DPW Lays Out FY13 Budget Request

Lynnfield's Department of Public Works will seek a 4.79% budget increase in fiscal year '13, reported director Dennis Roy at this week's seletmen's meeting.

During his presentation, Roy noted that a mild winter is having some financial benefits so far for the town this year. In fact, as of Monday, the town had $81,512 in its snow and ice removal budget - a considerable contrast , when the town had largely depleted these funds and was preparing to move some of the costs to the current fiscal year.

While the town budget so far has been spared much weather-related strain this year, high diesel and gas costs remain a significant factor. In fact, Roy reported that his budget seeks a 16.34% increase for fuel - even with the town using less  of it in recent years. In 2008, the town used 30,700 gallons of unleaded gasoline, and 31,100 gallons of diesel fuel. In 2011, that figure had fallen to 25,900 gallons of unleaded and 29,820 gallons of diesel. Based on average vehicle usage over the past four years, the DPW is seeking $177,937 for that part of the budget.

Many of the department's union employees stand to receive a 3% salary increase next year and a handful are also eligible for step increases as well. A variety of other budget areas will be level-funded in the coming year, including streetlight costs, the snow and ice budget, and white goods curbside collection - even though this program is projected to run about a $2,000 deficit in FY13.

For personnel moves, Roy hopes to restore funds for two part-time custodians to cover the senior center and the library ($30,750 in total) as well as an additional floating custodian for half of the next fiscal year in anticipation of the high school expansion project. Roy also advises an increase in painting, heat repairs and other maintenance costs at the schools, as well as the resumption of the former sidewalk repair program. In fact, there are reportedly 92 miles of sidewalks in Lynnfield.

The total proposed DPW budget for FY13 is $5,584,482, while in FY12, it was $5,329,379.