Government

Select board weighs eliminating parks and recreation program, reducing town planner position, other new budget cuts

| Joanne Cole, NGX |

At an April 15 budget workshop conducted online, the select board proposed additional cuts to offset a predicted additional revenue shortfall of $225,000.  Among the cuts the board tentatively approved: elimination of parks and recreation programming and the director position, to save $68,715; reduction of the town planner position to half-time, for a savings of $62,000; and elimination of a public works position, saving $56,481.  In addition, a jaws-of-life-type extraction tool for NG fire/rescue was scrubbed, saving $29,365. 

The new cuts would come on top of previous cuts to library hours and the assistant librarian position, and reductions in hours of other town staff, among other items.  The board did not revisit any of its prior budget decisions or discuss tapping the town’s undesignated fund balance, directing less money than planned into capital reserves, or raising taxes.  The focus was cuts.

Although the board met online, the coronavirus nevertheless made its presence felt – in lower estimated tax revenues, which programs to cut and why, and the role, if any, of the citizen budget committee going forward this budget cycle. The board decided to formally consider the budget committee and budget process at a meeting set for Wednesday April 22 at 6 pm.  

The workshop opened with budget adviser Steven Libby’s overview of the changing revenue picture resulting from the virus outbreak, an analysis undertaken at the board’s request. His take: a richer-than-expected state revenue-sharing payment to the town, but $300,000 less in vehicle excise tax receipts as well as other reduced revenues.  The bottom line, Libby said, is “a significant shortfall” he estimated at $225,000.      

Libby had prepared a slate of possible cuts, and interim town manager Paul First offered recommendations from among them.  First explained that he was guided in part by the governor’s recent definitions of “essential services.”  In recommending reducing the town planner position to half-time, First noted that planning board functions are among the essential services the state has said should continue despite the outbreak.

A half-time planner could carry out planning board reviews, First thought, but the land management planning committee might be on its own. In addition, work on the Upper Village master plan might need to go on hold for a year or more, said First, until the economy and budget picture improve. The board voted in favor of reducing the planner position. It was unclear whether the planner’s work on the comprehensive plan update can be completed before the proposed cut in hours would take effect.

Social distancing was key when the board discussed eliminating the parks and recreation director and programs. If significant social distancing continues into the fall, as seems possible, First said, recreation programs would be “hard to deliver.” “So many unknowns,” board member George Colby commented. With the outbreak, “you have no idea what’s coming down the road.” As it is, according to First, the town is already moving toward furloughing non-essential personnel whose workloads have decreased or tasks cannot be done from home.

On parks and rec programming, the board explored scenarios to save popular offerings that generate revenue or break even—cheering, gymnastics, football, mad scientists—and which have taken time and effort to build. Could volunteers or individual coaches and program leaders handle registration and other administrative tasks “until we get through this,” Steve Libby wondered.  How about a half-time director position, member Tammy Donovan asked.  If social distancing turns out not to be needed, asked member Karen Gilles, what are the options then?

In the end, a divided board voted to eliminate parks and recreation entirely unless “a better plan,” as member Joe Davis put it, can be developed in time.  Chair Linda Chase asked Libby and First to run the numbers for specific parks and rec offerings and report back.   

A divided board also favored ending the budget committee’s role in the budget process going forward.  The committee’s fate has been uncertain since a planned public hearing on its draft budget had to be put on hold with the outbreak.  That hearing was to have been an opportunity for citizens to comment on the budget committee’s recommendation to cut some $200,000 from fire/rescue, among other departures from the select board’s budget recommendations.    

In discussing whether the budget committee should resume its work this budget cycle, the board raised the technological challenge of meeting and taking public input remotely as well as the compressed calendar.  “As a board, we know what their hot topics are going to be,” board chair Linda Chase said. The board will formally take up the budget committee and the process ahead on April 22 at 6 pm.    

The budget workshop, convened on the online platform Zoom, was ‘attended’ by about a dozen citizens who signed in to follow along, and it was recorded.  Inquiries from NGX to town staff about how and when the recording will be shared with the public were not responded to in time for this report. 

Select board members and town staff confer on budget cuts via Zoom
Screenshot: Joanne Cole