By Beth David, Editor
Acushnet Town Meeting will be asked to approve an operating budget of $34,672,150, which is about 4% higher than last year, and includes a school department budget of $18,545,091, an increase of 3.28% from last year. That number includes tuition to the various high schools that Acushnet students get to choose from. Both the Selectboard and the Finance Committee agreed on the “consensus” budget.
The town also received $701K more in Chapter 70 funds for education, a bump this year that most municipalities got in varying degrees from the state.
Town Administrator Jamie Kelley pointed out that all ancillary costs to run the school department, such as building maintenance and health care costs, workers compensation, payroll administrative costs, etc., are paid out of the town side of the budget.
He said although the school department budget is increasing, they “pinched pennies all the way through,” to keep it as low as possible.
“They did a good job of controlling it,” he said, noting that a big part of their budget is tuition to the high schools.
On the whole, the town is on sound financial footing, said Mr. Kelley, with a balanced budget and adequate free cash going to the stabilization fund, and also being used for a variety of capital projects and items.
This year, he said, the town is putting more money into the police department overtime budget to help cut down on year-end transfers. He said it was not adequately funded “for years.”
It is still not quite enough, he said, but in two years they will get there. One issue they had in the past is that National Guard members were activated, so that inflated the regular need for OT, which generally includes court time, covering for vacations, etc.
Other changes in the budget include $20,000 for the Soil Board for consultant costs.
Town meeting will be asked to set up a new revolving fund for the Soil Board. The fund will receive money from fees charged to businesses requiring soil permits, such as PJ Keating and L&S. The money will be used for expenses related to Soil Board activities, including consulting services and legal fees.
Pension costs are up, but debt service is down, and then, of course health insurance is “huge,” as always.
The town’s FY24 Capital Budget, in Article 20, includes $255,000, all from free cash for a variety of one-time expenses for technology upgrades, including: phones, cameras, hardware, and miscellaneous network and fiber supplies for the Technology Department; server, hardware and software, and miscellaneous network supplies for the police department; a variety of hardware for the school department.
Article 21 would appropriate $465,000 for a new tanker fire truck with a capacity of 3,000 gallons, to replace the 37 year old tanker truck that has an 1,800 gallon capacity (see Neighb News 3/16/23 issue).
One non-spending item that will be felt by everyone in town is Article 38 that will change the town’s annual election to the fourth Tuesday in April. Currently, the election is held on a Saturday, a change that was only made a few years ago.
Acushnet Town Clerk Pamela Labonte said voters complained that the Saturday in May was conflicting with too many family events. She decided to ask for a change to Tuesday, which is consistent with State elections. She also opted for late April so it would be after dog licensing, which has a deadline of 3/31 and requires a lot of time by office staff.
“Having the town meeting and the election within a week apart is just placing too much burden on my office, unnecessarily,” said Ms. Labonte in an email. “And with limited staff not only is it important for us to continue working harder, but it’s important we find ways to work smarter.”
The town’s Community Preservation Committee is proposing about $89,000 in spending on five projects, including $85,000 to the Buzzards Bay Coalition, for a project that was rejected last year.
The BBC is asking for the money for the Acushnet Forest Conservation Project, a property near the Fairhaven line. Last year it failed because the plan did not include public access to the property from Acushnet.
Mr. Kelley said the BBC acquired more land and is now able to provide access to Acushnet residents. The BBC is also asking other abutting towns for funds.
Other CPC expenditures include $10,000 to study improvements at Pope Park; $7,640 for the fence at Long Plain Museum; $15,000 for repairs and flooring at Perry Hill Church.
In article 25, Town Meeting will be asked to approve borrowing $610,000 for an ambulance, but, according to Mr. Kelley, they are hoping not to need it. The backlog for a new ambulance is two years. He said if they order the ambulance now, by the time they need to pay for it, they will be able to rescind all or some of the borrowing, and use free cash to buy the ambulance.
Town Meeting will also be asked to approve a plan to put a solar canopy in the parking lot at Ford Middle School. The article will alow the Selectboard to enter into an agreement with Solect Energy Development to put solar panels in the parking lot, allowing cars to park under them. The town estimates a savings of $1,000,000 in electric costs over 25 years.
It will also help with snow removal, noted Mr. Kelley.
Article 23 asks for $50,000 from free cash for consulting services for the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). Mr. Kelley said the cost for this item used to come from the operating budget under Conservation, but got rather large with the new MS4 requirements, so they moved it to a spending article funded by free cash.
TM will be asked to fun the Elders Community Service Program at $20,000. Known as the tax work-off program, it has been very successful. it allows older residents to work off up to $1,500 of their property tax bill by working town jobs and getting credited at minimum wage for the work. Mr. Kelley said the program has been so successful, that the town wants to start a Youth Employment Service Program (YES).
Article 31 would fund YES at $30,000, and participants could make up to $4,000 per year. Students will help in a variety of departments and boards/committees including the Department of Public Works.
The idea is to give young people a work ethic while providing financial and social benefits to resident youths.
In an effort to lower health care costs, the town is asking TM to appropriate $100,000 to pay for costs associated with joining the health insurance purchasing group, Massachusetts Strategic Health Group. The money is the town’s initial contribution to the group’s reserve trust fund.
Mr. Kelley said the town’s present health insurance provider is predicting a 30% increase in costs. The change should knock that down to about 10%, and it includes better dental and vision plans.
He said the second year will also include a bigger savings on prescription medications.
Article 24 would ask the legislature for a Home Rule Petition to allow the town to continue to employ the Call Deputy Fire Chief who is required to retire at age 65.
In article 16, TM will also be asked to approve putting $150,000 into the Stabilization Fund, which is the town’s savings account. The fund will have $3,500,795.31 with the transfer, which is 10.1% of projected 2024 revenues. This healthy amount will help the town maintain its good bond rating.
Town Meeting will also be asked to vote on changes to the Soil Bylaw.
Mr. Kelley said the changes mostly clean up some language and definitions. It also will define a process for waivers.
Town Meeting will also be asked to:
• Appropriate $1,000 from free cash, plus $500 in CPC funds, to repair, replace, and maintain historical signs throughout town.
• Appropriate $100,000 for the OPEB fund (Other Post Employee Benefits), which is a requirement of the state to contribute to the pension fund.
• Approve the collective bargaining agreement for Firefighters,
• Approve an increase in the limit for seniors to get a break on their property taxes.
Acushnet has an open town meeting form of government, which means any registered voter in Acushnet is allowed to participate and vote. Town meeting is Monday, 5/22, at 7 p.m. at Ford Middle School, 708 Middle Road. For more information, contact the town clerk, 508-998-0215..
The Town Meeting warrant is available from the Town Clerk’s office or at https://www.acushnet.ma.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif2721/f/news/townmtgwarrant5.22.23.pdf.
Town employee salaries are here: AcushnetSalaries
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Click here to download the 5/18/23 issue: 05-18-23 StampOutHunger
Click here to download the Ice House fight video: 05-03-23 IceHouseParkingLotFight
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