Analysis of General Government
Moderator: Last year I reduced this line item to $51. I am proposing level funding this line item which covers the expenses to attend the annual Massachusetts Moderator Association training conference and meeting and covers his elected salary of $1.
Board of Selectmen: I propose level funding this line item at $5,555. Essentially, this line item will cover the elected salary for the Selectmen at $1, legal postings and mailings throughout the year, as well as MMA expenses. It still assumes that the Town will not cover the cost of Selectmen attending the MMA conference.
Town Administrator: At this point I propose funding this line item at $177,755. This includes a town-wide COLA. The line item is increased greatly by the addition of a sum of money in the Other Expenses line to provide assistance to the Economic Development Task Force for a study of joining an Economic Target Area and to get our gateway project begun.
Finance Committee: I am proposing eliminating funding for this line item.
Reserve fund: This fund is necessary to cover any unforeseen expenses incurred by the Town and the Finance Committee must approve any expense paid through this fund. This safety net to cover unexpected costs in the upcoming year shall be hampered by a reduction in the reserve fund. While I strongly recommend funding this line item on an annual basis, I am proposing keeping this line item at the reduced level currently ($48,659). The Town’s Department Managers have to be commended for their efforts to live within the reduced budgets they currently have.
Finance Department: I am proposing increasing this line item from $158,150 to $159,050. This maintains the one employee in the department with COLA and level funds for the fourth year our professional contract with FAA. It should be noted that FAA has foregone their contractual increase each year for the past four years.
Town Audit: I am proposing reducing this line item from $38,000 to $26,000. We do not need to fund our semiannual GASB 45 actuarial study to provide for OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits) so we will see some savings. The Selectmen should know that I continue to negotiate a lower rate for this service.
Assessors Department: I am decreasing this line item from $79,488 to $79,118. This budget provides for a COLA for the Assistant Assessor, and maintenance of the current level of services from the Assessor’s Office. The Assessors salaries also remain at $1. It is reduced to take advantage of savings on our mapping costs, thanks to arrangements negotiated by the Assessors Department.
Treasurer/Tax Collector: I am proposing increasing this line item from $143,763 to $148,565. This increase provides for a COLA for the employees of the department although does account for a step increased missed in last year’s budget and maintenance of the current level of services from the Treasurer/Tax Collector department. It also includes $2000 for tax title enforcement.
Town Counsel: I am proposing reducing this line item from $81,500 to $75,000. We will have to be more conservative with the Town Counsel budget and it does leave us potentially short. I will need to work with all departments and the Board of Selectmen on keeping within this budget, if possible.
Personnel: This Board reviews the proposed changes in the wage classification and job descriptions. I am proposing eliminating this line item.
Computer Services: I am proposing increasing this line item from $60,690 to $75,640 which includes the purchase of a very limited amount of needed equipment, especially 2 replacement servers and one workstation, deferred from previous years. This amount includes the increased costs for our computer maintenance contracts. No new software purchases are included in this budget.
Town Clerk: I am proposing increasing this line item from $60,674 to $62,202. This budget maintains the services provided in the Town Clerk’s office with a COLA for the Town Clerk or the Assistant Town Clerk.
Elections: I am proposing increasing this line item from $20,817 to $23,600. If we have a special election request this year, this budget will not be sufficient to cover that expense. It covers the cost of the Automark election system/coding as postage increases.
Planning Board: The Planning Board is no longer able to operate effectively under its revolving fund without an allocation of funds from Town coffers. Without additional resources, the Planning Board will be left with the choice of reducing the services provided to the community through reduced meetings and reduced staffing levels. I am proposing that they receive an allocation from the Town of $3,000 to help cover their secretary and posting costs. They will continue to maintain their revolving fund.
Public Safety Building: I am proposing decreasing this line item from $61,440 to $44,010. This decrease makes a change I have been speaking about for several years – it removes all personnel costs and properly accounts for them in the Fire Department budget. It does set aside $9900 for Municipal Building Maintenance, consistent with the Municipal Building Fund legislation, which was recently signed into law by Governor Patrick.
Town Hall (formally Mixter Building): I am proposing increasing this line item from $151,070 to $151,331. This increase provides for a COLA for the janitor at the Town Hall (including a step increase) and will pay the rental costs of the 127 Hartwell Street property which the Town now leases for its services. The Town was able to renegotiate a new lease for the property at no increase in rent.
Town Report: I am proposing reducing this line item from $2,000 to $1500. This reduction is due to the work of the Municipal Assistant in reducing the printing costs of the annual Town Report.
Total General Government expenditures:
I am proposing funding this section of government at $1,081,036, an increase of 0.24% primarily due to the increase of funds for the Economic Development Task Force.
History of General Government expenditures
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
$857,705 |
$941,896 |
$1,010,332 |
$997,791 |
$1,099,858 |
$1,076,932 |
$1,081,036 |
| 
