Councilors Weighing $200K Budget Surplus

The Bedford Town Council met for what was scheduled to be its final budget workshop last night.

Following a couple hours of productive conversation, however, the Council decided it'll require one more session to tie up its final budget proposal before it's delivered to residents for review at two scheduled January public hearings, said Chairman Bill Dermody.

That last workshop will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, just prior to the Council's regularly scheduled 7 p.m. meeting where the final budget proposal is expected to be voted on and approved.

The Council has been combing through the budget since late October when new Town Manager Jessie Levine , which represents a likely 40-cent tax increase per $1,000 assessed valuation, or $145 on a $362,000 home (the median assessed valuation for a Bedford home).

Levine explained at the time that 30 cents of that bump, or 5 percent, is out of municipal control due to state tax increases and bond payments.

The Council has focused much of its attention on the remaining 10-cent increase, which includes $150,000 to fund additional staff, including a full-time police officer, a part-time administrative position for the police department (which was recently cut), and additional full-time positions in the Bedford Planning and Public Works Departments, respectively.

Dermody said he and his peers have had no real challenges to the original budget proposal and, after much deliberation, have decided to support the staffing additions to the Bedford Planning and Police Departments, which represent only six months of salaries for the upcoming fiscal year to allow the town time to go through proper hiring processes.

Council members have yet to give a nod to the Public Works Department for the addition of a Buildings Supervisor, said Dermody.

Rather, they've asked that additional options be explored, including outsourcing the position to a contracting company and also determining if the school department has a comparable position of which the town can share and split the cost.

Budget surplus

In addition, councilors are considering several options for roughly $200,000 in surplus from this year's budget.

Dermody explained the town experienced a rather unique situation due to the lack of snow last year and subsequent savings on removal costs.

He also noted that the municipal government saved quite a bit due the vacancy at the Town Manager position that was created following Russ Marcoux's passing last November through Levine assuming the job in September.

"Normally, at the end of the business year, surplus money goes into the fund balance reserve, so we're looking to be in the neighborhood of more than $200,000 in surplus over and above the $100,000 the council normally puts in each year," said Dermody. "We discussed both surpluses and decided that each was due to an unusual event and didn't think we should automatically put that money into fund balance."

Instead, councilors are exploring options to reduce the 2013 budget and possibly future budgets by using the money for purchases requested by department heads.

The DPW, for instance, has requested a six-wheel dump truck, which Dermody said can be purchased through the surplus now to avoid a tax impact later.

The Council will decide how to proceed at the budget workshop on Dec. 12.