March 18, 2008
Bridgewater
Raynham
Easton
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West Bridgewater
Massachusetts
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
Tonight, Selectmen Chair Mark Oliari released and discussed his long-anticipated plans for the FY09 budget and future plans. For FY09, he is projecting the following additions to revenue-side calculations: $600k realized from the 40R project, additional $150k from Ambulance receipts, $200k from the State to partially offset 'Snow & Ice' extraordinary spending. Also, the Prison Capital Project Fund would be accessed to fund approximately $67k in IT purchases and $93k for the Assessors Office - thereby removing those line items from the Operating Budget.
The expense-side includes $450k for education ($390k to B-R and $60k to Bristol-Plymouth). Fire, Police and Highway would all receive increases of about 1%. Insurance up $62k, Retirements up $50k, gas & oil up $12k. The Senior Center would see an increase of $60k - bringing them back to prior funding levels. Library would receive $150k. And $100k would be allocated to the Stabilization Account.
The line item for the Library included more discussions. Mark Oliari referred to an analysis of Library costs in some neighboring comparable towns. Middleborough spent $509k for 50 hrs per week - working out to about $198 per hour open. Mansfield spent $621k fr 58 hrs per week - working out to $206 per hour open. Therefore, the question was raised as to why Bridgewater would need $870k for 63 hours, or $270 per hour. Therefore, using an average of about $200/hour open, an appropriation of $659,502 (Library & Regional Library) would translate to being open 63.5 hours per week. And thus, Mark's proposed line item.
For Schools and Bridgewater-Raynham, Mark referenced the commitment demonstrated by the community over the past years for building projects and also the budget. He therefore believed that continued financial commitment from the Town budget was warranted, and thus proposed the 2% increase in Town Assessment.
Selectmen Herb Lemon expressed concern for the Public Safety side of the budget. He also gave a quick update on the Prision Mitigation Capital Projects money that is often referred to. There is a current balance of $1,452,893. Expected $24k in interest for June 30th, and also anticipated vote to restore $25,594 to the fund for unexpected project monies. This would leave a little more than $1.5M in the fund as of June 30, 2008.
{Now, some of my comments...}
$159,180 is owed by Bridgewater to B-R schools for the FY2006 payment on modular buildings - this was to be paid once Special Legislation was completed to allow the non-standard payment from the fund. It is unlcear (to me anyway) if this encumberance is included in the balance calculations.
Some quick mathematical calculations on the B-R budget. The initial proposed budget on 2/27/08 was $57.4M - with Bridgewater assessment of $20.4M and Raynham assessment of $13.1M. If Bridgewater were to adopt at its May Town Meeting the proposed figure from tonight ($19,888,825), Raynham's assessment would be about $12,841,304 - representing an increase $522,116. To get to this point, the B-R budget for FY09 would need to be adjusted by $804,915 through a combination of reduced expenses and/or increased revenues.
Lastly, and in answer to Selectmen Lemon's question about B-R's use of its E&D (equivalent to Town Free Cash), B-R is allocating $1M towards the FY09 budget, thereby reducing Town Assessments. This was reflected in the two-page 2/27/08 Draft Budget document.
