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Princeton discusses midyear budget pressures, SRO comp time and equipment repairs
Summary
Board members reviewed a midyear update highlighting reimbursements for grants, unplanned equipment repairs (leaves truck, mower), SRO comp-time liabilities and options to budget overtime or reallocate reimbursements to cover comp time.
Town staff presented a midyear budget update and asked the board to consider options for handling recurring overtime, equipment repairs and capital needs.
The administration reported most grant reimbursements for the RC2 grant were received (about 95%), but other areas showed pressures. Staff reported unplanned public-works repairs (a $8,064 transmission repair to the leaves/limb truck and a $1,821 mower replacement) and a recent wastewater-sampler purchase of about $15,000 that the town expects to recover through reimbursement tied to the Westwood Treatment Plant expansion project.
Commissioners focused on the SRO program—s accumulated comp time and overtime costs. One member asked whether reimbursement and other SRO-related receipts could be applied to reduce comp-time liabilities; staff said roughly $7,000—$7,500 remained in SRO program funds that could offset some costs. Board members directed staff to run and report comp-time balances and to consider budgeting for anticipated overtime in the next fiscal year.
Other budget items discussed included trash accounts receivable (about $13,453), increases in landfill disposal costs, vehicle replacement and the town—s capital-asset condition (auditor noted water-fund assets were more than 39% depreciated). The board discussed options such as increasing deposits, adding repair funds in the capital-improvement plan, or considering outsourcing versus maintaining municipal service. No formal budget action was taken that night; staff will return with a detailed comp-time report and budget recommendations.
