DPW struggles with rising cost of gas.

Byline: Priyanka Dayal

WESTBORO - Escalating gas prices have left the Department of Public Works with a $70,000 deficit this fiscal year. Still, the Advisory Finance Committee is recommending cutting the DPW's budget in fiscal 2009.

The Finance Committee has recommended trimming $16,000 from the more than $2 million DPW budget - exactly the same amount requested for the upkeep of the new Bay State Commons park downtown. Ian P. Johnson, chairman of the Finance Committee, said that the cut wasn't targeted at park maintenance and that the DPW budget includes enough money for park maintenance without an additional $16,000.

Town Coordinator Henry L. Danis Jr. said the committee is ignoring two huge variables, the costs of gasoline and electricity, which are both likely to rise.

The spike in gas prices is forcing the DPW to fill a deficit this year that is more than three times the deficit in fiscal 2007, and it could be even more next fiscal year, according to DPW Manager John M. Walden. He said he has requested level funding for all controllable costs and will not be able to maintain the new downtown park if the department budget loses $16,000.

"They don't know what they're talking about," Mr. Walden said. "I managed the bottom line. I managed the budget."

For fiscal 2008, which ends June 30, the DPW set aside $170,118 to pay for gas to fuel all municipal vehicles. The department has a $63,000 deficit from fuel costs in the snow budget, but a transfer was approved to cover that deficit.

The DPW also has a $7,000 shortfall from fuel costs in the general budget. With two months left in the fiscal year, that deficit could increase, and the DPW would have to make it up by cutting other expenses.

For fiscal 2009, the department has budgeted $249,320 for gas - at $3 a gallon - but gas prices have already crossed that threshold.

Last week, both Mr. Walden and Mr. Danis tried to sway the Finance Committee, but were unsuccessful. Mr. Walden told committee members they were ignoring the real numbers.

Selectman Leigh A. Emery said the DPW budget is already as conservative as it can be.

"We need to fund the maintenance of the park," she said. "It's the centerpiece of this project we have downtown. It needs to be planned for and paid for."

The DPW has agreed to maintain the Lee property, a 23-acre meadow off West Main Street, without requesting additional funds. While the Lee property is an open field, the downtown park - next to the Bay State Commons shopping plaza off East Main Street - will include a fountain and walking paths, and it will need to be mowed and manicured more often.

The Finance Committee will release its recommendations on the warrant the week before the May 17 town meeting. Mr. Danis has recommended a budget of $83.7 million for fiscal 2009, an increase of less than 1 percent from this fiscal year.

Contact Priyanka Dayal by e-mail at [e-mail].

NAME: WESTBORO ADVISORY FINANCE COMMITTEE; WESTBORO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS