One of the few certainties in life is taxes, and Bristol residents now have certainty about their tax bills next year. On Monday evening, the Bristol Town Council held a short meeting via Zoom and approved a 2020-21 budget that increases spending about 3.4 percent and raises the property tax rate about 2.55 percent.

Separately, the town’s sewer fee increases $9, or about 1.7 percent, to $530.

The short meeting concluded the most unusual budget season in memory, as coronavirus fears and restrictions wiped out the last two months of face-to-face meetings. Councilors and town officials held a series of public meetings via the Zoom video conferencing platform, inviting residents to follow along and participate as well.

The only topic to generate discussion Monday night was funding for Rogers Free Library, particularly salaries. The town’s original budget would have cut about $95,000 from the library’s nearly $1 million budget request, but Town Council Chairman Nathan Calouro introduced a reprieve to help restore some funding to the library. He suggested the town could take $35,000 from its “Fund Balance,” essentially its surplus account, and keep the library level-funded from the current fiscal year. The library had been seeking a $60,000 increase, most of it for personnel and related benefits costs.

Mr. Calouro elaborated on the maneuver by explaining that the library is currently projecting a surplus of about $200,000 this fiscal year, mostly because it is closed with no timeline for its reopening. So he suggested that they take $35,000 of the expected surplus and roll it into the next budget, as a one-time appropriation.

“We don’t hurt the library, we don’t hurt the taxpayers, and we don’t hurt other departments by taking money out of their budgets,” Mr. Calouro said.

Other councilors spoke in favor of the maneuver, with words of support for the library. Mary Parella suggested that the library could become an even more important resource in the next year, particularly if public schools have to alter their schedules, limit their facilities or reduce the time students spend in school.

Councilor Aaron Ley said, “The library is going to play an essential role and function during our recovery … This is where people are going to go to get their resumés printed … They’re going to be using the technology in the libraries.”

Councilor Tim Sweeney said of the library, “It’s a place for all age groups to go. You can go there whether you’re a kid, or you’re 99 years old.”

The measure passed unanimously.

Mr. Calouro framed the budget discussion by acknowledging the uncertainty of the current situation, with a pandemic impacting all facets of life. Fiscally, he said, the Town of Bristol is in good shape. “We’re not in a bad place. As least, we don’t believe we are. We’re going to pass a budget that is appropriate for the times.”

He praised all town leaders, including Town Administrator Steven Contente and department heads, for putting forth a budget that responsibly balances the burden on taxpayers with delivery of services.

“We’re making sure our departments are correctly funded, so they can keep doing what they are supposed to do, and keep providing what the public expects,” Mr. Calouro said.

In the last two weeks, the council reduced more than $200,000 from its original budget, with much of the cuts coming from part-time positions throughout town government. Eliminated positions are in Town Hall, the Building Inspector’s office and the Harbormaster’s office.

The budget includes about $731,000 more for schools (a 2.7 percent increase), as part of a total spending plan of $59.7 million.

The property tax rate is expected to increase to $14.07 per $1,000 of valuation, or about 2.55 percent.

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