Financial Report (Departments) - Town Manager - Town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

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Major Development Opportunity Allen Property

»	Operating Budget
»	School Budget
»	Warrant Articles
»	Conclusion

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:

CATEGORY	AMOUNT	EXPLANATION
Upholding Standards	$72,982,090	Existing service levels or reinstatement of services removed from last year’s budget
New Initiatives	$299,197	New programs or services
Addressing Growth	$2,310,863	Increases to meet service demands of an ever expanding service population
Oak Middle School	$1,647,198	Costs associated with the opening of this building

It is clear that the costs that have put this proposed budget into deficit are associated with growth and the opening of the Oak Middle School.

The non education budget has increase considerably based on needs that are associated with both growth and the new school building. The highlight of some of these increases is as follows:

DEPARTMENT	BUDGET NOTE
MIS	Increase by (1) full time computer support specialist to handle the growing demands on the MIS Department.
Public Buildings	Increase by (1) full time custodian and costs associated with heating, cleaning and maintaining the Oak Middle School.
Police Department	Increase of staffing in the department by (2) police officer positions and (2) clerk typist positions and (1) business manager position to respond to demands for service.
Highway	Increase funding for snow and ice removal, street sweeping and catch basin cleaning all associated with growth. Reintroduction of a crack sealing program.
Unclassified	Unclassified (Operating Support) spending is increase by 18% or $1.4 Million. This massive increase is driven by Health Insurance 32.2%, Medicare 8.3% and General Insurance 5.8%.Health insurance costs have grown from $1.7 Million in Fiscal Year 1999 to $5.6 Million (proposed) in Fiscal Year 2005.

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.

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School Budget

I am carrying at this time a School Budget of $38,690,807, which is a 13.84%, increase over Fiscal Year 2004. 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.

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Warrant Articles

I am proposing the following warrant articles:

MEDICAL EXPENSES POLICE & FIRE	$2,500
FY 2004 DEFICITS	$500,000
CAPITAL BUDGET	$1,096,480
CEMETERY IMPROVEMENTS	$25,000
BILLS OF PRIOR YEAR	$2,500
STORM DRAINS	$100,000
GENERAL SIDEWALK REPAIRS	$75,000
CONSTRUCTION/EXTENSION OF SEWERS	$300,000
ROLFE AVENUE GRINDER PUMP INSTALLATION	$300,000
WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS	$850,000
COUNSELING AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES	$100,000
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT – FIRE HEADQUARTERS	$250,000
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT SHERWOOD MIDDLE	$485,000
REPLACE POLICE DEPARTMENT BOATHOUSE	$185,000
ATM WARRANT ARTICLE RESERVE	$500,000
Total	$3,997,480

Enclosed herein is the entire capital schedule submitted by all departments for the period of Fiscal Year 2005 to 2009 (Figure Nine) that I ask you to review carefully as there are a number of projects requested in Fiscal Year 2005 that I am not recommending for funding (see Figure Nine-A).

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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 2005. We have our work cut out if we are to maintain existing levels of service within the current revenue structure of this Community and of the Commonwealth.

I am available to meet with you at your convenience.

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