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Search & Ask Recap AITown Gov’t · Reading, MA
Town Budgets
Reading’s entire town budget, made explorable — where every dollar comes from, where it goes, and what’s changing. Built from the Town Manager’s own budget book, with the full document a click away and Recap AI on hand to answer questions about it.
🧠 Ask Recap AI · Budgets
Hi! Ask me anything about Reading’s town budget — I answer from the Town Manager’s own budget book, official meeting documents, and Reading Recap’s coverage. Try “Why is the trash contract up 39%?” or “How much does the town spend on health insurance?”
Answers come from Reading Recap articles & official documents — AI can make mistakes. Check the linked sources.
Where the Money Comes From
Tap a category row to see what’s inside it. “Free cash” is the town’s certified surplus from prior years — see the glossary below.
Where It Goes
The general fund pays for schools, town services and the “shared costs” — benefits, debt and capital — that support both. Enterprise funds (water, sewer…) are voted separately and shown further down.
Every $1 the general fund spends
The Squeeze: Fixed Costs vs. Everything Else
Benefits: the biggest driver
Town Departments
Schools: The Biggest Line
School budget by cost center
Capital & Enterprise Funds
Enterprise funds voted separately, fee-funded
Self-supporting operations paid by user fees, not property taxes.
How the Budget Gets Made
Budget words, translated
The seven terms that unlock the whole document.
