Some Finance Committee members said during a meeting on Monday that they found the first night of the Town Meeting’s budget debate “difficult.” There was also the suggestion that town boards’ discussions continue to get increasingly “more chaotic” and “last minute” year-over-year. 

During a Finance Committee meeting on Monday, the group recapped what happened at the Town Meeting, sharing some frustrations with the process. Town Meeting Members approved budget reallocations proposed by the Select Board that provides the school district with an additional $130,000. Leading up to the Town Meeting, the Finance Committee, Select Board and School Board seemed to be aligned until about a week prior to the gathering.   

“I thought we were all on the same page about the end of the town administrator audit,” said Finance Committee Member Greg McDonald. “Then we suddenly threw this bomb in the middle…I thought we were a little chaotic. I thought we were a little all over the place with spending money and saving money.”

Finance Committee Member Adrian Rodriguez said the Select Board was “playing all sides.”

Select Board Member Mary Ellen Fletcher, who was the chair throughout the budget discussions, told the Swampscott Tides that the Town Meeting reflected the democratic process and range of perspectives among boards and residents.

“It was a very hard year, and it also was coming off from the year before when the budget went through pretty smoothly,” Fletcher said. “You have to look at all the different aspects.”

Fletcher said some of the  Finance Committee’s remarks were “cheap comments,” adding that newer members should keep the broader context in mind. 

“We’ve tapped into unused levy money,” Fletcher said, adding that within two years the money could be drained and Town Meeting Members may be voting on overrides.

The Select Board’s recommendations decreased expenses for human resources, the Department of Public Works, the library and others. Finance Committee Chair Eric Hartmann said the line-by-line budget review should could have “not been done the Wednesday before Town Meeting but six Wednesdays before Town Meeting.” 

Many spoke out at the Town Meeting in support of the reallocations, with School Board Chair Glenn Paster noting that his board has “looked at every line item ad nauseam” and the $130,000 could mean saving some “core staff” from reductions. Superintendent Pamela Angelakis also spoke up during the meeting, noting that “there’s nothing left to cut.” 

Fletcher pointed out that the Finance Committee and town administrator were instructed to identify cuts.

“They didn’t,” she said.

At the same time, Fletcher did acknowledge that there was an issue with the Select Board tackling the issue at the last minute.

“I don’t think that was super helpful,” she said. “That’s the role of the town administrator and the finance director before they bring it to the Select Board, but everyone adapted and the Select Board made a suggestion.”

The budget cuts were also not discussed with town department heads until after the Select Board voted on them, according to interim Town Administrator Gino Cresta. He also added that most of them seemed to approve the changes.

“I was glad Gino answered the way he did, that ‘no these things have not really been discussed when the decision was made’ even though Gino was in the room and could comment for the Public Works. I see that more as Gino will always do what he’s asked and do what needs to be done to get what we need,” Hartmann said. “I agree that we all want alignment, but in the end we’re all not supposed to do just what the Select Board says…Sometimes that’s going to lead to some differences.”

Finance Committee Member Jarred Guthrie, however, noted that the committee should encourage the Select Board as well as other groups to look at the budget line-by-line, but he did also add that there is an issue with the alignment of ideas.

“Between the School Committee, the Finance Committee, the Capital Improvement Committee, and the Select Board, I saw so much misalignment, and I think a lot of you picked up on that,” Guthrie said. “We had instances when we went in with diametrically opposed messaging.”

Guthrie called the back-and-forth between committees “very challenging.”

In hopes of partially amending the issue, the Finance Committee selected to have liaisons to different boards throughout the town. There was also discussion again about a financial summit. 

Overall, the town specific portion of the budget is increasing by less than three-quarters of a percent, while the school side is increasing by over 6%. Director of Finance and Administration Amy Sarro said these increases are projected to raise the average Swampscott family’s taxes by $760.77. 

Fletcher said that the town needs to understand the overall implications of the budget.

“People have to wake up,” Fletcher said.