No cuts, layoffs in Cohen's FY13 budget
Date: 5/23/2012
May 23, 2012By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.comAGAWAM — Mayor Richard Cohen released a proposed $77.3 million operating budget for fiscal year 2013 (FY13) to the City Council on May 21 that inflicted no pain on residents or town employees.
"The fact that we were able to avert layoffs and massive service cuts to municipal and school services within this budget is no small feat," Cohen noted in his letter to the council. "The cooperation of everyone is needed in difficult times and is crucial in guiding our town through these fiscal challenges. However, continued cooperation is and will be needed as we move forward in order to minimize the impact of the economic recession on our taxpayers."
The budget does represent a 5.2 percent spending increase as compared to the FY12 budget of $73.5 million.
His letter also noted that, in accordance with the Home Rule Charter, he was submitting a balanced budget which "includes resources to provide continued efficient core services, maintain public safety, address the rise in fuel, energy and other material costs and address the educational needs of our schools." He added that developing a balanced budget in the current economic climate continues to "present a challenge to elected officials in Agawam … to provide tax dollars which adequately cover municipal services (both town and schools) while not placing a greater tax burden on our residents."
The budget anticipates revenues including $23 million in state aid, $4.4 million in local receipts and $50 million in real estate taxes. It also authorizes the town's assessor to "use not more than $1.25 million in certified free cash" to offset the FY13 tax rate and a transfer of $50,000 from the Ambulance Fees fund for the same purpose.
In addition, the FY13 budget includes revenue projections totaling $8 million from the municipal golf course and water and wastewater receipts.
The largest items in the town's operating budget are the $36.4 million School Department budget and $20.7 million in line items, which includes $2.3 million in debt service, $8.8 million in health insurance escrow and a $3.6 million payment "to the credit of the Hampden County Retirement Board to satisfy the Town of Agawam's share of the Pension and Expenses Credit Funds."
The budget also includes $601,090 in anticipated capital improvement spending. Public safety and maintenance spending include a $4.49 million appropriation for the Police Department, a $3.76 million appropriation for the Fire Department, a $1.8 million appropriation for highway and grounds and $3.9 million appropriation for building maintenance. The public library, which is slated to receive the most funding of any of the remaining departments, is granted a $1 million appropriation.
According to City Council Administrative Assistant Barbara Bard, the council is expected to host a public hearing on the budget during its June 18 meeting, slated for 7 p.m. at the Roberta G. Doering School on Main Street.
