Meeting.

The more residents understand the budget and its impact, the better equipped they are to make informed choices when it’s time to vote. Attending public meetings, reviewing budget materials, and asking questions are all ways to get involved and ensure that Orleans remains a well-managed, financially sustainable community.

An informed community leads to better decision-making. The more residents understand how the budget effects town services and priorities, the stronger Orleans will be as a whole.

For more details on the budget and upcoming meetings, visit the Town of Orleans website or reach out to town officials.

Cape Tech Students Bring Tech Help to the Town of Orleans

Snow Library has launched an exciting new program in collaboration with the Town of Orleans and Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. Through the Cape Tech Cooperative Education Program, three Cape Tech students—Aaron Newman, Finn Jordan, Troy Averett—are now providing free IT support to library patrons as part of the newly established Device Advice sessions.

Snow Library has long aimed to offer a drop-in tech support program, recognizing how many community members experience frustration with computer and cell phone issues, whether related to hardware, software, or navigating various digital platforms. While librarians do their best to assist, the ever-evolving world of technology presents challenges that require more specialized knowledge. With the addition of Cape Tech’s skilled students, residents now have access to hands-on technology assistance in a welcoming and convenient setting.

The Device Advice program launched on March 4, and after just one week, word had spread. By their second session, the students were already working overtime to help patrons, demonstrating patience, kindness, and a strong commitment to customer support. Given their early success, it’s likely that many library visitors will become repeat customers!

The program runs on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays from March through June at Snow Library. Patrons can drop in with their smartphones, tablets, or laptops for assistance—no appointment required. The latest schedule is available on the Snow Library website.

In addition to their time at Snow Library, Cape Tech students will also offer tech support sessions at the Orleans Council on Aging on select Thursdays from March through May. This expansion ensures that even more Orleans residents—particularly older adults—can receive assistance with their devices in a comfortable and familiar setting.

Beyond their work with residents, these talented students are also helping provide tech support to Orleans Town Hall, lending their skills to assist municipal staff with IT needs. Their contributions demonstrate the immense value of real-world experience and the impact of community partnerships in bridging the digital divide.