http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120113/NEWS02/701139883
Published January 13, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Budget group recommends 10 percent cut in Springfield
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Budget Advisory Committee has recommended cutting the proposed $9.9 million town budget by 10 percent.
David Yesman, chairman of the group, said Thursday the group was 8-4 in favor of reducing the town budget, and would come up with specific recommendations for the Select Board by next week’s budget session Wednesday.
Yesman said the 12-member group, which is in its first year of revitalization, felt strongly that town taxes were too high and the only way to address that was to cut spending. He said the other budget members felt they couldn’t support the full 10 percent cut.
“We spoke a lot and everybody feels taxes in Springfield are too high. There has to be a target and we recommended 10 percent,” he said.
Yesman says he hears constantly from people that taxes are too high, and he’s not on the Select Board.
In addition to the across-the-board cut, the committee made several other recommendations: no pay increases for the coming budget year, no new hires, and increase the town employee contribution for health insurance from 3 percent to 20 percent.
Yesman said Springfield teachers contribute 17 percent toward health insurance.
It costs the town $1.1 million to provide health insurance for 90 people, he said, the town employees and their dependents.
“Things have been going on the same for the last 25 years with no real hard look,” Yesman said. “Why are we doing it this way? Can we make it happen with one less person or two less people or do we need to do it all?”
In addition, the group recommended changes in the town’s compensatory time policy, sick day accrual policy, and capping vacation time at three weeks.
He said the work-day policy definition needs to be changed to allow department heads more flexibility to determine the work day, cutting down on compensation time and overtime.
“It would save the town money,” said Yesman, who served on the Springfield Select Board from 1984-90.
Yesman said the committee met with the Select Board on Wednesday night and that Town Manager Robert Forguites added $50,000 to his budget to cover contract negotiations.
Yesman said Forguites had removed $300,000 from the budget earmarked for paving and recommended putting it on the town warning as a separate line item for voters to decide.
Yesman said the committee supported $600,000 in the budget for pavement.
The vast majority of town employees belong to a union, with only the town hall staff not covered by a union contract.
The budget committee has recommended eliminating two positions in the public works department and another position in the town hall administration, Yesman said.
Forguites said Thursday he and the Select Board were working toward something that the budget committee would find satisfactory.
He said the board and the budget members would meet again Wednesday.
“We’re trying to work on stuff that will head us in that direction,” he said. “We’ll know a little better next week.”
Forguites said the only way to cut spending by 10 percent was to cut employees.
Yesman said Select Board Chairman Kristi Morris had asked him to come up with recommendations for the 10 percent cuts.
“We believe it’s up to the department heads,” said Yesman, saying that such personnel cuts “were not in our job description” as budget members.
“Some departments are already bare bones,” he said, noting both the Parks & Recreation Department, as well as the senior center.
Yesman said the budget group would meet next Monday night at the Town Hall to come up with an answer to Morris’ suggestion.
Amen and kudos to the eight members of the Springfield Budget Advisory Committee who have the courage to do what Springfield's complacent town fathers won't!
ReplyDeleteIt's time to take back Springfield from the hands of its current listless leaders and this is a good start!
It's not enough
ReplyDeleteLet's take a look at the cuts that need to be taken. First, we Do NOT need new equipment, there are cuts that could be made at parks and rec. We dont need two individuals running parks and rec. This is a town of 5-9k not Nashua or other large metropolis. The job could be done with one individual and one part-time employee at the very most.
ReplyDeleteHere is a novel approach..other than the needed employee cuts, how about asking the town employees to take mandatory furlough days, here is a note to those union people who wanna fight that...either take mandatory days or we will cut XX amount of individuals completely. The option for unpaid furlough days is by far better since each employee retains their job and position.
So far as insurance contributions, that needs to be re-worked completely. Yes, employees should pay up to 25% if not lets look at other health plans with less coverage and lower costs. That is the option employees have. If you want good coverage then you will have to pay more just like the rest of the country and if not we change our plan with either higher deductables or less overall coverage. That is a benefit NOT a required item for an employer.
We should also look at lowering the comptroller and other individual pay rates. It is a great service each does Im sure however, we could hire out of college qualified applicants for half the cost in this economy. Highest paid should be first out just like in corporate America at this time of economic uncertainty.
I know these are hard things for the town and select board to face but the time has come to use business sense instead of hiring and voting in our neighbors or former school mates because we like them. That isnt enough anymore and strict reform and spending cuts are drastically needed in this town for it to survive.
the senior center director should go; the town bought a scanner for her but she seldom uses it to update the website; what was the point; also, the place is usually staffed by senior volunteers as she is always out.
Deleteas far as the unions, the town hall personnel are the ones who really need a union
Did I read that right, town employees only pay 3% towards their health insurance? Wow, are they hiring?
ReplyDeletethe senior center director should go; the place is usually staffed by senior volunteers because she is so often out; the town paid for a scanner for her for updating the website and that is seldom used.
ReplyDelete\
as far as the unions, the town hall personnel are the ones whom need a union