Salem officials struggle to solve budget shortfall

Salem Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:06:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Looking between a projected budget shortfall of nearly $400,000 and hopes of keeping the tax rate flat this year, at least one selectman is keeping the possibility of layoffs on the table.

Gov. John Lynch may have backed away from a budget proposal that would have cut state funding to Salem by as much as $1.7 million, but reductions in the level of funding from Concord for retired firefighters and police officers continues to be a concern for local officials as they look toward setting the town’s tax rate in October.

While about $1.3 million has been restored to the town in state funding in the form of a portion of the rooms and meals tax, officials are still trying to find ways to make up the difference. Since learning about the potential shortfall, the town has maintained a hiring freeze, according to Town Manager Jonathan Sistare.

The move has kept four vacant positions open and freed up $317,292 that would otherwise go toward salaries and benefits, but that still leaves the town with an unanticipated shortfall of roughly $100,000 and puts into doubt whether a commitment made by officials to keep the town’s tax rate flat this year is still a possibility.

“My main thing is find that $100,000 and we don’t want to do layoffs, but if we have to look at it, we have to look at it,” said Selectman Patrick Hargreaves.

Though Hargreaves would rather see the town cut hours or minimize the amount of overtime pay – by hiring more parttime town employees without benefits – layoffs in the future remain a possibility.

“If we don’t cut our overtime and if we don’t come up with the shortfall, then we have to look at layoffs,” he said. “It’s a last resort.”

The shortfall also prompted board Chairman Arthur Barnes to call on the town manager to review the current staff level and evaluate the importance of the four open positions to determine whether cuts should be made elsewhere to support new hiring.

“Maybe some of the full-time positions need to become part time so we can staff where we need to staff,” Barnes said. In the meantime, officials are also turning to stimulus funds as a way to make up for the missing funds or offset anticipated expenses. About $130,000 in funds have been made available to the town in the form of a grant for energy-efficient improvements around Salem, according to Sistare.

Officials are hoping potential stimulus money will fully finance the cost of one of two bridges in town slated for reconstruction this year, Sistare said.

Selectmen are also considering applying for a program that would support the hiring of three new police officers for three years, with the stipulation that the town retain those officers for one full year after the funding runs out.

‘No’ to school budget in Windham

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:22:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Voters came down heavily against increased spending at the ballots, rejecting a proposed $1.2 million track and field for the new high school and a $5 million bond to conserve farmland. The school district’s operating budget was also defeated.

Needing a 60 percent majority to pass, the track and field bond was soundly defeated, 1,654 to 1,538. Without the facility, the roughly 50 students in the incoming freshmen and sophomore classes who expressed interest in pursuing a track and field program will have to practice elsewhere.

The defeat of the district’s $40.5 million operating budget at the polls leaves school officials with $656,422 less than anticipated. Officials will be instead operating under the district’s $39.8 million default budget.

Voters also rejected an $800,000 proposal to hire architects and engineers to design school renovation and construction projects for the district’s Golden Brook Elementary School and Center School.

On the town ballot, voters overwhelmingly came down against a $5 million bond intendend to purchase and preserve the town’s remaining farm and agricultural land.

Two zoning amendments intended to increase commercial development in town, according to supporters, also failed to garner enough support from voters. Plans to rezone the stateowned land near the golf course on Range Road failed before voters while an effort to rezone Clarke Farm North was soundly defeated, 1,473 to 1,552.

A protest petition filed by opponents before town meeting day had required the Clarke Farm North proposal to receive a super majority in order to pass.

Incumbent Selectman Dennis Senibaldi (1,634) lost his seat in a narrow race for one of two seats up for grab on the board to newcomer Ross McLeod (1,779). Fellow selectman Roger Hohenberger (1,820) won his bid for re-election and led the three candidates in votes.

On the School Board, longtime member Barbara Coish (1,162) failed to win re-election, losing to challengers Ed Gallagher (1,587) and Jeff Bostic (1,453).

Another longtime incumbent, Town Clerk Joan Tuck (584) lost overwhelmingly to Nicole Merrill (2,230). Challenger Betty Dunn received 332 votes.

Windham News : budget

Salem officials struggle to solve budget shortfall

‘No’ to school budget in Windham