Town budget workshop shows $388,428 shortfall; senior tax credit helped 130 households

Council members met in a brief budget workshop to review current municipal projections and options to close a shortfall. A staff presenter said the municipal side is now about $388,428.70 — roughly 0.38 mills — “less than what was needed to run the town last year” and that more work remains to balance the budget.

The presenter credited a recently launched senior tax-credit program for unexpectedly strong uptake, saying 130 senior households qualified and the town’s initial $275,000 placeholder will be closer to $98,000 in actual cost, allowing a further $17,010 reduction on that line. “At this point, you still have work to do,” the finance staff member told the council. He recommended adding $50,000 to contingency to buffer possible fuel-price increases while reducing fund-balance withdrawals by $50,000 to avoid a sharp tax spike.

Staff also outlined operational options: a January 1 implementation of dispatch changes that would yield an estimated $115,509 savings this fiscal year (larger savings are projected in year two), and a proposed daytime dispatcher position with an estimated $49,307 partial-year impact (about $99,000 annually with benefits) if funded. They said selling surplus apparatus could generate roughly $110,000 to help pay for SCBA replacement and other capital needs.

Councilors asked for additional modeling, including the effects of reducing apparatus availability on fire staffing and service levels; staff agreed to provide updated scenarios for the next budget meeting. The council will return to the budget next Tuesday with more detailed alternatives.