Shutesbury Town Meeting to weigh $5M budget

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on December 01, 2006

SHUTESBURY - Balancing the town's $5.09 million budget and installing a new phone, intercom and public address system at the elementary school will come before voters Dec. 7.

Residents at a special Town Meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at the elementary school gymnasium, will be asked to use $90,528 in state-certified free cash to fund the only two articles on the warrant.

The shortfall in this year's town budget came to light after town accountant David Kielson noticed that a tax recap sheet he must submit to the Department of Revenue didn't add up correctly and only had enough revenue to cover a $5.03 million budget. Kielson said that to have this year's tax rate certified and the higher budget approved, $64,068 in cash reserves would have to be used.

Town Administrator David Dann said without this transfer, the town would have to cut the budget.

Meanwhile, Dann said the communications system for the school will enhance security in the building and school officials didn't want to wait until annual Town Meeting to purchase it.

"There's a certain sense of urgency the people at the school feel," Dann said.

Dann said it should also be looked at as a necessary upgrade to the school facility, which was most recently renovated and expanded in 1994.

The purchase is recommended by both the Finance and Capital Planning committees, which review long-term projects.

Finance Committee Chairman Eric Stocker said cash reserves are supposed to be used for one-time purchases.

The town currently has more than $850,000 combined in the free cash and stabilization accounts. If voters approve both expenditures, the cash reserves would drop to $350,009.