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SPENCER – At its latest meeting, Selectmen opened the Town Meeting warrant and began discussions about potential financial shortfalls in both the town and school district.
On January 28, Town Administrator Jeff Bridges also addressed the Finance Committee with information about the figures on the estimated cherry sheet.
Bridges noted that costs for the Worcester County Retirement Fund are estimated to increase by $159,000. He also pointed out that the town is currently negotiating contracts with three unions: Utilities & Facilities (U & F), Town Hall’s clerical unit and telecommunicators/dispatchers.
The administrator said Spencer anticipates receiving “modest to almost insulting increases in revenues for the town,” of approximately “$48,000,” which Bridges called “horrible.”
He told the FinCom, out of a $60 billion state budget, money that goes to the towns and schools amounts to $9.4 billion.
Bridges also told that committee that the Spencer Rescue Squad is “closing up shop” as of June 30 and the town is assuming those services in-house as a department.
“As the proud new owners of an ambulance department,” Bridges said, the town will have to determine how it will pay for an ambulance, keeping in mind it takes at least 18 months to get one after an order is placed.
To Selectmen, points of future discussion regarding the warrant include possible debt exclusions for a fire truck and ambulance as well as how to pay for the future of two full-time firefighters whose grant funding will run out.
They would also consider having the emergency services personnel in the group 4 insurance category (public safety).
Selectman Ralph Hicks spoke about a recent budget workshop by the school committee, where he learned the school district is considering a $577,000 Proposition 2 ½ override (request) to save some teaching and paraprofessional positions, among other things.
Hicks said the school officials are talking about other things like a bucket loader (tractor) for snow removal, maintenance of athletic fields, the addition of two new custodians and corresponding health insurance costs.
Hicks is the board’s liaison to the school committee.
He acknowledged, “Voters are not in the mood for overrides,” particularly “back breaking ones.” Hicks said whatever happens, there will be layoffs.
“There’s nothing worse than handing out pink slips when you know they are going to hold,” Hicks said.
Jonathan Viner, vice chair of the Board of Selectmen, asked how the school district got in a situation where it must cut employees.
Hicks explained the district used E & D (Excess and Deficiency Funds) or “one-time money,” to keep operations going, keep personnel, pay for re-occurring expenses and keep assessments down . “The clock ran out. It’s not going to be pretty.”
He added that the schools started talking about a possible $2 million override and that was cut to the $577,000 total.
“It’s painful to cut staff you know you need,” Hicks, a former superintendent, noted. “But if you don’t have the money, you don’t have the money.”
Selectman Gary Woodbury said, “You don’t need a crystal ball,” to see that using free cash and similar funds for operating expenses will not work indefinitely. (The town did the same thing this past fiscal year).
“It’s like a household. You have to live within your means to make it work,” Woodbury said.
Bridges said another article slated for the warrant seeks making the treasurer’s position appointed rather than elected. He said the issue was considered in 2015 and voted down by 349 in favor and 422 opposed. It would be a non-monetary change, Bridges said.
The fire chief is proposing a warrant article to accept a provision of the retirement law. It would mean former call firefighters in Spencer who left for full-time career firefighting positions elsewhere could buy back their time in Spencer.
Another article would allow the chair of the Board of Selectmen to declare a state of emergency and then have the full board address it at its next meeting. The idea is to “streamline efforts,” Bridges said.
“I’m sure we’ll talk about these again,” Bridges told the board, referring to proposed Town Meeting articles.
