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Budget balanced despite lack of funds

By Dan Cooper

Staff Intern



LONGMEADOW - "The budget, as presented, is balanced for the town," Town Manager Robin Crosbie told the Select Board at their meeting on Feb. 20.

Crosbie said that putting together the budget was very difficult. "The maintenance budgets for the schools and the town have different costs," she said. Crosbie said the school budget for maintenance is $340,000, while the entire school budget is around $24.92 million. "Overall, the education budget, excluding maintenance, is up by 2.33 percent," Crosbie said. "The school budget is short $500,000 for the SPED program," she said. "The School Committee asked for the money, but we can't give it to them because we just don't have it. The entire budget for the school program is $25,779, 838, which includes the $500,000 in the SPED program they are short by."

Crosbie said the town budget includes reductions in staff and building costs. "I would like to maintain emergency services, however," she said.

Crosbie said that to keep the budget balanced, there are some open town positions that won't be filled. "We have an open highway department equipment operator position and a clerical position in the Assessors' office that will not be filled when the incumbent retires in December," Crosbie said.

"The funding for the library salaries are at the state minimum," Crosbie continued. "We are upgrading a department of public works engineer to a tech support engineer. We have also hired a full-time electrician and plumber, both of whom have other skills as well," Crosbie said.

She explained that her main priorities are to maintain the state budget and retain educational services. Crosbie said the overall balanced operating budget is $46, 754, 979.

The town budget report presented to the Select Board is available for review online at www.longmeadow.org, the town clerk's office, the Storrs Library, and at the Council on Aging.

The Select Board then conducted interviews for an open full time position on the Conservation Commission, which opened up following a resignation. The position would be effective until June 30, 2008.

The Board interviewed Jim Simon, an associate member of the Conservation Commission, and Peter Bouvier, who is on the tree commission. A decision to fill the vacant post will be made at the next Select Board meeting.

The Select Board then reviewed the results of the Abrams Audit on the school department, conducted from October to December 2006, the second quarter of the fiscal year 2007 budget. The Audit Committee focused on 12 major topics of interest and, as of Dec. 20, only five recommendations had not received action. The committee said it would follow up on the other items that had not yet been addressed.

The Select Board then questioned the effectiveness of the Facilities Committee, and whether it should be a permanent committee. Some of the cons expressed included that the committee was staff heavy and expensive; while the pros were that certain situations may require it. The Board decided that six to eight members would be fine for the Facilities Committee.

The Select Board then addressed a petition for a ballot question on a non-binding referendum on fluoridation in the water supply, and whether or not to keep it there. The motion was defeated and the question will not appear on the ballot.