| Joanne Cole, NGX |
A municipal budget discussion that had previously centered on spending will now have significant complications on the revenue side, select board members acknowledged at their March 23 meeting. The economic downturn is likely to reduce auto excise tax receipts and state revenue-sharing, interim town manager Paul First said, developments that “will significantly impact” the town budget. “The world has changed,” he said.
In light of the virus outbreak, the board postponed town meeting to Monday, June 15, with June 29 as a back-up date. Elections are slated for June 9. If it proves necessary, First assured the board, town meeting can be held after July 1 and the tax commitment still occur in time.
The board also extended the time residents can pay their April 3 property tax bill without penalty to Friday April 17. The board acknowledged that the penalty grace period was largely a gesture but wanted to show awareness of the “stresses already put on people” by the outbreak, board member Tammy Donovan said.
But it was the FY21 budget that dominated discussion at the meeting. The suddenly cloudy revenue picture affects not only final budget figures, but also the budget process. Among the board’s concerns were the role, if any, of the budget committee going forward, and whether a public hearing can still be held and, if so, what form it might take.
The board ultimately decided to defer those questions to their April 6 meeting. In the meantime, town staff will start revisiting the board’s working budget, aiming to bring the new revenue picture into focus and have revised numbers for a possible budget workshop around April 20. Working backwards from the new June 15 town meeting date, the board determined that the its budget must be finalized by May 4. Whether only the select board’s recommended budget will go to voters, or also one from the budget committee, remains to be seen.
Given a budget process in flux, board members discussed how best to take public input. Although residents are welcome to email comments to him at any time, First said, comments on the budget might be premature until it’s clearer “how big the hole is” due to reduced revenues, and whether the budget will change as a result. Tammy Donovan wanted residents to know “we do want them to continue with their public participation.”
For this meeting, the board acknowledged receiving 37 comments from residents, 32 of which concerned the library budget, recorder Sharlene Myers said. Chair Linda Chase said the messages would become part of the meeting’s official record. The letters were not read aloud.
On the spending side, one particularly problematic budget item may be the Stevens Brook dam and culvert project on Gloucester Hill Road. For the work to go forward this summer as planned, the contractor needs to order the box culvert by early May, First said. However, the entire project is contingent on voters’ approval of funding at town meeting, and with town meeting postponed until June… And no, a virtual or remote town meeting isn’t an option, according to MMA legal, First said. He recommended waiting until MDOT inspects the bridge–expected within days–and determines whether the project can wait or “needs to happen right now, this year.” The board will hold off taking action until MDOT weighs in.
At the outset of the meeting, board member Karen Gilles had addressed the absent public, saying “I thank you for not coming,” in sincere appreciation that the community heeded the board’s plea not to attend in person. Gilles observed that, like the public, the board is operating in “uncharted territory.” That appears likely to be the case for some time.
