Tough budget choice looms; Drastic cuts or override in the offing.

Byline: Carla Charter

HUBBARDSTON - Selectmen plan to present a stark choice to voters at the June town meeting:

A budget for next fiscal year that is balanced by means of drastic cuts in town services.

Or one that is balanced with a tax hike, a Proposition 2-1/2 override. At the moment, selectmen envision an override that would raise the tax rate by $1.17 to $10.60 per $1,000 of valuation.

Selectmen spelled out the choices at a hearing Saturday morning at the Center School.

Selectman Matthew Castriotta described the board's new approach toward the budget this year.

"We want to present the community with a balanced budget in June. We want to empower you (the townspeople). We want to put the decision in your hands rather than 50 people at a special town meeting in December."

He explained that in previous years, a budget was brought forward with expected shortfalls at the June town meeting and was balanced at a special town meeting in December. The budget must be balanced before a community is allowed to set its tax rate.

In one budget scenario, the budget for next fiscal year, which starts July 1, would be balanced with a 20 percent reduction in the police budget; a 20 percent reduction in the dispatching budget; a 35 percent reduction in the Fire Department; a 20 percent cut in the Highway Department; and the closing of the library. The Council on Aging director's post would also be eliminated.

The reduction in the Police Department would mean, according to Chief Dennis Perron, the elimination of eight part-time officers and one full-time officer. This would result in no coverage for some shifts, which could include nights, weekends and holidays.

The reduction in dispatch would result in the elimination of two dispatchers, forcing the regionalization of dispatch. As a result, the town also would lose the ability to call 911, and its police could no longer get quick access to computerized systems used for such tasks as tracing licenses and screening gun permit applicants.

Chief Perron said regionalizing dispatch could save money, but there might also be up-front costs. "It could not be done by July 1. If the override doesn't pass we could try to do something by January 1."

The reduction in the Fire Department would mean the elimination of the administrative assistant, who is also a trained emergency medical technician and a firefighter. It would also eliminate full-time staffing on weekend days and holidays and coverage for vacation hours. The weekend calls would be responded to by call firefighters rather than a full-time firefighter, which could result in a longer response time.

The Highway Department, in this budget scenario, would have to eliminate a full-time truck driver and laborer. This would translate to less road maintenance as well as the elimination of a plow route in the winter, adding time needed to complete routes and more overtime expenses. "We can't afford to lose anyone, especially going into winter," Highway Superintendent Lyn Gauthier said.

The library, under the budget cuts scenario, is facing a total shut down. This would result in the Hubbardston Library losing its certification.

If this should happen, surrounding towns would no longer be required to lend books or other materials to Hubbardston residents.

The cuts would also result in the loss of over $10,000 in state money, loss of space for programs and town offices and the possibility of losing the building itself.

The building is leased to the town for use as a library by the Clark estate. Should the building no longer be used as a library, under the deed the building will revert to Clark's heirs or possibly Clark University itself.

Other reductions include a cut in the tax collector's office, which would mean fewer hours the office would be open to the public and more calls going to the answering machine, according to Tax Collector Cynthia Washburn-Doane. There would also be cuts to the treasurer's and assessor's offices, Building Department, Board of Health and town secretary's.

"All the cuts are very difficult," said Town Administrator Deborah Roussel. "Every reduction has a face attached to it."

Resident Ernie Newcomb asked if the laid off employees would be rehired the next year.

"I'd like to say yes," responded Selectman Paul Hale "but I don't know where the money would come from. We have very intelligent people. If we lay them off, we lose all that intellectual property to other communities."

As for what happens next year, Mr. Hale said, "We will keep trying to balance the budget, but if costs go out of sight we can't guarantee anything."

"We have attempted to turn over every stone to economize. We have used one-time sources of funding for a number of years. The federal government has cut, the state government has cut. The bottom line is that someone has to pay for the services," said Mr. Castriotta.

The current deficit stands at $617,539. This number, however, is fluid because the town has not received its school assessment numbers yet. The deficit also includes $150,000 to provide for road improvements.

The second budget scenario would be the budget with an override approved by voters. This budget would restore the cut services.

As for the following fiscal year, selectmen are not anticipating asking for more money.

Another informational budget hearing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Center School Cafeteria.