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Waverly board forms budget review committee and weighs streetlight deactivations to curb rising electricity costs
Summary
Facing higher electricity bills and a $27,000 lease revenue shortfall, Waverly’s board formed a budget review committee, discussed deactivating select streetlights before an LED upgrade, and approved several personnel and repair contracts as interim measures.
The Waverly Town Board on June 13 approved forming a budget review committee to identify savings after the town reported increased electricity costs and a $27,000 revenue loss from a vacated bus garage.
Town Supervisor Ernie said electricity expenses remain high despite an LED upgrade contract being signed; the board discussed deactivating specific streetlights to contain costs but noted upfront deactivation charges and the need to coordinate with New York State/ DOT on state-road luminaires. "We want to get those deactivations done before the upgrade goes in," one board member said as members weighed long-term savings against upfront costs.
The board asked Corey Haynes to review pole-by-pole safety and line-of-sight concerns and agreed to set up a small committee — including community volunteers — to go line by line through the budget and recommend specific cuts. The board also approved personnel and contract items intended to limit immediate exposure: appointing Chester Damon as senior lifeguard at $18 per hour and retroactively approving a $3,500 Joe's Masonry contract for beach house repairs (the town expects vehicle-insurance reimbursement).
What happens next: The budget review committee will meet, review three years of budgets, and present recommended cuts. Staff will get cost estimates for streetlight deactivations and other savings options and report back to the board.
