Budget committee flags payroll shortfalls from default, approves several department budgets and raises fireworks line

Alton Town’s Budget Committee devoted its Oct. 16 session primarily to reviewing operating budgets, focusing discussion on payroll costs left uncovered by an earlier default and on how to present consolidated spending and revenue history to the committee.

Committee members and staff said the dominant budget pressure is payroll. Department heads were told to prioritize wages and to leave nonessential projects out of proposed budgets because the town is still reconciling a mid‑year increase granted in 2023 along with a recommended 4% merit increase for 2025. Staff said the mid‑2023 adjustment for retention—described repeatedly as a roughly 10% COLA given mid‑year—was not fully reflected in the default budget, so departments are now consolidating lines to find the money to cover those increases without layoffs.

Finance staff told the committee they are awaiting benefit and insurance rates from PrimeX; once those figures arrive the final few departmental budgets can be completed. Laura (staff) is assembling a multi‑year spreadsheet and Ryan (town staff) agreed to run BMSI queries so the committee will be able to see actual expenditures for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 alongside 2024 year‑to‑date spending and the 2025 proposals.

The committee also discussed operational details raised in budget justifications: consolidated office‑supply…