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| By Paula Canning Staff Writer CHICOPEE With a proposed increase in expenditures for the Police, Fire, School, and Conservation Departments, this fiscal year's budget presented to the Board of Alderman by Mayor Richard Goyette last Tuesday indicates a 5.7 percent increase over FY05. With the exception of department improvements, and some minor fluctuations across the board, Goyette said that the increase can be mainly attributed to collective bargain agreements accumulated over the past two years, explaining that the costs for Liability Insurance, Health Insurance and Workmen's Compensation have "risen significantly" since last year. "It seems like a larger increase than it really is because you have to remember that it represents two years worth of collective bargaining agreement," Goyette explained. According to Goyette, the proposed increases in spending for FY06 which begins July 1, includes the addition of six fire fighters at the Aldenville Fire Station, which he said he made in response to previous requests from the Board. In addition to increasing personnel within the Fire Department, the budget also includes two new positions in the Police Department. Goyette said the new positions will focus on traffic enforcement, in response to the repeated complaint from residents about speeding that he has heard while conducting neighborhood meetings throughout the city. He said that the hope is that these two additional officers will provide the department with the proper manpower to address the problem. Goyette said the budget also shows a $1.2 million increase for the School Department. "This is the second year in a row that we've gone significantly above the minimum foundational level," Goyette said of the increase. According to Goyette, now that the Aldermen have been officially presented with the budget, they will scheduling meetings with department heads and commissioners who oversee certain departments to discuss department expenses and priorities, and to ask specific questions about the department's budget. Goyette explained that aldermen can make cuts to any proposed line item, but do not have the authority to add items to the budget. |