After the public hearing on the town’s operating budget during a meeting with the Budget Committee and the Town Council, members of the council discussed asking department heads to look at cuts to the proposed operating budget, in order to save some money on the tax rate.
Town Councilor John Farrell said his concern is that they have an increase of $485,000 for insurance, the police department’s budget is going up about $1.2 million, and the fire department’s proposed budget is going up by about $1 million, making it difficult to make significant cuts to the budget, without cutting services.
Town Councilor Shawn Faber said he was looking to show the community that they are willing to make some proposed cuts to the proposed operating budget, due to the concerns they have heard from some residents about the proposed increases.
Farrell said that he suggested that they look at cutting part of the budget, and then having department heads decide how they can collectively make it work, noting that its a bottom line budget.
“Take a number off the bottom line and distribute it,” Farrell said.
Town Councilor Ron Dunn also said he supported looking at some cuts.
“We got to do something, the community is asking, they’re saying to us we can’t afford to live here,” Dunn said.
He suggested that they look at cutting one percent from the proposed operating budget, that they have discretion over, across all of the different departments. It was noted that things like debt service wouldn’t be included in the calculations.
If they were to cut one percent it would mean a cut of about $117,000 for the police department, and just under $100,000 for the fire department.
Finance Director Justin Campo noted that the smallest cut would be for the Town Council which would be making a cut of about $131, and the Conservation Commission would be cutting about $35.
The Library’s budget cut would be $15,677, Campo noted during the meeting.
Farrell said if they are going to cut off the tax bill, by reducing the budget, the question is whether or not they would lose any services, noting he didn’t have the answer.
Faber, during the meeting, noted that during public input it was brought up that the Town Council didn’t go for any of the proposed cuts that the Budget Committee previously proposed, saying he thinks they need to do something.
“We should do something,” Faber said.
Farrell said the major issue is insurance increases saying “that’s really our big nut.”
“I think something would at least be a show from this council,” Faber said.
Dunn said he has heard from more than five residents directly who have expressed their concerns about taxes going up, arguing to make some proposed cuts.
Farrell said he suggested they tell department heads to find $100,000 worth of cuts across the budget, from the different departments, which the Town Council agreed with.
For a $600,000 home, with the current tax rate, it would be a savings of about $9.60.