Town Administrator Nick Connors met with department heads to identify “modest reductions” in hopes of achieving a 5% cut in town expenses. He also discussed the capital improvement plan (CIP).
“We were not looking at salaries at this point,” Connors said. “It was just a chance to see where we might have some more fat to trim and opportunities to move forward with some savings.”
Connors told the Select Board that there will still be a “small increase in expenses and salaries” within the town budget. The discussion comes ahead of May’s annual Town Meeting, with the Select Board, Finance Committee, School Committee, and Capital Improvement Committee holding both individual and and in joint meetings to review ongoing town needs.
The town submitted its CIP to the Capital Improvement Committee, which voted to forward it to the Finance Committee. Connors noted, however, that the plan is not finalized.
“There were two outstanding items on there that we’re trying to dial in price,” Connors said. “It is a forced main study to begin the understanding of what needs there may be other than a release valves, which are actually a part of the capital plan, and in addition to that for next year is the vacuum truck that the DPW and water and sewer has been talking about for a little bit. It’s not necessary for this year. We want to make sure that we get a real price and that we’re able to plan for it going forward if we decide to make that investment next year.”
Select Board Member Mary Ellen Fletcher brought up questions around the “vehicle items” on the budget “because I’d really like to get a better understanding of why we have to spend $100,000 for a vehicle that just one person is going to be driving around, where as can we scale back and get an electric vehicle that’s really a little bit more suited for an individual.”
During a Capital Improvement meeting in January, Fire Chief Graham Archer requested an electric Ford F-150, estimated at $92,275, to take over the role of the town’s current 2016 Ford Expedition. The expedition would in turn take over as “Car 22” for the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe which Archer said may not make it to the summer due to being “well past the end of its service life.”
Connors said the electric vehicle would be “used as part of the emergency management response to move equipment that we have around town.”
“Where are some opportunities that we have in the capital,” Fletcher said. “For me, the major driver for capital, especially in the future, is the middle school and making sure that we clear as much as possible. I’d like to see us go as lean as possible on that capital plan.”
Swampscott School Committee members recently considered submitting a statement of interest to the state for funding of renovations to the Swampscott Middle School. The most problematic systems at the school are HVAC, electrical services, security and the lack of a fire protection system, according to Swampscott Public Schools Facilities Director Max Kasper.
At the School Committee’s most recent meeting, Kasper outlined two potential paths for the district to take regarding much needed upgrades to the middle school, with one focusing on state funding.
In order to receive funding for a project from the state, the district will need to submit a statement of interest for the project to the MSBA. Then, the MSBA would decide whether or not to select the project for funding. Superintendent Jason Calichman said the MSBA would decide if repairs would be made, or if a whole new school would be built if the district’s submission was chosen.
In the current MBSA cycle, statement of interest submissions need to be submitted by April 17.
Connors noted at the Select Board meeting on Wednesday that the plans for the middle school are a bit further than five years down the line.
On the school side of the budget, last week the School Committee unanimously approved the district’s proposed $35,484,012 budget for the 2027 fiscal year. The approved budget comes in at a 3.96% increase from the 2026 fiscal year. It will go to the Town Meeting Members’ approval in May. Superintendent Jason Calichman called the proposed budget “fiscally responsible” at the School Committee’s last meeting.
“We’re taking as broad a look as possible,” Connors said at the beginning of Wednesday’s Select Board meeting, adding that if anyone in the community would like to share any expertise during the process that is “obviously very welcomed for us.”
The Select Board will review the operating budget and CIP at its next meeting on February 25.
