Up To 57 Layoffs Possible If Budget Efforts Don't Work Out

Town voters had the chance to speak on the ongoing budget process at this week's annual hearing, although only a handful of them took advantage of the opportunity.

Select Board Chairman Al Merritt started off the meeting with an update on the town's efforts to close a $1.5 million budget deficit. Over the past several weeks, town officials have been reporting that they hope to close about half of that deficit with help from union concession on health insurance costs for town employees.

The rest of the deficit would be closed with a combination of new bus fees, a pay as you throw trash disposal plan, and a local meals tax.

"We wouldn't be proposing any of these things if the deficit wasn't so large," said Merritt, adding that "there may need to be follow ups if things don't pass (at town meeting). In fact, it was noted on several occasions during the meeting that town residents had already rejected a pay as you throw plan in the past.

Later, Town Administrator William Gustus acknowledged that the projected $750,000 in savings on health care premiums is "one huge assumption being made."

"We will go to town meeting with a budget that is in balance if all of the things that need to happen actually do happen," said Gustus.

Looking ahead, Gustus raised the prospect of line item changes being made on the floor of town meeting if the needed revenue efforts don't come together. Another possibility would be a Proposition 2 1/2  override vote.

Capital Budget Needs Also At Issue

Gustus also spoke of the town's capital needs, which in many cases have been put off over the past several years. To that end, town officials are proposing a borrowing article over 10 years for about $1.16 million, with pressing needs ranging from vehicles for the DPW and Police Department to basement waterproofing at the senior center.

Looking further down the road, the town may be able to combine this debt with that from the school renovation project with an eye on a $4 million debt issue.

Layoffs Could Loom

If the previously mentioned budget efforts do not come together, Gustus warned that up to 57 layoffs could be on the horizon - followed by many months of unemployment insurance costs that could set the town back another $600,000. Offsetting this somewhat would be the lower amount the town would be spending on health insurance for these workers.

If implemented, these 57 layoffs would amount to as much as 12 percent of the town's entire workforce, added Gustus, while adding that 29 of the school department's 188 employees would also stand to lose their jobs.

Some Residents Share Their Concerns

Former selectman Harry Lecours spoke to express his strong concern about the cuts he has seen being made in the schools, diminishing the quality of education and potentially jeopardizing property values, in order to basically pay for salary increases set out in the most recent schools contract. He also noted that further cuts could likely be found in the school budget, such as for travel, subscriptions and other such costs.

Gustus responded that there is about $16 million of salaries in the school department, and that the step increases account for only about 1.5 percent of that total. He added that total town-wide salary increases for the coming year would amount to about $720,000.

Another resident who spoke was Pat Campbell, who strongly criticized town officials for not doing enough to cut spending and to plan ahead for potentially expensive contingencies, including natural disasters.

"This town could have been ok this year had you done a bit of planning and stopped trying to be Santa Claus to everybody," Campbell told the officials, adding that a "4.5 percent increase for the schools is not reasonable." She also denounced the idea of a possible override vote, noting that it would be the third in about five years.