Town Unions Could Ratify Healthcare Deal This Week

The town has reached agreement with its employee union leaders to join the state's group insurance program "as soon as possible" and deliver some $750,000 in budget savings," reported Town Administrator William Gustus at Monday night's Lynnfield selectmen's meeting.

Gustus reported that individual town union members must still vote on the deal this week. "I'm told all will be complete by Thursday," he told the meeting.

Prop 2 1/2 Override Vote Is June 6

If the town's union members do vote to accept the deal on healthcare savings, attention will then shift to the June 6 vote on a $555,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override. Voting on June 6 will be at Lynnfield High School from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., added the town administrator.

"If (the override) is successful, then our budget is in balance," said Gustus."We can proceed into FY 12 with level service." However, he acknowledged that if the override fails, there will be "more work to be done on the budget."

Bus Fees Likely If Override Fails

In Fact, if the override vote fails, the town administrator added that the school committee would be likely to reinstate the bus fees proposal that was on the table earlier this year, providing about $200,000 in town revenues in the process.  The town is also projecting about $100,000 in reveneues in the coming fiscal year based on the newly approved local meals tax.

The vote that union members will vote on this week is also reportedly contingent upon there being no layoffs in the coming fiscal year. As a result, town officials have warned that failure of the override vote would require the elimination of dozens of positions, affecting services and particularly education.

"These cuts are deep, they are meaningful and they will hurt our service levels significantly," warned Gustus.

June 6 Vote Seen As Crucial

"This vote on June 6 is as critical as any vote I've ever seen," said Select Board Chair Arthur Bourque, adding that the coming vote is "not about spending to do something different or extra" but to simply maintain current town services.

"The well-being of this town is at stake here," added Selectman Al Merritt.

Looking ahead, Bourque also said that he is "optimistic about what we've got coming" when it comes to the town's revenue outlook over the next several fiscal years.