Ways & Means Suggests Different Approach

The Ways & Means Committee want town department heads to present budgets with zero percent increase, or close to it, and prioritize their needs from there.

Committee member Peter Eiche addressed the Board of Selectmen at Monday’s meeting and told them that the departments needed to establish priorities during this tough budget cycle.

“It is a very simplistic approach,” said Eiche. “We can work up as we have to, rather than work down.”

Eiche said he wants a process that clearly shows to citizens what town services would be affected by budget cuts. He said if they want lower taxes from a decreased budget, they should see what they would lose in their community.

“It is not our intent to eliminate services or budget to the lowest possible level,” said Eiche. “We would like to see this used as a starting point.”

Selectmen pointed out the many increased costs that will need to be calculated in the budget, such as fuel costs and paying for the voter-approved road bond.

A $15 million bond was passed last year to improve 22.8 miles of roads throughout town, which has to be paid in part each year.

Selectman Brad Galinson said that paying for the road bond this year will create the highest budget increase that the town has seen in over a decade.

“Unfortunately, this year is unique because of road bonds,” said Galinson. “There will be an unprecedented increase in spending because of the bond.”

He suggested that, instead of building a budget from an almost zero percent increase, that they should start with the default budget and then prioritize department needs onto it.

Town Administrator Jim O’Mara said that the default budget will have a 6.5 percent increase over last year, this is without calculating any proposed increases from department heads in their budgets.

Committee member David Chen was sceptical of the board and their ability to put together an operational budget built from the default budget.

“You are going to keep adding things back, I know you are,” said Chen.

“You are asking for something that is futile and impossible to deliver,” replied Galinson regarding starting the budget process from a zero percent increase.

Eiche said that it is a  “lofty goal” to think that the town can maintain the services it currently offers. He said that he would love to see them continue or even increased, but he pointed out that other towns have had to make severe cuts to town services.

According to Eiche, the town needs to be open to that kind of thinking as they craft the town budget.

“We should be looking at that and saying ‘maybe we should let people go, maybe we shouldn’t,’” said Eiche. “We should be asking those questions.”