[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6222135,"mediaKeyId","3610725-286eb6f8a9168a4592786ccca6fac72f","parentId",3610725,"title","Gardner City public works warns rising fuel, salt and utility costs strain maintenance and parks budgets","audioSeconds",302,"startMs",276000,"endMs",578000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3610725-286eb6f8a9168a4592786ccca6fac72f&start=276&end=578","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3610725-286eb6f8a9168a4592786ccca6fac72f/thumbnail_276000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6222135/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Gardner-City-public-works-warns-rising-fuel-salt-and-utility-costs-strain-maintenance-and-parks-budgets","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6222135-7a1c2cb58d16ad8941bf7f64da1f0ddb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203161&Signature=n4c1HY6OfF2NTaSK89L1ZTWMIPF3OLfGKjqBb-7JDVqkAy2VvD7puDUMCY2a8JByVu8HF-XjJYezBUXZduLCHk15b-~d6QhZwVwkV-aTT7wTSGBnFRxAGB9UEcFk2oe8VStd~I9Pyxo20dA4Ew~dwVjBR53RzX4NjjFHswKwX-bhiQk9Da~KSVr0OcGW2bxHnECaUd0mmtuMfZnqjIzSsXsGBRMWixgKv-j~NBQplGjy9DvO2VF~K49EwtS6wwEzpXkPrt8x0o9XC2FkFl13MaHzU1pxz2Si~Zp86h-HnbMr8FWhb-R1rd65OnIOslqbjO9K6l4k3ReTFhFKm3aoYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gardner City, MA","date","2025-05-30T15:32:35Z","article","A Gardner City department head warned that rising costs for fuel, salt and utilities are squeezing the city's maintenance budget and could reduce service levels unless the council adjusts funding.

The official said roughly 80% of the department’s budget covers parts, fuel, energy and materials, so level funding “is more or less a 4% cut” in purchasing power. The department head called repairs and maintenance — which includes fleet work for police and other city vehicles — the largest line in the budget.

“Due to inflation or whatnot ... if my budget is level funded, it's more or less a 4% cut,” the staff member said. The same speaker noted that salt costs for snow and ice operations have risen sharply: “When I started, it was, like, $35 a ton. It's $94 a ton.”

Speakers pointed to several specific pressure points: higher charges from the utility provider for LED streetlights, increased costs for water and treatment chemicals, and elevated line items for snow and ice removal. Staff also said the city would receive a fuel bid later that day and expected some relief if oil prices continue to tick down.

Park maintenance funding was discussed as part of the same operations budget. The department head said playground and ballfield maintenance are budgeted each year and called for future investment in field lighting and playground improvements to avoid losing facilities. Specific parks mentioned included Parkson Playground and Monument Park; holiday lighting costs also appear in the parks line.

No formal vote or ordinance resulted from the discussion. Council members asked staff to flag key line items and to provide detail on cuts and options during the formal budget hearings.

The department head noted an internal budgeting practice in which one council office or the mayor may set aside contingency funds, but cautioned that money once placed in a line item can be spent and is not automatically available for other uses without adjustment.

Staff will present line‑item details and potential budget adjustments at the upcoming budget hearing; council members asked for clarifications on snow‑and‑ice funding, vehicle replacement plans and park improvement timelines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gardner Public Service Committee Meeting May 30 2025 Part 2 of 3","oneSentenceSummary","A department head told council members that fuel, salt and utility costs — and increased LED streetlight charges — mean level funding effectively reduces operating capacity, affecting fleet, snow removal and park maintenance.","taxTitle","Gardner City, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",60679,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6222142,"Gardner City officials weigh salary step changes to retain long‑tenured staff ahead of budget hearing",274,0,274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3610725-286eb6f8a9168a4592786ccca6fac72f&start=0&end=274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3610725-286eb6f8a9168a4592786ccca6fac72f/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6222142/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Gardner-City-officials-weigh-salary-step-changes-to-retain-longtenured-staff-ahead-of-budget-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6222142-fd04e59c56ff96a986ecce17212fa4c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203161&Signature=mLcNL~4hw61h2MY9uj7UYRIGX7DAvg5zXeXhd1iVBupbb-C0fZyk4X-J5pitFIfXmI~oQpCJ6MoEi5W~RA4IUC27CjMaNwv6hkWUuXJ-~eOzHmGSAMILrsPMEYG71PgiJGyzAViiox8n3lCybhsrL4AqCXgfGMqXTDuo9wld5Lc1k2N8gpYT~Hd7oCO5SyQE7WS715BgWxbWz7QUOtrOn-rkQYw~Nfq0td0JrWHkNRe4-02xP1xGHoWJA6bSTvWdh0TjN1JnuyLaBa-0MG41YvI9jCzFb1SS5VIdJwyLm2y0l7Mdn5ei5~C-1fXoaCZJAuZYPBp2LbORGL8Gx~8W4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff and council members in Gardner City discussed adjusting the salary step system and allowing negotiated starting steps for experienced hires as part of preparations for an upcoming budget hearing.

The change is pitched as a tool to improve retention for long‑tenured employees and to make city salaries more competitive with comparable municipalities.

At a council meeting preview, a department head said the city could “negotiate a lower salary” or, alternatively, offer a higher starting step to attract candidates with 10 years of experience. The official added that while the move “does cost the city some money,” it could reduce turnover costs over time.

A council member noted that some current positions are underpaid compared with neighboring communities. “Dane’s been here for 23 years, and he makes far less than a lot of other communities,” the council member said, adding that the purpose of a step system is to “put you at a place where you should be.”

Speakers said the city has already imposed a hiring freeze since October and that one department head has implemented an overtime freeze to control personnel spending. Those measures were described as administrative steps rather than formal policy votes.

The discussion included examples cited by staff that showed new positions in other departments at salaries similar to or higher than existing department heads, which participants said highlighted pay‑scale compression and the need to review steps across departments.

Council members opened the floor to questions and asked staff to present the salary study during the budget process. No formal motion or vote on step changes was recorded at the meeting; staff indicated the topic will be part of the budget hearing and follow‑up discussions.

Next steps include the budget hearing, where staff expected to present formal proposals and cost estimates for any recommended step adjustments.","City staff and council members discussed adjusting the salary step system and negotiating higher starting steps for experienced hires to address retention and pay disparities, ahead of a scheduled budget hearing.","actionData","errors"]

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Gardner City public works warns rising fuel, salt and utility costs strain maintenance and parks budgets

Gardner City officials weigh salary step changes to retain long‑tenured staff ahead of budget hearing