Selectmen Mull New Budget

The town Board of Selectmen talked about the budget process at their meeting Tuesday night, as the finance director told them the next budget might create a deficit.

The board heard a presentation by town Finance Director Karen Jelloe. She said, given the current confirmed numbers, the town would have a surplus. She added, though, that the health insurance totals would likely change that into a deficit.

"If the health insurance numbers increase by 10 percent, it would turn our surplus of $2 million to a deficit of over $700,000," she said. "The town's departments are level-funded everywhere except the school systems."

Jelloe said King Philip is looking for a 14 percent increase in its budget, and the elementary schools are seeking more money as well.

She said the fact that the town's tax base is increasing slowly only adds to budget problems.

"No new revenue sources have been identified," she said. "That's the bad news, and I don't have any good news."

Board Chairman Stephen Langley said the deficit might go down a bit on its own.

"We know King Philip's initial budget generally gets a little smaller," he said. "They ofen use their excess and deficiency money to defray costs."

Selectman Bob Cohen asked if the town might think about bearing the additional cost.

"It seems to me that we might want to see if the community wants to pay this," he said. "Many people connect the quality of the schools to the value of their homes."

Those present seemed skeptical of that result.

"I've only been here three years, but I've been told 'override' is two four-letter words," Jelloe said.

Langley said the town had never passed an operational override.

Town Administrator William Ketcham said the current budget is subject to change.

"I will be just handing you a budget with a deficit and leaving it there," he said. "I will talk with the town's finance director and departments. Another very important part will be good meetings with the schools."

Langley said he had seen bigger deficits at this point in the process.

"There's still a lot of work to do," he said.