|
|
Financial Reports - Departments
| Operating Budget |
| For the most part, the attached operating
budget reflects a continuation of previous staffing, service and funding
levels with the following significant changes in compensation, staffing
or department organization: |
| |
| Department Budget Note |
|
| 
Public Buildings
Increase by (1) full time Maintenance Craftsman – Plumber
position and (1) part time (15 hrs/wk) Jr. Building Custodian to
service the newly expanded North Shore School. While we spend a
great deal of time talking about school enrollment pressure on the
School Department we rarely mention those same pressures that are
being exerted upon the Buildings and Grounds, Highway and Parks
Departments.
Police
Department
Increase of staffing in the Department by (2) police officer positions
and (1) Clerk Typist position.
Fire
Department
Increase of staffing by four firefighters increasing the compliment
to (32) firefighters, four Captains for a total of (36) uniformed
personnel. In November of 2001, Chief LaFlamme forwarded to your
attention his Ten Year Strategic Plan which very clearly outlined
the direction in which he wishes to take his department. As you
will also recall, Chief LaFlamme very ably alerted the community
during his last two budget hearings of his five step program addressing
the future of his agency.
Water
and Sewer Department
Both Departments are seeing a decrease from last year based on a
more favorable cost structure at the Upper Blackstone and Westborough
facilities.
Debt
Service
An increase of 17.12% over last year based on the second year payments
being made on a number of the newest bond issues.
Unclassified
Health Insurance Costs continue to be a major problem for this community.
As of this writing I am projecting a 20% increase in Group Health
Insurance premium costs. In addition, the growth in the number of
personnel employed by this community has expanded greatly the number
of persons covered. Since April of 1999 the number of School Department
employees covered by the Town’s plan has increased 20% (107
persons) while the number of Municipal Departments has grown 5%
(15 persons)(see Exhibit Eleven attached). Currently, each family
plan costs the Town $6,549.48 per year per employee; each individual
plan $2,434.80 per year per employee and each senior plan either
$2,058.00 or $1,868.40 (depending on the company) per year per retiree.I
have also increased funding for unemployment compensation which
is currently running at least $40,000 out of balance at this time.
I have been forced to budget a 31.71% increase for General Town
Insurance resulting in the further erosion of this marketplace and
the advent of the new terrorism insurance program mandated upon
the industry by the Federal Government. Overall the Unclassified
Budget is up 10.43%.
I direct your attention to the detail sheets accompanying each
request which outline the staffing levels of each department together
with any new budget initiatives or equipment being proposed for
funding.
|
|
|
| School Budget |
| I am carrying at this time a School
Budget of $34,730,885, which is a 8.9%, increase over Fiscal Year
2003. I am carrying this number as a means to file this budget but
in no way do I believe this community can fund such a large increase
based on the currently available revenue stream.
As of this writing, the School Budget is still under review by the
School Committee and I will provide my analysis and recommendation
under separate cover once I have had a chance to review their actual
request.
|
|
|
| Warrant Articles |
| I am proposing the following warrant articles:
|
| Storm Drains |
$75,000 |
| General Sidewalk
Repairs |
$50,000 |
| Street Reconstruction |
$150,000 |
| Construction/Extension
of Sewers |
$300,000 |
| Medical Expenses
Police and Fire |
$1,000 |
| FY 2003 Deficits |
$150,000 |
| Cemetery Improvements
|
$25,000 |
| Stabilization
Account |
$100,000 |
| Counseling And
Educational Services |
$100,000 |
| Paton School -
Replace Floor Covering |
$80,000 |
| Resurface Tennis
Courts - High School |
$67,500 |
| Dump Truck Sander |
$110,000 |
| Municipal Drive
Playfields |
$192,000 |
| Library Window
Replacement |
$22,693 |
| Town Hall HVAC Replacement |
$160,700 |
| Sidewalk Tractor |
$70,000 |
| Replace Police Department
Boathouse |
$185,00 |
| ATM Warrant Article
Reserve |
$500,000 |
| Total |
$3,188,893 |
| |
|
|
| Enclosed herein is the entire capital
schedule submitted by all departments for the period of Fiscal Year
2004 to 2008 (see Figure Nine) that I ask you to review carefully
as there are a number of projects requested in Fiscal Year 2004 that
I am not recommending for funding. |
|
|
| Conclusion |
| This budget filing is clearly in need
of a great amount of work but can serve as a basis to begin discussion
as to how we will approach the fiscal challenges facing this community
in Fiscal Year 2004. Clearly we have our work cut out if we are to
maintain existing levels of service with the current revenue structure
of this Community and of the Commonwealth.
I am available to meet with you at your convenience.
|
|
--- top ^
For more inquiries
or information contact us at 508-841-8508.
|
|
