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| By Courtney Llewellyn Reminder Assistant Editor LONGMEADOW On Thursday evening, Town Manager Robin Crosbie hosted the first-ever town budget presentation forum for Fiscal Year 2009. "We'll learn from this experience," she told those assembled in the Glenbrook Middle School auditorium. Crosbie's 15-slide PowerPoint presentation broke down the major components of Longmeadow's FY09 proposed budget without getting into the minute details. "The objective of every budget season is to have a balanced budget," she said. Making a budget balanced, however, can be "a very challenging time for communities in Massachusetts" because of the current economic climate, Crosbie added. She explained how the budget was determined, based on factors like expected revenues and expenditures, anticipated interest rates and the override that was passed in November. "During the discussions about the override we talked about planning ahead to 2010," Crosbie said. "This budget does include that planning, but changes may occur." The presentation began with a statement of mission and values for determining goals of the Longmeadow Select Board, which include preserving the exceptional quality of life in the town and to deliver town services in a way that is accountable, efficient, collaborative and responsible. The top three priorities for the town through 2010 are protection of assets and resources, land use and regulation and fiscal stability. Budget items fit into one of these three categories in the presentation. The protection of assets covers regulatory compliance, life safety, property protection and cultural services and experience enhancement, in that order. "What defines a community, what defines Longmeadow, are our cultural services," Crosbie said. "Unfortunately, that category isn't always mandated. It's a struggle to maintain things that make this community special." She then discussed FY09 revenue sources which are expected to total nearly $46 million. A total of $556,047 would be set aside as free cash, with $56,047 going toward the fiber optic system connecting the schools of the town. "We are consciously setting aside free cash to balance the FY09 budget," Crosbie explained. Longmeadow is bringing in money with its recycling program and the town manager thanked all the residents who participate in the recycling program. The expenditures were covered as well, broken down into how much of the budget would go into various areas. Fifty-eight percent of the FY09 budget will be going into education, more than 13 percent going to employee benefits, with the rest split amongst general government, public safety, planning and community development, public works, community services, debt and interest and the stabilization fund. Crosbie discussed the major budget changes from FY08 to FY09. Community priorities may change, regulatory compliance is a must, market conditions for items like fuel costs, health costs and the cost of services may fluctuate and there may be more opportunities for funding and service improvement. The oft-debated water and sewer rates may see an increase of up to 20 percent over the current rates during FY09. Those increases would cover the operating cost only, Crosbie explained, with no money left over for reserves. The presentation's summary stated the proposed budget will be balanced, addresses priorities identified by the community and sets aside funds for the FY10 budget to help bridge the estimated $1.5 million anticipated budget gap. "When I saw that budget, I had a d j vu experience," Rob Aseltine of the School Committee said during the question and answer portion of the presentation. "The Budget Strategies Committee had a framework established to create a level service budget. We presented a level service for the school, with $9.3 million one-third of our total budget going to special education. The fact that it's mandated doesn't mean we have to throw money at it. "The proposed town budget is not level service," he continued. "There are new positions, amounts have been increased. It's not balanced. It's only balanced in cutting $365,000 from services the school is mandated to supply. This budget is extraordinarily problematic and it needs serious revision." "A framework was discussed by the Budget Strategies Committee but it was never adopted by the town," Crosbie replied. "It's a debatable issue." Paul Pasterczyk, Finance Director, explained there are fundamental differences on the revenue side of the FY09 budget, difference from what the Budget Strategies Committee came up with. "We need to live within our means," Joe Occhiuti, a resident, said. "We're in a recession. We need to do more with less, not less with more." The next step in cementing the FY09 budget is for the Select Board to deliberate the budget and host a public hearing. |