Acting Meredith managers propose budget slightly below this year's
By
eplummer@citizen.com
The Citizen Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The proposed town manager's budget for Meredith reflects a decrease of less than one percent as the budget was presented to the Board of Selectmen for the first time.
On Monday, Meredith selectmen reviewed the proposed budget compiled by co-interim town managers John Edgar and Brenda Vittner in the first of what will be a series of budget discussions by the selectmen leading up to town meeting.
The 2009 proposed municipal budget is $12,859,355, a decrease of $7,556 or 0.06 percent from 2008.
The departments' operating budget is $10,880,945, an $86,647 or 0.8 percent increase from 2008. Regional association and conservation contributions are $223,077, down $2,100 from 2008. Capital projects, debt service and CIP recommendations are $1,793,649, down $92,113.
Edgar and Vittner said during their presentation that highlights of the 2009 budget included fiscal restraint after selectmen gave direction in July that the budget should not have an increase of more than two percent from last year.
The amount also includes a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.5 percent, but merit step increases will be frozen for 2009…..
Considerations for the new budget were to maintain service levels without adding staff positions, services or reclassifications in general fund personnel. Vacancies would not be automatically filled and the town manager and department heads would evaluate all positions to determine appropriate action.
Edgar and Vittner wrote to the selectmen that the budget also reflects necessary cost considerations associated with the pending collective bargaining process.
On the revenue side, projections for 2009 will be less than the estimate from 2009. Capitol expenses take into account economic issues and agencies have been level-funded at their current amounts.
The operating budget has an increase of .28 percent and an increase in debt service of $196,886.88 with the addition of the fire station and preservation of Page Pond.
"The 2009 proposed town manager's budget reflects substantial review by all departments and reduction of expenditure requests to meet the needs of the town and while continuing with the current service level to the public," the interim town managers wrote in a summary to the selectmen.
The next budget discussion will take place next Monday at 4 p.m. at the community center.
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