News

Town and school officials have worked together to balance the proposed fiscal 2018 budget at $94.5 million, a 4.1 percent increase.

The budget goes before voters for approval on Tuesday, May 2.

Starting with a deficit of $2.3 million earlier this year, the town and school sides reduced requests until each is only adding one new staff person next year to keep costs down.

Increases in the budget were due to hikes in health insurance for town employees, with jumps as high as 11 percent. Increases in special education costs, school busing, and full-day kindergarten are also big factors.

The proposed school budget is $49 million, a 3.8 percent increase, and includes providing free, full-time kindergarten, a goal of the district for the last couple years.

“We’re making 230 parents very happy,” school Director of Finance and Operations Edward Vozzella said.

The initial school budget proposal included a 5.8 percent increase.

The schools had requested two adjustment counselors and a library media specialist, but officials settled for adding only an English as a Second Language teacher for $50,000 next year.

The School Department’s new three-year bus contract included an 11 percent increase, $400,000, over last year. Michael J. Connolly & Sons, Inc., the town’s previous contractor, was the sole bidder, Vozzella said.

“They do a great job,” Vozzella said.

The municipal budget for FY 2018 is at $42 million, a 6.8 percent increase over last year.

Town officials had looked at adding staff such as laborers to the Department of Public Works but instead will only add the emergency management services coordinator to the Fire Department at a cost of $57,000.
Fire Chief Neal Boldrighini requested the post as a priority to deal with increasing complexity and regulations involved with emergency medical services.

Right now two staff members handled the duties of an EMS coordinator on a part-time basis.

Selectman had initially prioritized adding a bookkeeper to the finance department, but Acting Town Manager John Stanbrook told the board the EMS coordinator should be hired instead.

The Recreation and Parks director post will be increased from 25 hours to 37.5 but the cost will be covered by program fees.

Finance Committee members agreed next year’s budget would be even tougher.

FinCom Chairman Walter Wilk said just looking at union contract obligations and health insurance increases would start budget planning at a deficit again next year.

Wilk listed options discussed during a budget subcommittee meeting to balance the budget next year: an operational override, renegotiating employee health insurance, reviewing fees, and attracting more business to generate revenue.

“Health care has to be addressed,” Wilk said. “It’s a complicated process because we have a number of unions.”

Budget Subcommittee members agreed that following Town Meeting, they needed to be aggressive about finding businesses and filling vacancies around town to bring in tax revenues.

“We supported zoning changes in the industrial park and hoped the town would be more aggressive in getting denser use of the industrial park,” Wilk said.