ATHOL — Town Manager Shaun Suhoski is recommending an $18.9 million budget for the coming year, up 8.3 percent.
In a presentation to the Board of Selectmen and Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee Tuesday night and supporting documents, Suhoski recalled the cuts made in the current budget — which he said was built on the premise of fiscal restraint and included a shift of health insurance costs from the town to employees, limited raises and reductions to hours in six Town Hall positions. This year’s budget he characterized as responsible.
The bulk of the sizeable 8.3 percent increase is debt costs of about $720,000 for the new elementary school and health insurance and pension fund increases of about $300,000, without which the increase tops out at 2.5 percent and conforms with the Proposition 2½ limit, Suhoski said. Selectman Alan Dodge questioned the deduction of the insurance and pension costs, which he said should be part of the general budget. Suhoski said he meant to highlight that the town has some costs it cannot control.
As proposed, the budget for the coming year includes a police officer to serve as school resource officer under a cost-sharing plan with the Athol-Royalston Regional School District. The budget includes no cuts to staff or hours, pays debts to the Environmental Protection Agency, a retiree, resumes saving toward the triennial property revaluation and sets aside $35,000 in potential tuition costs from two students attending Franklin County Technical School. The budget does not include money to expand library hours to Saturday, hire two additional police patrol officers or hire additional public works staff, all changes Suhoski said are desirable or necessary but not currently affordable.
Finance Chairman Kenneth Duffy said his committee will begin reviewing the budget next week. Duffy applauded Suhoski’s finance team for their revenue projections, which he said are solid and based on facts.
Selectmen also heard from the Capital Program Committee, whose members characterized the capital spending situation as grim but improved, with $308,528 to spend and $1.2 million in department requests. Some, such as a tanker replacement for the Fire Department, will be put off.
Officials spoke optimistically of new tax revenue from development around the new Market Basket in the future, including a likely Starbucks and a hoped-for hotel.
You can reach Chris Curtis at: ccurtis@recorder.com