Budget committee, selectmen quickly work out 4.2 percent increase

BY MATT HERSH

The Salem Budget Committee approved a $31.8 million town budget – a 4.2 percent increase from last year – in a deliberation process officials are calling “historic” for its speed and air of cooperation.

At a Wednesday, Nov. 15, meeting, committee members and other town officials breezed through the budget in three hours, making only a few slight amendments, while last year’s budget review and vote took three days.

Budget committee Chairman Peter Rayno said he credits the “business model” approach of budgeting for the speedy and successful process.

By discussing common goals for the budget with selectmen and budget committee members, Rayno said they were able to keep the increase small.

Selectmen Chairman Michael Lyons said his board cut nearly $500,000 from the budget before bringing it to the meeting.

Lyons said the low figure was partially a result of lower estimates for the town’s solid waste contract and medical insurance.

Coupled with the decreasing cost of gas, Lyons said the outcome of the budget was better than he had expected.

“We’re definitely not going to seek a restoration budget,” he said.  “How can I?”

The drop in solid waste, gas, and insurance costs also allowed the restoration of a police cruiser and a public works truck that had been cut earlier.

After the meeting, the budget figure ended up higher than at the start with the addition of the two vehicles, a situation that’s usually unheard of, Lyons said.

“We really had a budget committee we could work with,” he said.  “I’m about ready to take a team photo.”

However, budget committee member Cathy Cote said she still had some issues with the budget that passed.

Cote proposed several amendments to police, fire, and recreation budgets throughout the voting process, most of which failed.

Some of these items, like new recreation benches for $3,000, should be proposed as warrant articles, she said.

“That’s the great thing about New Hampshire,” she said.  “All 18,000 people can come to town meeting in March and decide whether they want this or not.”

Despite Cote’s comments, Rayno said he was happy to stop a process in which the budget committee would reduce the budget, only to have it partially restored by selectmen.

“It seemed to be a smoother process this year,” said budget committee member Michael Carney Jr.

“It works both ways – the selectmen came in with a better attitude toward us this year.”

Still, Carney said he wants the public to know that the 4.2 percent increase excludes warrant articles.

Last year, $5 million in warrant article expenses were added to the ballot, which changed the percentage, Carney said.

Though the dollar figure for 2007 warrant articles still remains unclear, Lyons said he expects it to be around $4 million.

The town budget increased 3.1 percent from 2005 to 2006, 2.6 percent from 2004 to 2005, and 7.9 percent from 2003 to 2004, Rayno said.   

The Salem School District will also present its budget to the budget committee on Wednesday, Nov. 22.