ORANGE — The budget contingent on a half-million-dollar override, a citizens’ petition to put town expense reports online and a new solar array bylaw are headlining this year’s Annual Town Meeting.
Orange’s Annual Town Meeting is Monday, June 17, 7 p.m. at Ruth B. Smith Auditorium on the second floor of the Town Hall, 6 Prospect St.
It is likely the meeting will reconvene the following night if not all 34 articles are voted the first evening.
The recommended budget to be voted on is $21,353,712.07. This is a 6.2 percent increase over the current year’s budget of $20,103,315.92 — last year the increase was just over 2 percent.
As with the current budget, 55 percent of the grand total would be spent on education — assuming the budget passes. The single-largest increase to the budget is from the Orange Elementary Schools — a $300,000 increase — which alone take up just over 31 percent of the total budget.
School officials have justified the large increase by stating nine new hires — later stated to be 11 new hires — were made during the school year. The revelation drew criticism from members of the Selectboard and Finance Committee for lack of transparency, with Selectboard member Bill Wrigley saying a reason would have to be shared with the public for such an uncommon occurrence.
Initially, the elementary schools asked for a $600,000 — 9 percent — increase, but this was slashed to $300,000 after the Selectboard voted not to support such an increase.
The recommended budget exceeds Orange’s revenue by nearly $514,000, necessitating a Proposition 2½ override vote to make up the difference. This vote will happen on July 29, and if it doesn’t pass, the budget will have to be cut by $514,000.
A citizens’ petition put together by residents Laurie and Victor MacDonald seeks further fiscal transparency from the town. It asks for the town’s expense reports — its general ledgers — to be put online monthly.
The article cites Town Administrator Gabriele Voelker’s statement in March, “It’s easy enough to do,” and points out that the town already has the computer software necessary to put the reports online, and thus it wouldn’t cost the town money. Nearby Phillipston already does this online “open checkbook,” as does the state.
Wrigley, at a meeting in March, was opposed to the idea, arguing that it’s “a solution looking for a problem.” With the exception of the accountant, Wrigley said people would not gain much information from the expense reports without having to ask, therefore creating more work for Town Hall staff.
At a recent meeting, Wrigley said he wouldn’t oppose the article if others are in favor of its passage.
Other articles include a revolving fund to be created for the Council on Aging, funded by gifts and fees from meals and used to provide lunches and programming.
The Wastewater Treatment Facility needs upgrading, which is dependent on the town voting to borrow approximately $16 million for planning, bidding and construction.
An article asks for $74,061 to be transferred from Ambulance Receipts to pay for the Fire Department ambulance — another article asks for $295,000 to be raised, transferred or borrowed for a new ambulance — and another for $11,000 to be raised or transferred to lease portable radios for the Police Department.
Capital projects to be voted on include new Highway Department trucks, a Fire Department brush truck, a new police cruiser and school technology, dependent on voters allowing $473,229 to be borrowed.
A solar zoning bylaw that would regulate large-scale, ground-mounted solar installations is also on the warrant, with the Planning Board rationalizing that the town’s interests, including its Master Plan, Open Space Plan and Green Communities designations, would be protected if passed.
The town has seen a significant increase in the number of large photovoltaic solar arrays that are not roof-mounted, with six receiving approval since January last year and interest from at least two more projects.
Sale of a 295 Holshire Road property owned by the town is also on the warrant, and, if passed, the net proceeds would be divided equally between the town and the Water Department Enterprise Account. The property would be sold for fair-market value to the current lease holders.
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.