BY RYAN O’CONNOR

A week after Bow selectmen and the Budget Committee had the recommended municipal operating budget amended at Town Meeting, officials must now figure out where to make cuts to accommodate the decreased amount.

“There is no doubt we will have to cut services,” said Town Manager James Pitts. “We’ll be spending the next several weeks determining where those cuts are to be made.”

Selectmen arrived at Town Meeting on Wednesday, May 9, prepared to present 214 voters with an $8,187,873 budget – representing an 11.4 percent increase – for general municipal operations. However, newly elected Selectman Thomas Keane proposed an amendment decreasing the budget to $7,715,715, which he said presented only a 5 percent increase.

Still, former Selectman Thomas Fagan, whom Keane replaced, argued even though the proposed operating budget increased more than 11 percent, the municipal government affects only 20 percent of the total tax bill and, therefore, the effect would be minimal.

He added that selectmen made several sacrifices and cuts to warrant articles and the total taxable allocation up for approval actually presented a decrease from $10,387,413 at 2006 Town Meeting to $9,097,973 this year.

Fagan pointed out that even after subtracting the roughly $950,000 approved and bonded for the purchase of Paul Hammond’s property, the total budget still presents a $334,440 decrease from last year.

Part of the reason for the proposed $840,322 budget increase, explained Fagan, was the two new police officers and two new firefighters hired and approved through last year’s budget, noting last year a total of 22 months of pay and benefits were budgeted, as opposed to this year, when all 48 months are budgeted for the positions.

“We are very serious people and we pay taxes, too,” said Fagan. “I think the unanimous 5-0 vote on both boards (selectmen and Budget Committee) speaks to the issue.”

Keane disagreed.

“Many voters asked me to bring the town budget in line with the realities of their lives,” he said.

“They’re not the rabid taxpayers we all hear about, but rather responsible citizens who ask only that their tax dollars match the realities of their lives.”

Rick Hiland, who was recently re-elected to the Budget Committee after a year hiatus, is one
such resident.

“I’m tired of the tax spending we’ve been seeing over the last several years and it’s got to come to a stop,” said Hiland. “Eleven percent is out of control.”

Resident Jeanne Gerulskis, however, disagreed, saying she’s lived around the country, including Alaska, and has never felt safer than in Bow because of the dedication and expedient work of the town’s public works and safety departments.

“I really feel we’ve elected some lovable cheapskates and I don’t feel comfortable lopping off several hundred thousand dollars without knowing where it’s coming from,” said Gerulskis.

School Board member Pansy Bloomfield feels the same way.

“We sit here and talk about the numbers, but we forget how much the town has grown,” she said. “I don’t hear anybody saying ‘I don’t want the ambulance service’ or ‘I don’t want the police service.’ People don’t want to lose their municipal services, but they want to see their taxes stay down, which is a tough task to accomplish.”

Budget Committee Chairman Dan De Vasto said he and fellow members went through the budget, line by line, and felt everything in the budget was justified.

“I’m a taxpayer and I’d like (the budget) to be smaller too, but cutting money blindly can be dangerous,” he said.

Keane’s amendment passed 114-89 by secret ballot, before the amended budget passed, also by secret ballot, 129-60.

“I’m not going to be on the Board of Selectmen that will cut this budget, but I find it a little disturbing that you don’t trust the board you voted for,” said Fagan.

Resident Janet Shaw took exception to Fagan’s comment.

“The Board of Selectmen shouldn’t feel they’re not being trusted,” said Shaw. “I think it’s unfair that questions about our taxes are an indication that we distrust them.”

After a lengthy debate, a   motion to reconsider the budget was rejected, and further discussion was restricted.

Other articles

After running through and approving articles 4 through 11, Moderator Peter Imse announced the approaching time of midnight would cause him to postpone the remainder of the meeting until Tuesday, May 22, when officials and residents will reconvene for articles 12 to 19 and 21, which primarily deal with small budget items.

Included in the approved warrant articles are $154,600 to be added to the Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund, $116,600 to be added to the Public Works Department Capital Reserve Fund, and a withdrawal of $148,000 from the aforementioned Public Works Capital Reserve for a catch basin cleaner and pickup truck.

Residents also approved $25,000 for an architechtual concept design offer a new public safety building and a sum of $163,800, in which $111,935 will come from the state, to complete reconstruction of the Bow Bog Road/Bow Center Road intersection.

Honored

Before Town Meeting, the Bow Men’s Club honored Marilyn Graf, who died in December 2006, as the Bow Citizen of the Year, for giving much of her life to children and youth recreation in town. Her husband, Brian, accepted the honor on her behalf.

Likewise, resident *** Welch, who rebuilt the Bow snowroller, was honored by the town and Heritage Commission for his work.

Fagan also received special recognition for his years of service by fellow board member Harry Judd.

Later in the meeting, a moment of silence was held for former Bow Deputy Police Chief and Budget Committee member Robert Graves.