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Date: 5/18/2022
HUNTINGTON – On May 11, the Huntington Selectboard, now comprising Chair Edward Renauld and member Roger Booth since the resignation of third member Karon Hathaway on May 2, met with the Hilltown Community Ambulance Association (HCAA) for the first time since voting to fund the town’s $58,777 contribution to the nonprofit agency using an override vote.
Renauld explained the need for a Proposition 2½ override to fund the ambulance. He said financially the town was way over its property tax levy limit – “way off.” To bring the town budget within the limits of Proposition 2½, Selectboard members had to find anywhere from $240,000 to $300,000 in cuts, he said. Final numbers are not yet in on some items, such as how many students will attend vocational schools.
In discussing the town’s contract with HCAA before signing it, Renauld said his only concern was the wording in the contract which does not state the percentage of time that the ambulance would be staffed by paramedics. HCAA Director Angela Mulkerin said two new paramedics were recently hired.
“Once cleared, they will be at paramedic level 70 percent of the time,” she said.
Renauld went on to say that since the contract is renewed annually and that HCAA is committed to increasing medic service, an area in which he said it sounds like they have had some success in recent months, he was in favor of signing the contract. He also nominated John Garriepy to the HCAA board beginning July 1 for a term of one year.
“We realize the state mandates towns to provide emergency medical transport service. We do have a plan in place to fund the ambulance if it doesn’t pass the override. We’ll be able to amend the article on the floor to pay for it another way,” Renauld said.
“We had to attach it to something, and hopefully something the people want to pass,” he added, to explain the decision to put the funding on the override. “We’re not raising and appropriating enough money.”
The fiscal year 2023 budget of $86,328 for the town library, the minimum appropriation to retain state certification, has also been zeroed out of the town budget, to be added back if the Proposition 2½ override succeeds. Selectboard members did not give the same assurance to the library that they would find the money somehow, if the override fails.
“If these 2½ overrides do not pass, both of them, we have to pay [for the ambulance]. If townspeople want the library, they need to pass the override,” Renauld said, adding, “If the library fails, it’s null and void.”
Booth said the tax impact for the library vote is 37 cents per $1,000 assessed value, or $88.28 per year on an average-priced home of $238,000. The tax impact for the ambulance is 25 cents per $1,000, or $59.65 per year. Together, they add a little under $150 annually to the average tax bill.
“That’s $12, or three Starbucks coffees a month,” he said.
The override election is scheduled for June 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to passing a ballot vote, the overrides would have to be approved at Town Meeting on June 6.
“If you’re voting yes, you have to vote on Election Day and at the Annual Town Meeting,” Booth said. “Just because it passes on Saturday [June 4], doesn’t mean it’s done,” Booth said.
Renauld said the town purposely timed the special election before the Town Meeting so they would know the results.
“We wanted to know if the overrides passed before the Town Meeting. We had a 35-day window, and just got the election in,” he said. “We have to be able to raise more funds. I hope they both pass; we need to raise that bottom line. We’ve been spending out of the savings account for too long.”
Renauld said if both overrides pass, the town will still be $100,000 over the levy limit.
Town Meeting will convene with a special warrant at 6:30 p.m. on June 6 in Stanton Hall, followed by the annual warrant at 7 p.m. If all business is not completed the first night, the Town Meeting will continue at 7 p.m. on June 7.
Library statement
The Huntington Library Board of Trustees and Friends of the Huntington Library released a statement in response to the Proposition 2½ override plans.
“The budget total presented at the recent budget hearings was the lowest amount it could be in order to meet the requirements set by the state which would allow the library to continue to be certified by the state,” the statement said in part. “Without certification, the library does not receive any state aid. Also, Huntington residents will lose the ability to use any other library in the state, even if a resident has a card from that library. Services like interlibrary loans and simply borrowing books from any other library will no longer be available to the residents of Huntington.
“The override question concerns not only certification, it is about the entire budget. A ‘no’ vote will shut the library down completely for an entire year. There will be no access to any library materials. There will be no funds for staff, programs, copier, computer or internet access. There will be no funds for utilities or any sort of maintenance. … In an effort to save your library, we encourage Huntington residents to take action on this issue and vote ‘yes’ at the special town election.”