Andover Coronavirus: Over 200 Cases, 2021 Budget Planning

ANDOVER, MA — Andover has over 200 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, as of Monday, according to the town. Public Health Director Thomas Carbone told the Select Board Monday that 201 residents have tested positive.

One hundred one residents have active cases.

Forty-four percent of the town's cases are associated with senior-care facilities, Carbone said.

Budget matters

Town officials also described budget planning in response to the new coronavirus. Town officials are currently hoping to begin town meeting on June 20, after a June 9 town election.

Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said that the town is expecting a revenue shortfall of $3.2 to 6.2 million, due to lost state aid and local receipts. Local receipts are projected to fall 20 to 30 percent, while the town is projecting three scenarios: level state aid versus the current year, a 10 percent drop, and a 20 percent drop.

"State aid is likely dependent on federal assistance," Flanagan said. "The state has their own major budget shortfall."

The town is projecting revenue shortfalls more than twice as large as during the 2008 recession.

The Fiscal Year 2021 budget was already passed by the Select Board and the School and Finance Committees, but officials are building a new spending plan in response to the virus.

Town officials plan to maintain service and staffing levels and allow major capital improvement projects to continue. To make that possible, Flanagan said, they plan to reduce excess appropriation to the town pension fund, reduce appropriation to the overlay surplus, and reduce appropriation for general liability insurance.

He also is planning to restructure the capital improvement budget, delaying certain projects while funding the needed ones out of free cash instead of taxation.

>>Andover Coronavirus: Town Preparing For Major Budget Shortfalls

In the current quarter, the town has put in place a spending freeze, due to lost revenue and increased expenses incurred due to the virus.

The full meeting is available here, from Andover TV.

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Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.