Officials face FY04 budget crunch
Published on March 5th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - Looking out at the approximately 200 residents dotting the high school?s nearly vacant auditorium at Monday?s public meeting on the town budget, town administrator Dave Berry listed the only two dreadful figures he could count on with certainty - $57,036,044 and $2,094,803.
The first number, the town?s projected budget for the upcoming fiscal year, seems harmless enough. But the second figure, a projected $2 million plus deficit, will devastate town services, potentially resulting in layoffs equivalent to fifty-five full-time positions, the cutting of various health, emergency response, and educational programs, and the utilization of nearly all the town?s rainy day funds.
And as if those inauspicious announcements didn?t create enough of a challenge, Berry spoke of another looming likelihood ? the town?s budget will face similar, if not worse deficits in the years to come.
In fact, according to finance and advisory board member Rich Gregorio, with the use of one-time savings funds and projected cost increases in pensions, the deficit could likely reach $4 million dollars by 2005.
"For ?05, I?m currently showing a $59 million budget. The largest facet of that increase is in the retirement system?I get a reduction in revenue by $186,000 [because] we?re using one time funds that won?t be available next year," said Gregorio.
Although Berry could not confirm those figures, he did attempt to calm the public by assuring them the town will provide more than adequate opportunities for public comment.
"I think it?s very important that we realize this is a first draft and we?ll be looking for input from a number of sources including the public," said Berry, noting that the public should suggest ways to raise additional revenue.
Berry also defended his choice to drain $1 million from the town?s stabilization fund to balance the budget, claiming that the use of the one-time fund represented one of his few options given the crisis.
"I?ve used the vast majority of that to balance the budget. It is not necessarily a wise approach to use these funds, but again I have little choice," said Berry.
Anticipating huge cuts in state aid to the town of Stoneham, Berry asked all department heads to plan operating their offices at 90 percent of a level-funded, or minimal expense budget.
According to Police Chief Craig O?Keefe and Fire Chief Lawrence Lamey, such cuts in their departments will lead to a reduction of six police officers and five firefighters. With smaller staffs, both public safety officers warned that Stoneham would face longer emergency response times and a decreased ability to properly respond to larger scale disasters.
According to O?Keefe, the police department would only have two officers patrolling the town?s streets, a situation that could very likely change for the worse.
"Two is a very dangerous condition because a single traffic accident could tie up the police force. I may even have trouble maintaining two on the streets without additional funds," said the police chief. "It can have a devastating affect in an emergency situation. I?m not talking about the barking dog or the speeding car, I?m talking about the ?I need you here right now, emergency,?" he warned.
Claiming that the fire department has been undermanned for years, Lamey detailed several consequences of his staff reductions.
First, the department will eliminate one entire engine company from the ranks for a year. According to Lamey, to guarantee the safety of both firefighters and emergency victims, a typical response should include one ladder company and two engine companies, a feat accomplished seventy percent of the time in past years.
"You must keep in mind that we routinely respond to multiple emergencies. Firefighter safety on the scene will be compromised?We?re currently able to do more with less but the reality of this budget cut is that a diminished ability to respond to emergencies is a fact," said Lamey, adding that a reliance on off-duty firefighters will further hinder response times.
The Stoneham fire department might also withdraw from a mutual aid organization forged with surrounding communities as a result of the personnel cuts.
"We are in contract with thirty-four communities to share resources in the event of a large scale emergency. That?s dependent on the town of Stoneham being able to aid those communities in return," said Lamey.
Due to state-mandated programs that the town must finance, the school system will face the most drastic personnel cuts with twenty-seven total teachers, reading specialists, librarians, nurses and other employees facing layoffs. In addition, school officials plan to increase busing and nonacademic fees.
Despite the severity of the anticipated school cuts, Stoneham resident William Dill urged citizens and town officials to consider making deeper cuts, claiming some of the school?s $22 million budget should shift to other departments.
"The school has been a cash cow we?ve never talked about. Maybe I?ll get hit with a snowball for saying that," joked the East street resident. "If I were to look at this whole budget, I would take $2 million away from the schools and give it other departments," added Dill.
A list of other department reductions and their impacts follows:
LIBRARY
Next to the school system, the library will face the second largest cut in personnel with fifteen positions reduced. According to library director Mary Todd, the library will also lose its state certification, meaning Stoneham residents will no longer be able to check out materials from other community libraries. The department will also lose over $50,000 in state aid and be forced to operate on reduced hours.
PUBLIC WORKS
The public works department will eliminate four positions and cease the replacement of equipment. Although public works director Bob Grover believes the department can afford not replacing the equipment in the short term, he stated that any long-term freeze on purchasing would undermine the department?s ability to function. The cuts will also require the department to eliminate the sidewalk replacement program and perform emergency-only tree work. Like the fire and police departments, the DPW also expects a slower response time to emergency snowplowing, drain cleaning, and street repair.
THE COUNCIL ON AGING and DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
While both departments will eliminate one employee and reduce the services offered to the public, the Council on Aging will no longer have office coverage or any funds to maintain its property.
Upon receiving the gloomy budget reports of various departments, some residents voiced their concerns that not enough middle management officials faced layoffs.
"I question government layoffs. Why is it always last in first out?we shouldn?t be looking at four $30,000 positions being cut. We need to look at some high level officials as well," said Stoneham resident Bob Fields of Franklin street.
Scheduling another meeting for Wednesday March 26th, town selectman Anthony Kennedy recognized the public?s disapproval of the projected cuts and asked people to brainstorm on possible solutions to the problem.
"What we?re hearing is that it?s not acceptable for these cuts to take place?It?s an ongoing project and maybe people will go home and think about some solutions," said Kennedy before closing the hearing.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!