New Budget Proposes 3.37% Increase; School Funding Remains A Wildcard; Many Changes to Part-time Positions; Funding to Reopen Sargisson Beach [with video]
Town Manager Mark Haddad presented the first pass of the proposed $13,148,114 Fiscal Year 2015 budget to a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee Monday night. The new budget represents a 3.37 percent increase over FY2014. Haddad stressed that the "needs-based budget" maintains the same level of services and addresses areas that will improve the delivery of services. Based on the revenue projections, he said that a real estate tax bill on a home valued at $400k would increase by $200.
A looming question for both Groton and Dunstable municipal budgets is the issue of the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District and the significant shortfall in the FY2014 school budget that has resulted in layoffs in the district. For FY2015, Haddad has earmarked a 2.5 percent as he has done for the last five years. This is an increase of $377,975 for the schools but with the financial issues there, he said "It may not be enough."
According to Haddad, the FY2014 growth was certified at $22,324,715, "the largest new growth certification since the 90s" indicating an upswing in the economy with the construction of new houses. He pointed out that he anticipates a 10 percent reduction or $81,900 in State Aid, amounting to $737K, and sees a slight increase in motor vehicle excise taxes as people buy new cars. In addition, General Revenues which includes PILOT's (payment in lieu of taxes) and Enterprise Funds, unexpended tax capacity and other available funds that include ambulance receipts for a total of $4,462,311.
New items in the FY2015 budget include opening town-owned Sargisson's Beach - for the first time in four years, when funding pressure closed the swimming site. Residents of the area have been cleaning up, collecting weeds and debris that accumulated during this time. The public beach is scheduled to be open from Memorial Day to Labor Day at a cost of $38,210.
The town voted to join the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project for this year, which will add $73K to the town's Cherry Sheet charges.
For the last several years the budget line for Police Wages has not been fully funded at the beginning of the fiscal year, but rather has relied on reserve fund transfers or line item transfers during the course of the year. "This year, the increase in line is what we spent for the last two years in police wages," Haddad said this would amount to $73K.
A full review of all part-time positions, those working from 15 to 20 hours - was conducted and the assessment resulted in either a reduction or increase in hours and, in one case, elimination of a position.
The Library cut their part-time staff hours in half, which they believe will give them greater flexibility, according to Library Director Vanessa Abraham who pointed out that no part-time positions involve benefits.
Care of municipal buildings was reduced from three positions, one 40-hour, one 35-hour and one 17-hour - to two positions at 40 hours each. The Web Developer at 19-hours per week will remain the same, the Zoning Board Administrator position is reduced by two hours to 15 hours per week and the Local Inspector reduced from 16 to 10 hours per week.
One area of increase is for the Affordable Housing Authority administrator that will rise from 19 to 25 hours per week. The Community Preservation Committee will be asked for the funds to cover this including the wages and benefits.
All union contracts are entering their third year and call for a two percent adjustment, which will also be given to the three remaining bylaw employees for a total of $158,834.
Haddad thanked his Finance Team - Town Accountant Patricia Dufresne, Assessor Rena Swezey, Tax Collector/Treasurer Mike Hartnett, Joan Tallent, Human Resources Suzanne Loverin and Assistant to the Town Manager Dawn Dunbar - for their work in preparing the FY2015 budget.
