Board of Finance Budget Hearing April 21, 2020

Board of Finance Hearing April 21, 2020

We are presently in a time of crises with many unknowns. There is a major disruption in the economy.

The State and Federal Government will not have the revenues to fund the State expenditures and the State will no longer be able to fulfill their commitment to the Town.

Federal and State government have encumbered huge debt that will not be forgiven.

The Corvid-19 virus has placed enormous pressures on industry, business and residents’ incomes. Property values will be greatly reduced leading to a lower Grand List.

As a country, we are looking forward to a long recession that will impact everyone. This cannot be ignored in developing a budget.

All models for developing a budget should be revised to a much lower collection rate and reduced revenues from other resources.

It is not the time to manipulate the budget with more long-term debt.

This is not the time for open-space expenditures.

The General Fund should not be used to backfill the expenditures.

With a recession on the horizon, the General Fund will be needed to plug up unforeseen exposures not to flatten the budget.

The General Fund will be expended with the domino effect of a recession.

Political favors should be eliminated in the budget.

Both the Boards of Selectmen and Education should produce a flat budget, reducing all non-essential expenditures. Capital expenditures should be greatly reduced.

All the expenditures in the Wish List budget should be eliminated.

The Town should not be adding legacy costs with additional expenditures in a staff shuffle in the Police Department. There is no compelling need to have a Deputy Chief by adding management and reduce a Sergeant on the front line that could add overtime costs.

The schools have established a pay to play policy. Now is the time to require any enhancements on town and education property that directly benefit a group should be paid by the group. The taxpayers can no longer be expected to pay for non-essential expenditures.

There are unfunded Labor Attorney Costs that will escalate over time. Thousands of dollars in revenues will be required to pay employee settlements.

The Board of Education can reconfigure the schools by adding a 6th grade to Henry James Middle School to reduce costs.

The Board of Education Feasibility Study’s recommendations should be shelved until the economy stabilizes.

The Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen should produce a No Increase budget.

Now that the Superintendent of the Golf Course is retiring it is a good time to have the Golf Course managed by a professional Golf Association by reducing costs. Other Town’s have done this with desirable results.

The Board of Finance should be presenting a budget that is a reflection of the uncertain times with greatly reduced expenditures and reduced debt.

Do not “kick the can down the road.”

Use your authority to act boldly and demand a No Increase budget and reduced Capital Expenditures.