GREENFIELD — The Ways and Means Committee is beginning the process of reviewing $4.06 million in capital requests for fiscal year 2027.
Among the total 28 capital requests, some of the largest sums include borrowing $600,000 for sewer system repairs to curb stormwater infiltration, borrowing $700,000 to replace the water main on Place Terrace and borrowing $370,000 to purchase a new trash truck.
Ways and Means Committee Chair Marianne Bullock said the committee will continue reviewing capital requests in the coming weeks, and that Monday’s initial review was to give councilors a better idea of which projects they will have more questions about when meeting with department heads.
Mayor Ginny Desorgher said the list of requests was developed in discussion with city department heads. They considered which expenses — to be paid for with a mix of borrowing, stabilization funds and retained earnings — are believed to be necessary in FY27 and what could be postponed to a future year.
Of the proposed expenses, $2.8 million is for water and sewer projects, $155,000 is for facility and equipment improvements across the school district, and $728,000 is for paving projects and Department of Public Works equipment replacements. Another $36,000 is sought for recreation area improvements, and $120,000 is requested to renovate the Transfer Station, specifically the bathroom and break room, amid continued efforts to curb a rat infestation.
The mayor explained that the capital expenses are separate from the city’s operating budget, which will be presented at a future meeting, and that she hopes to have more information soon about the city’s available free cash, which could be used to fund some capital expenses. That amount needs to be certified by the state Department of Revenue.
“They’re not part of the operating budget, but it’s required by law to have capital plans for your city,” Desorgher said. “You’re supposed to have a five-year plan of what you plan to do, looking at your buildings, your vehicles, your needs.”
Recreation Director Christy Moore told the committee that the basketball court is overdue for resurfacing. The $36,000 would come from capital stabilization and is the only expense the department is putting forward this year. In future years, Moore said the city will need to look at a $400,000 replacement of the 15-year-old splash pad.
“The only thing that has been put forward for our capital is the resurfacing of the basketball court at the Green River Swimming Area,” Moore said. “It’s withstood multiple floods, [Hurricane] Irene … but the blacktop just needs to be completely resurfaced. There’s grass growing in it; it’s just not safe for the public to be on.”
Generator purchase
In addition to reviewing FY27 capital requests, the committee voted to recommend City Council authorize the mayor to borrow up to $250,000 to buy a new generator for the Police Station in the current fiscal year. Desorgher said the 25-year-old generator, which acted as backup power for the 911 and dispatch system, died on April 1.
Desorgher told the Ways and Means Committee she was requesting authorization to purchase a new one because repairing the old one would cost $100,000 and take a few months, and renting one would cost $20,000 per month.
“It made more sense than renting for a few months,” Desorgher said.
A first reading for the generator purchase was on City Council’s April 15 agenda. The full council is also expected to review the capital budget, as well as hear updates on the operating budget and anticipated health insurance expenses.
Curbing a deficit
Desorgher said the city is looking at a 19.3% increase in its health insurance costs for FY27, which equates to approximately $2 million. The city is looking to switch insurance providers from Health New England to the state-backed Group Insurance Commission, which could help reduce the cost.
But in the meantime, it is shaping up to be a tight budget for FY27. In an email, Communications Director Jonathon Weber said the city is looking at an approximately $2 million budget shortfall in FY27, and will be making cuts across several departments.
Earlier this month, the Recreation Commission learned that budget cuts would include the elimination of funding for the Youth Center coordinator, as well as eight to 12 positions across other departments. According to Weber, the city is planning staffing reductions in the Police, Fire, Dispatch, Information Technology, Energy, Licensing and Economic Development departments, as well as the Council on Aging. The mayor would like to work with the Recreation Department to maintain the after-school program without needing a full-time Youth Center coordinator position, but with the fiscal challenges the city is facing, she said cuts were necessary.
“The proposed cuts to the Recreation Department are disappointing. The bigger picture is tragic. We are in a bad fiscal situation and have to make hard choices. There are no ‘easy’ things left to cut. The fact that the Recreation Department is having its budget reduced alongside public safety departments is an indication of the severity of our situation,” Desorgher said. “I have to take care of Greenfield — and that means balancing needs across all departments to make sure that we keep providing core services.
“I want to find a solution here, and we can have a program without another staff person. Plenty of similar communities run these programs without full-time staff,” she continued. “I’ve been working with the Recreation Department and commission to find solutions to keep the after-school program running. So far, though, the one I am being presented with is a full-time position. And we cannot afford that.”
