Published March 11, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The selectmen got their first look at the proposed fiscal year 2021 operating and capital budgets on March 2.
Town Administrator Rob Dolan has proposed a $58,959,164 operating budget for the next fiscal year, representing a 3.1 percent increase over FY20’s $57,199,707 appropriation.
“It’s the exact same budget increase as last year,” said Dolan. “We have created a balanced budget that speaks to the community’s core values of education, proper planning, community health and public safety. In order for this town to stay strong, solvent and sustainable, we are looking at a 3 percent increase in our total operating budget every year moving forward.”
Dolan noted that the increase in property taxes for FY21 is estimated to be $1,106,835. He said new growth is projected to be $400,000.
“Lynnfield is a town where the residential homeowner pays for the majority of our town services,” said Dolan. “We have a limited commercial base and very limited new growth. I think we have reached a stagnation of new growth that will be around the $300,000 and $500,000 range for the next several years.”
Dolan said the town is currently projecting to receive $5,750,605 in state aid as part of Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposed FY21 state budget, representing a 1.68 percent increase over the current fiscal year.
“We are seeing a stagnant local aid increase,” said Dolan. “We are seeing an increase of $89,000, which barely covers one new teacher.”
Dolan is projecting a $50,000 increase in local receipts, totaling $5,200,000. He noted local receipts include fees, licenses, permits, rentals and motor vehicle excise taxes.
“I am particularly concerned that we won’t meet our obligations with this number if there is a downturn in the economy,” said Dolan.
Dolan has recommended allocating $200,000 to the town’s Stabilization Fund.
“The town has the most it has ever had in the Stabilization Fund,” said Dolan. “This is a good thing. Our goal is 5 percent of our budget, and we are hitting about 4 percent.”
Dolan is projecting a 6.1 percent increase in health insurance costs, which has been budgeted at $3,526,744. He noted the School Department will be receiving a 3 percent budget increase in the next fiscal year. He said Essex Tech’s assessment for next year totals $647,500, representing an increase of $142,461. He attributed the increase to more local students deciding to attend Essex Tech.
The TA said the town’s property and liability insurance has increased by 8 percent due to an audit of town properties that will be taking place.
While there are no new full-time positions on the town-side of the FY21 budget, Dolan said the library will be receiving additional funds in order to staff the children’s room for eight hours on Saturdays.
“There is higher participation in the children’s room on Saturdays,” said Dolan.
In response to a question from Selectman Chris Barrett, Dolan said he did not support the library’s request for additional funds to staff the children’s room at night three days a week.
“Library Director Jennifer Inglis was okay with that,” said Dolan. “Her main concern was the number of parents and young people using the children’s room and making sure it was supervised.”
Dolan said the Inspectional Services Department will be reorganized in FY21 in the wake of Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer Jack Roberto’s retirement later this year. He recalled that Lynnfield and Wakefield have shared the department for a number of years.
“Wakefield has decided that they now need their own department due to the incredible growth in that community,” said Dolan. “Jack Roberto has served the communities of Lynnfield and Wakefield for a long time and very ably.”
As part of the plan to reorganize the Building Department, Dolan has proposed appropriating $263,564 in order to create an in-house department.
“The total increase is 1.8 percent,” said Dolan. “For a $4,652 increase, we have taken a budget that was shared with Wakefield, where we had two to three hours a day of service, and will be able to hire a full-time building inspector and zoning enforcement officer for the same exact price. It will actually be less next year.”
Dolan has recommended that $100,000 be allocated to the town’s Capital Facilities Maintenance Fund. He also proposed appropriating $200,000 for the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust.
In closing, Dolan said, “I feel confident that this is a budget that can deliver high quality services and bountiful services for the citizens of Lynnfield.”
“We have a solid budget that invests in a number of things, but keeps our community solvent, safe and strong,” said Dolan.
Capital budget
After Dolan gave an overview of the proposed operating budget for FY21, he discussed the recommended $2,571,726 capital budget for the next fiscal year.
“All departments are pleased with their capital budgets,” said Dolan.
Dolan said the largest capital budget request for FY21 is new protective equipment for the Fire Department, totaling $488,000.
“The Fire Department got a grant to pay for this 10 years ago,” said Dolan. “It is all expiring and the old equipment and the new equipment are not compatible. Going forward, we are going to be setting aside a certain amount of money every year for an ongoing purchasing program.”
Dolan has also recommended that $300,000 be allocated for engineering costs associated with the Summer Street Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) project. Town Engineer Charlie Richter said at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting that the town will need to spend $300,000 a year for the next six years in order to complete the design. In turn, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will award the town $21.5 million in order to rebuild Summer Street.
Additionally, Dolan has recommended spending $200,000 as part of a plan to renovate the Town Common. He informed the Villager that the proposed $200,000 appropriation will be included in a separate warrant article.
“We want to do the work before spring events and the summer Concerts on the Common begin,” said Dolan.
Dolan has recommended appropriating $350,000 for road construction, which is $100,000 more than last year but is $150,000 less than what DPW Director John Tomasz requested. He said the School Department will be receiving a $300,000 capital budget, which includes $250,000 for technology expenses, $50,000 for a new bell system at Lynnfield High School and $20,000 for a new phone system for Summer Street School.
The TA recommended that $97,000 be allocated for the last phase of the Police Department and Fire Department’s joint radio site replacement project. He also recommended that two new dump trucks be purchased for the DPW, totaling $170,000. Dolan supports appropriating $80,000 for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which is a permit that regulates discharging pollutants.
Dolan also recommended allocating $150,000 for the Hawkes Brook drainage improvement project.
“That has been a community challenge,” said Dolan.
Dolan also supports appropriating $45,500 for a new Chevy Tahoe police cruiser. He proposed spending $50,000 in order to give the DPW new school maintenance equipment.
The TA noted the two golf courses will be using funds from the Golf Enterprise Fund in order to purchase a $79,928 mower and $45,000 for an irrigation system. He said “no Free Cash and no taxpayer money” will be used to purchase the capital requests for the two golf courses.
Reaction
After Dolan concluded his presentation, he answered a few questions from the selectmen.
In response to a question from Selectmen Chairman Phil Crawford, Dolan noted a portion of the Fire Department’s protective equipment and the two DPW dump trucks will be bonded.
“We are going to present a $450,000 bond to the town for those two items,” said Dolan. “We haven’t bonded in awhile and it is a very good investment. Half of the fire stuff will be bonded.”
Crawford also noted the capital budget includes an irrigation system for the Huckleberry Hill School field, totaling $70,000.
“This will allow us to finish the Huckleberry Hill field project because we now have water from the Lynnfield Center Water District,” said Crawford.
Barrett asked if the selectmen should hold off on approving the FY21 operating and capital budgets until the School Committee approves a revised and finalized spending plan for the School Department.
“The schools certainly have a lot of needs,” said Barrett.
While Dolan acknowledged that the challenges the School Department is facing “are real,” he said the town can only afford a 3 percent school budget increase and not a 6.4 percent increase.
“The total new taxation the town is bringing in is $1.1 million,” said Dolan. “The request from the School Department was $1.6 million. That doesn’t add up.”
Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin noted the selectmen needed to vote to send the two budgets to the public hearing, which will take place on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. in the Al Merritt Center. He said the budget could be amended after the public hearing.
After the discussion, Crawford and Selectman Dick Dalton both voted to send the budget to the public hearing. Barrett abstained from voting because he has applied for the superintendent of schools job.