By CHRIS LINDAHL
@cmlindahl
Daily Hampshire Gazette
SOUTHAMPTON — In addition to addressing proposals for three Proposition 2½ overrides and two debt exclusions, Town Meeting voters on Tuesday will be asked to approve a $16.43 million balanced budget.
“Generally we’re level funded,” Town Administrator Heather Budrewicz said of the proposed fiscal 2016 budget. The operating budget articles being considered at Town Meeting do not require any tax overrides to be balanced.
The budget is a stark difference from the one voted on at Town Meeting last year, which required a $1 million Proposition 2 ½ override to be balanced.
Town officials said that in developing the 2016 budget they heeded many of the recommendations made by the state Department of Revenue in its October report on the town’s budget process. Inspectors found the town in a “vulnerable financial condition” because of poor budget planning, according to the report.
Officials followed the state recommendations, including forming a “budget team” led by Budrewicz and starting the budget process earlier. The team began working on the budget in October — three months earlier than officials would have normally began crunching numbers.
Though town services will be funded without an override, Town Meeting voters will consider five individual Proposition 2 ½ overrides and debt exclusions at Town Meeting that, if approved, would expand fire department staffing, retain one police officer position, avoid layoffs at the William E. Norris School, fund the construction of a fuel storage tank for the Highway Department and construct a $10.8 million public safety complex.
One article that could prove to be contentious is a proposal to change the town treasurer / tax collector from an elected position to an appointed one.
The same proposal was considered by Town Meeting last year but was ultimately passed over. That article would have also changed the town clerk’s position from elected to appointed.
Having an appointed rather than elected treasurer ensures the position is filled by a professionally qualified person and increases that person’s accountability, Budrewicz said.
“A lot of communities have already done this,” she said.
Of the 198 Massachusetts communities with a population over 5,000, 150 have treasurers and collectors who are appointed, according to a 2014 letter written by Joe Markarian, director of the DOR’s Department of Local Services Technical Assistance Section
An elected treasurer made sense in the state’s early days, when town government was simple enough that it could be managed by part-time volunteers. Today, most towns are multi-million dollar operations in which treasurers serve an important role, Markarian wrote.
“Luckily we’ve had, over the years, very professional folks that have been elected,” Budrewicz said. However, if the town were ever to elect an unqualified person who was not performing adequately, the only recourse would be to hold a recall election, she explained.
Another article being considered would increase the health agent’s annual salary from $26,659.18 to $38,836.80 for the 31-hours-per-week position.
Former Board of Health chairwoman Lisa Brodeur-McGan told town officials at a budget meeting last month that the town has had trouble finding qualified health agent applicants because the pay is too low.
The budget team has already decided to compromise on the pay increase and include $35,182 for the health agent’s salary next year. If the article is voted down the agent will receive that salary.
The article was included after a successful petition by Brodeur-McGan and 15 other residents.
Voters will also consider six Community Preservation Act projects.
The largest single project, the completion of ongoing work at Labrie Field, would cost $18,752.89. That money would go into the current year’s budget if approved.
Other projects include:
installation of automatic doors at the senior center and Town Hall to meet accessibility standards, $11,000;
signs for the Sczcypta Conservation area trails, $1,000;
restoration of the Judd Memorials in the Center Cemetery, $10,500;
a $5,000 purchase of 10 flat markers for veterans’ graves;
$1,500 to restore the Revolutionary War and Civil War Veterans’ Monuments.
Town Meeting will also consider five big-ticket purchases to be paid for through the Capital Stabilization Fund:
$61,551 for the Highway Department to purchase a 2015 Ford F-450;
$47,000 for a new heating and cooling system at the Edwards Public Library;
$44,623 for a new police cruiser with cameras;
$9,000 for new firefighter turnout gear;
$24,000 for an updated phone system at the William E. Norris school.
The fund currently has $223,613.54 set aside for large purchases. Each of the capital expenses must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at [email protected].
