Community Corner
Late Night: Board of Finance Scrutinizes Budget
Second of four Board of Finance meetings held to discuss budget cuts.
The second of four budget workshops convened Tuesday evening to identify potential cuts that would be made to the town budget.
"The budget is under review for consensus tonight," said Chairman John Leary. "The Town Council can reinstate whatever the finance board recommends."
Emilia Portelinha, finance director, worked through the figures on the spreadsheet and as each item came up for discussion, addressed questions about it. Some questions arose about overtime pay for firefighters.
The Fire Department budget is up for a $47,779 reduction, a decision made March 17. The cut could affect incentive pay of 10 hours of vacation leave for good attendance.
"What ultimately gets voted on doesn't mean [overtime] will be gone forever. It can be open for discussion at a later date," Leary said.
Other items on the table for reduction are:
- Police Department - $6,900
- Capital budget - $135,000
- Hydrants - $3,000
- Vehicle maintenance - $3,000
- Grounds maintenance - $4,000
- Temporary seasonal worker assessor office - $1,000
- Engineering, planning & zoning and building departments - $1,000
- Advertising - $150
- Town Attorney professional fees - $500
- Town clerk equipment maintenance - $500
- Dues and conference - $500
- Overtime - $2,500
For the Board of Education, three capital improvement items within the budget were presented as necessary. Two bathroom repairs totaling $9,050, a new van that will be used for maintenance at $39,000 and radon remediation at a cost of $7,200, as required by state law. The school board asked the town to approve a $206,000 capital improvement budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
"The Board of Education account is intended to preserve the integrity of the buildings," Leary said. "Although we may like smart boards and computers, those expenses don't belong in the building maintenance account set aside for town schools."
"Nothing is final," Leary said. "Everything is under consideration at this time."
The next Board of Finance budget review workshop will take place Thursday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Annex first floor conference room.
