Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Selectmen vote to encumber revaluation funds and seek $20,000 from DRA as budget buffer
Summary
The board encumbered $9,308.22 remaining in Warrant Article 13 for assessor defense costs and voted to apply to the DRA for $20,000 from the unreserved fund balance to offset 2025 operating expenses; selectmen also discussed consolidating wage rates for zoning and health positions.
At its Dec. 22 meeting, the Springfield Board of Selectmen voted to encumber $9,308.22 remaining in Warrant Article 13 (funding for a state-required full revaluation) to pay assessor costs that may arise during 2026 abatement defenses and approved applying to the DRA for $20,000 from the town’s unreserved fund balance to offset the 2025 operating budget.
Janet Roberts told the board there was $9,308.22 left in Warrant Article 13 and recommended encumbering it to cover assessor defense costs; Steve Dzubak moved to encumber the funds, Jennifer Roberts seconded, and the motion carried.
The board reviewed the town’s remaining 2025 operating balance of $70,394.15 (which includes payroll through Dec. 24, 2025) and estimated $50,000–$60,000 in additional invoices could arrive before year-end. With that outlook, Dzubak moved to apply to the DRA for $20,000 from unreserved funds to offset the operating budget; the motion was seconded and carried.
Separately, Zoning Coordinator and Health Officer Tim Bray outlined proposed pay rates and hours for those positions. Bray proposed a wage of $49.18 per hour with 278 hours attributed to Zoning Coordinator work and 49 hours to Health Officer work; Dzubak suggested keeping separate budget lines but paying both roles the same hourly rate and setting the Deputy Health Officer wage line to $1.00 to keep the line open. Bray will prepare a fee comparison spreadsheet for the board to review and bring a draft job description for future hiring and classification.
The board approved the Zoning/Health report and then proceeded through other agenda items.
