http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20101226/NEWS02/312269651
Published December 26, 2010 in the Rutland Herald
Town completes proposed budget
By SUSAN SMALLHEER STAFF WRITER
SPRINGFIELD – The proposed $9.5 million town budget finalized by the Select Board this week is less than the current year's budget, but it will still require about a penny increase in the tax rate.
Town Manager Robert Forguites said Thursday the budget will require a 3/4 of a cent increase.
Over several nights of budget sessions, the Select Board trimmed a net $28,210 from the budget, but also added items in the capital budget, for a total a $9,200 increase.
"Our total operating and capital budgets are $155,000 less than the current year's budget," said Forguites. But the amount to be raised by taxes will increase by $59,000, largely because of a change in revenue.
One of the biggest cuts came in the book budget at the Springfield Town Library. Forguites said the board, which had considered bigger cuts, decided on a $10,000 cut in the book budget, and then also cut periodicals by $1,000 and a book processing line item by $1,100.
The board had discussed cutting the hours at the library, but at the suggestion of Library Director Russell Moore and Forguites, the board decided cutting the hours would have a bigger impact on the public than cutting the $30,000 book budget.
Another department seeing changes was the police department. The Select Board went along with a request from Police Chief Douglas Johnston for a new part-time dispatcher at a cost of $15,600.
But to keep the police department budget down, the board cut $10,000 from contract incentives, and $5,600 from minor tools and equipment, $2,000 from vehicle maintenance, and $3,000 from gas, oil and antifreeze costs for the police department's fleet of nine vehicles.
The board did not add a full-time dispatcher, which was under discussion because several area police departments have been looking for dispatch services.
The town's emergency dispatch center was moved last year to the new police station, in an effort to keep the town's costs under control. The town now dispatches for the town of Chester in exchange for $20,000.
The board added $10,000 towards a new maintenance garage at Riverside Park in the capital budget. The current shed is in danger of collapsing, said Andy Bladyka, the town's recreation director.
The board also added $5,200 for a new computer server for the fire and ambulance service, and cut $4,500 for new emergency exit signs at the library.
The board also cut $2,000 from its own printing budget for the town report, and trimmed the regular pay for the chief assessor's job. The town's longtime chief assessor, Peter Clark, 79, died late last year and the town hasn't yet filled his position. Clark worked two days a week.
Forguites told the board that in the interim the two elected listers, Richard Moore and Arnold Lashua, were keeping the Grand List up to date.
Forguites said a public hearing on the budget would be held on Monday night, as part of the formal finalization process.
Town completes proposed budget
By SUSAN SMALLHEER STAFF WRITER
SPRINGFIELD – The proposed $9.5 million town budget finalized by the Select Board this week is less than the current year's budget, but it will still require about a penny increase in the tax rate.
Town Manager Robert Forguites said Thursday the budget will require a 3/4 of a cent increase.
Over several nights of budget sessions, the Select Board trimmed a net $28,210 from the budget, but also added items in the capital budget, for a total a $9,200 increase.
"Our total operating and capital budgets are $155,000 less than the current year's budget," said Forguites. But the amount to be raised by taxes will increase by $59,000, largely because of a change in revenue.
One of the biggest cuts came in the book budget at the Springfield Town Library. Forguites said the board, which had considered bigger cuts, decided on a $10,000 cut in the book budget, and then also cut periodicals by $1,000 and a book processing line item by $1,100.
The board had discussed cutting the hours at the library, but at the suggestion of Library Director Russell Moore and Forguites, the board decided cutting the hours would have a bigger impact on the public than cutting the $30,000 book budget.
Another department seeing changes was the police department. The Select Board went along with a request from Police Chief Douglas Johnston for a new part-time dispatcher at a cost of $15,600.
But to keep the police department budget down, the board cut $10,000 from contract incentives, and $5,600 from minor tools and equipment, $2,000 from vehicle maintenance, and $3,000 from gas, oil and antifreeze costs for the police department's fleet of nine vehicles.
The board did not add a full-time dispatcher, which was under discussion because several area police departments have been looking for dispatch services.
The town's emergency dispatch center was moved last year to the new police station, in an effort to keep the town's costs under control. The town now dispatches for the town of Chester in exchange for $20,000.
The board added $10,000 towards a new maintenance garage at Riverside Park in the capital budget. The current shed is in danger of collapsing, said Andy Bladyka, the town's recreation director.
The board also added $5,200 for a new computer server for the fire and ambulance service, and cut $4,500 for new emergency exit signs at the library.
The board also cut $2,000 from its own printing budget for the town report, and trimmed the regular pay for the chief assessor's job. The town's longtime chief assessor, Peter Clark, 79, died late last year and the town hasn't yet filled his position. Clark worked two days a week.
Forguites told the board that in the interim the two elected listers, Richard Moore and Arnold Lashua, were keeping the Grand List up to date.
Forguites said a public hearing on the budget would be held on Monday night, as part of the formal finalization process.
No comments :
Post a Comment
Please keep your comments polite and on-topic. No profanity