Town officials attempt to bridge $2.1 million gap

Date: 3/28/2011

March 28, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — Town Accountant Thomas Caliento told the Board of Selectmen at its March 22 meeting that he and the Appropriations Committee are getting closer to bridging the $2.1 million budget gap between the town's projected revenues and expenses for fiscal year 2012 (FY12).

Caliento later told Reminder Publications that it is not uncommon for the town to face such a gap at this point in the budget process.

"We project what revenues to anticipate and know generally what expenditures are going to be from department budgets submitted," Caliento said. "Almost every year we have a gap."

Caliento said he is hopeful the budget will be completely balanced by the FY12 budget hearing on April 4. The hearing is slated for 7 p.m. at East Longmeadow High School.

"We are moving in the right direction," Caliento said. "I am confident we will have a formalized proposal in the next few weeks."

As is stands right now, Caliento is proposing adjustments in the town's revenues, including the transfer of $1 million from free cash, increasing the state aid projection by $440,000 and transferring $133,420 from other funds.

In addition to revenue adjustments, Caliento's proposal will include some reductions to FY12 department budgets and eliminating $250,000 usually raised every year from taxes to increase the stabilization fund.