Manchester residents will not be voting on a general Proposition 21âÑ2 override this year to meet rising town expenses — but selectmen have opted for a $1.3 million debt exclusion to cover a number of capital outlay expenditures planned for the coming fiscal year.
Town Administrator Wayne Melville said Manchester needs the money through the debt exclusion in part because the town is looking to use its reserve funds to cover operating budgets, and the capital projects cannot fit within the town's $12 million fiscal 2011 municipal budget, which represents an increase of just over 2 percent.
Projects targeted for the funding, which would need voters' approval at a referendum if the April 5 Town Meeting agrees to move to forward to a ballot, include $250,000 worth of improvements in water treatment, $185,000 for a new emergency services ambulance, $100,000 for a new office and garage for the Water Department, and $69,000 for a new Department of Public Works dump truck.
"We've hit a wall," Melville said.
At a Finance Committee meeting Tuesday night, members assembled what the FY11 budget may look like and are only holding three items for further review, Melville said. Those are:
The town's group health insurance, which rose 10 percent from the previous fiscal year. There is a percentage increase but not an actual rate, Melville said. The hike is listed in the budget as a $145,000 increase, but that figure is tentative.
A proposal from the Planning Board has been put forth, asking for an additional $2,000, on top of the $10,000 budget already allocated, for technology consulting fees.
A plan to cut back hours at the public library has also been held. The Finance Committee will be meeting with the Planning Board to review the impact of such a reduction, Melville said. The library also has a reserve fund transfer to fix the roof which has been leaking.
The Manchester Annual Town Meeting Warrant has also been approved and signed by selectmen. Some articles were removed, but were later reinstated, Melville said.
Three more articles have also been included — including one proposing a surcharge increase from .5 percent to 1.5 percent in the Community Preservation Act, Melville said. Another is a proposal that would ban text-messaging while driving in town, while a third would require all children riding bicycles to wear safety helmets.
The $12 million municipal budget, up 2 percent from the current year's budget, will also be voted on at Town Meeting, which is set for Monday, April 5, at 7 p.m. in the Manchester Essex Regional High School auditorium.
Brendan Connolly can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3447, or via e-mail at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
Water treatment data control system and telemetry upgrade, $250,000.
Replace rescue ambulance, $185,000.
Purchase and equip new police cruiser, $33,246.
Replace VBM auto lift, $20,000.
New Water Department office and garage, $100,000.
Harbor dredging, $20,000.
Replace twin outboards on harbormaster boat, $14,000.
Inflow and infiltration mitigation, $50,000.
Road repair, $50,000.
Replace utility truck, $29,000.
Replace pickup truck, $27,000.
Mill Street utility truck, $40,000.
Replace dump truck, $69,000.
Replace wastewater plant perimeter fencing, $3,400.
Wastewater inflow meter, $5,500.
Rebuild wastewater effluent pumps, $12,000.
Rockwood Heights lift station upgrades, $5,000.
Portable gensets, $10,000.
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