Budget set at marathon meeting

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW Based on Longmeadow's Annual Town Meeting last Tuesday, a lot can be accomplished in four hours. Although there was a small turnout of voters, those in attendance made decisions on 32 different warrant articles, including the toughest topic of all the town's budget for Fiscal Year 2009.

Article 7, the article concerning the budget, was explained in detail by Town Manager Robin Crosbie. She told those in attendance how much was currently in various accounts ($1,325,136 in free cash, $1,879,633 in the operating stabilization fund, $546,288 in the sewer reserve, $205,628 in the water reserve, $277,554 in the capital stabilization fund and $168,311 in the ambulance fund).

While Longmeadow brings in revenue in four different ways - real estate taxes, state aid, local receipts and offsets and enterprise funds state aid has not kept pace, interest income is down and motor vehicle excise receipts are moderating due to the slow sales of new vehicles, according to Crosbie. Increases in fuel costs, special education costs and employee compensation and benefits have also outstripped increases in revenues.

"The goal of FY09 is to maintain FY08 service levels and keep up with regulations," Crosbie said.

Mark Barowsky, vice-chair of the Finance Committee, said the goal of this year's budget was to focus on long-term planning. He presented an amendment to the $51,276,366 budget that would cut about $90,000 from the general government, public safety, planning and community development, public works and community services appropriations to cover a predicted deficit of the same amount.

Select Board member William Scibelli was against the amendment. "These are actual cuts in town services," he said. "I don't want to pay more taxes in 2009 for less services."

Kathleen Grady, vice-chair of the Select Board, agreed. "I speak against this amendment in the interest of fairness and transparency," she stated. "It is your money, you are the legislature, you set the budget."

Jim Nittoli, a former member of the School Committee and a current member of the Finance Committee, said that although this was "the most frustrating budget season I' ve been through," he was in favor of the amendment.

The amendment was ultimately approved by the voters.

The budget issues did not end there, however. The printed version of Article 8 asked to transfer $825,000 from free cash to the Operating Stabilization Fund to bridge the anticipated revenue gap in FY10. When Grady presented the article, however, that figure changed to $179,151. Carla Gunn, chair of the Finance Committee, said that was not the number her committee had agreed upon.

"The plan changed so the budget would be balanced tonight rather than in the fall," Grady explained.

Both voters and town representatives were confused by the issue, so it was briefly tabled so the numbers could be sorted out.

Resident Louis Robin made a motion for an amendment that would bring the amount for transfer back up to $825,000. Doing so would leave the budget unbalanced until this fall.

Paul Pasterczyk, the town's Finance Director, said it has not been uncommon for the town to vote on an unbalanced budget.

Robin's amendment was not approved and the additional money will remain in free cash until Longmeadow's fall Special Town Meeting. The original article was approved.

The lengthy meeting also approved funds for unanticipated special education and snow and ice removal costs from FY08, as well as for revaluation costs, carpet and tile replacement at Williams Middle School and the repayment to the ambulance fund for the FY08 purchase of a rapid response fire engine.

Article 11 asked for a total of $1,140,630 for various capital projects including new maintenance vehicles, the replacement of hydrants, water valves and meters, repairs and replacement of a variety of fixtures and buildings throughout the town, the core of a town-wide radio communications system and the installation of fiber optics to connect town and school buildings.

The radio communications system was fully approved with the approval of Article 14, and the purchase of a front end loader was fully approved with the passage of Articles 15 and 16 as well.

Articles were also passed concerning sewer replacements and roof replacements on the high school and the Greenwood Center.

Crosbie said that since the high school's roof was under warranty, the funds approved at the meeting $100,000 would pay for labor, not materials.

Articles 22 through 28, all Community Preservation Committee items, were approved.

Petitioned Article 29, which asked to create a Water and Sewer Commission separate from the Select Board, was voted down. A public hearing on the motion will take place May 19.

"This is not good for government accountability and transparency," School Committee member Jerold Duquette stated. "I want responsibility to stay with the Select Board."

The three petitioned articles concerning the town's fluoridated water were all voted down by those in attendance as well.

To see the recipients of the town's Citizen of the Year Award, announced at the meeting, visit www.thereminder.com.