Town Budget Unlikely to Change in 2013

Though calendar year 2012 has barely begun, the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager Julian Suso are already at work on the fiscal year 2013 town budget. The board, Suso, and Assistant Town Manager Heather Harper met with department heads on Friday afternoon in a budget workshop designed to get feedback from town officials and prepare for another year of lower-than-usual spending.

Suso told the board that the budget meets the requirement for a minimum growth of 2.25 percent over fiscal year 2012, while also “holding the line in maintaining basic town services.” The 2013 budget also includes an increase to the town's stabilization fund.

Some of the figures could change, though, depending on . The preliminary budget assumes both turbines will be operating during the full fiscal year. Wind 1 is currently shut down until at least April, due to complaints from neighbors.

Among the changes in the budget from recent years is the elimination of built-in mandatory furloughs for town employees, measures designed to cut spending while limiting layoffs. Suso was quick to identify the patience and cooperation of town employees as major factors in allowing Falmouth to provide an adequate level of public services, even in difficult economic times.

“Hard times do not build character, they reveal it,” Suso said, “and that has been evident.”

Selectmen Chair Mary Pat Flynn agreed, telling the assembled department heads, “All of you have really done a fantastic job this year.”

Town officials will have to continue making creative use of what money comes their way, as budgets for most departments will remain at levels comparable to the previous three years.

The Police Department budget, for example, “did not change much in the past three years,” according to Chief Anthony Riello.

During that time, Riello has devoted much of his energy to answering the question, “How can we best meet the needs of this community, until we get back on our feet?”

One answer, Riello said, has been “the creative use of overtime.” The FPD has also asked its employees to take on more responsibilities, and has sought grants in order to supplement its budget.

Those strategies have been popular in many town departments over the past three years, as has the hope that the economy will soon recover sufficiently to return funding to previous levels. In his limited time as town manager, Suso said, he has seen “considerable optimism” about Falmouth's economic future.

Riello agreed. “I'm very cautiously optimistic,” he said, “but optimistic nonetheless.”