SUNDERLAND — Town Administrator Sherri Patch says the 2016 annual town warrant contains “pretty standard articles” and she does not expect much controversy generated at town meeting.

The warrant consists of 27 articles and voters have been informed to visit Sunderland Elementary School at 1 Swampfield Drive at 7 p.m. on Friday to take action on them.

The proposed budget is $7,222,574. This is up $118,314, or 1.7 percent, from this year. The total general government budget would increase by $16,469, to $551,012, if passed as proposed.

Most departments have higher recommended figures than the current fiscal year, with a notable exception under the Fire Department line item. Patch said the decrease of $42,366, or 13.4 percent, is the result of a drop in Sunderland’s assessment for South County Emergency Medical Services. The proposed budget is $274,764. Patch said Deerfield, the fiscal agent for SCEMS, used some retained earnings to lower Sunderland’s assessment. SCEMS services Sunderland, Deerfield and Whately.

In other items, there is an increase of $5,260, or 81.4 percent, under the “Elections & Registrar” category. Patch said this money will be used to pay pollworkers and additional expenses stemming from November’s presidential election. She said a spike in spending for this category happens every four years because of presidential elections.

The proposed budget for the Whately Police Department is $418,228, an increase of $28,251, or 7.2 percent. Patch said this increase stems mostly from an additional $11,627 in part-time police wages. She said this covers additional shifts that need to be filled.

In other business, an article in the town warrant asks residents if they agree to transfer $103,752 from free cash to the stabilization fund that Patch said holds money for capital projects. This article requires a two-thirds vote for adoption. Another article aims to transfer from available funds $28,266 to cover the tuition and transportation for a Sunderland student enrolled in a criminal justice program at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in FY2016. Patch explained this is out-of-district placement/tuition because no criminal justice program is offered at Franklin County Technical School, which serves Sunderland.

You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 257.
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