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Postage increase forces small budget shifts; lockbox deal trims tax-billing costs
Summary
Woburn’s treasurer-collector told the council a U.S. Postal Service 5¢ rate increase will raise mailing costs across departments; the office cut equipment-maintenance and arranged a new lockbox banking contract to offset the impact.
Tim, the city’s treasurer-collector, told the council his office recognized staff and explained modest budget changes driven by postal-rate increases and equipment maintenance needs.
Tim said the U.S. Postal Service is scheduled to increase first-class postage by five cents in July and that the treasurer’s postage and mailing fees line rose by about $11,000 in the proposed budget to reflect that. To offset the increase, the office reduced equipment-maintenance spending and negotiated a new lockbox agreement with another bank that will lower lockbox fees for handling tax bills and payments.
Tim noted several older office printers — some more than 15 years old — are still in service and that replacements will likely come through capital budgeting in a future cycle. He invited questions but did not request immediate additional appropriations at the meeting.
Purchasing Director Horacio also told the council his two-person department carries a postage line that will increase citywide due to the USPS change; he described his office as level-funded overall.
Discussion versus direction versus decision: informational. Councilors thanked the treasurer and purchasing director; no votes or formal directions were recorded at the meeting.
The treasurer said he will monitor postage costs and pursue capital replacement for aging equipment when appropriate.
