Town Officials Begin Budget Cut Process

Easton officials were met with some good news this week relating to the budget crunch the town is expecting to face in Fiscal Year 2012: Easton's cost for is expected drop $48,000 as a result of budget reductions, according to Southeastern's Superintendent Luis Lopes.

The announcement drops Easton's expected budget deficit from $1.8 million to approximately $1.75 million, according to Town Administrator David Colton. While the drop in the deficit is helpful, it is only one step towards a balanced town budget, he said.

Colton is expected to bring a list of budget cuts to the next Board of Selectmen meeting on April 11. He said the forecast looks grim.

"It will certainly include some layoffs," he said. "There's no way around it."

Colton said he plans to work with departments to discuss the budget before the next Selectmen meeting. He will propose $600,000 worth of cuts at the next meeting and Superintendent Dr. Michael Green will propose $900,000 worth of cuts.

After cutting the budget $1.5 million, Colton said the remaining $250,000 will have to be looked at.

"We'll agree on additional cuts or find other sources of revenue, like, for example, greater use of the reserves," he said.

Colton said he will "most certainly" eliminate vacant positions such as two open police officer positions and three open fire department positions. The loss of three firefighters would force Fire Chief to close the Depot Street Fire Station at least part of the time.

Currently, there are 35 firefighter positions in town including three vacancies. Cutting the three positions would leave 32 firefighters, two of which are the fire chief and fire prevention officer, leaving 30 firefighters.

Similarly, the loss of two police officers after two retirements will drop the total to 33, according to Police Chief .

Krajcik said at a Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night that his department plans on working with a limited budget and limited personel.

"What you’re seeing here is very, very lean," he said. "There really isn’t much in there."

He said in 1986, 36 officers were on duty in a town with a smaller population.

Additionally, the School Committee is expected to meet Thursday with Superintendent Green, who is expected to propose at least $900,000 in cuts.

"We’ve agreed to get to a budget that is nearly balanced in the next couple of weeks," Colton said.