Free Cash Helps Restore Some Budget Cuts

The selectmen voted to restore two firefighter positions as well as level-fund the Shrewsbury School Department's budget at last night's meeting.

What does this mean for the town?

What's back in:

• Thanks to two firefighters retiring in June and by using the some of the town's free cash as well as updated revenue numbers from the state, the selectmen voted to restore two firefighter positions that would have been cut earlier this year. The fire department will now run with 34 firefighters on staff, making it possible to continue to run three fire houses, 24 hours a day. This totals $103,375 in the budget
• The new budget numbers will also allow the town to restore $72,000 to the Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services budget as well, that was previously cut.
• The new budget numbers also add $743,325 to the Shrewsbury School Department's budget, which will mean level-funding from the previous year.

What's still out:

• Five positions at the police department, which include: a PAT 8 position, two patrol officers, a dispatcher position and sergeant position. These positions would have added $263,578.
• Additional capital projects totally about $904,970.

Selectman Jon Lebeaux asked for the PAT 8 police position to be added into the budget, but other selectmen agreed that they should not include it now, but to visit the idea again in January after they see how the budget numbers shake out.

The annual town meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 16 where the proposed town budget is level-funded.