Selectmen consider trimmed budget
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Northborough - At the Feb. 11 Board of Selectmen meeting, Town Administrator Barry Brenner presented the selectmen with a draft fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget containing the removal of more than $500,000 in line items from the FY 2008 budget, but keeping the town within Proposition 2-1/2 requirements.

It was the second budget Brenner presented to the board in as many meetings, as requested by the board. At their Jan. 28 meeting, the selectmen received a budget from Brenner that maintained existing municipal programs, services and operations. That budget showed an increase of 7.5 percent, or $1.09 mil- lion, over this year's budget.

The budget presented Feb. 11 totaled $15.02 million, an increase of 3.5 percent, or $642,809, over the current budget. In addition, Brenner said he believed both the K-8 school and the town's portion of the regional school budget could increase 3.5 percent and remain within Proposition 2-1/2 parameters.

Cuts that were made to keep the proposed FY 2009 budget within the guidelines included $132,000 in staff - ing reductions, $118,500 in the reserve fund account, $100,000 in the stabilization account, $100,000 in debt service, $54,428 from trust funds, and a combined $29,600 in several other areas.

The staffing cuts would be made by not filling two current vacancies - an assistant town engineer and public works equipment operator - and two new positions, both on the library staff.

The reserve fund account reduction would be the annual amount the town adds to the account. Brenner is proposing not adding to the account for one year only. The stabilization fund account reduction would be obtained similarly, by not adding to the fund for one year only.

The debt service reduction, Brenner said, has the blessing of Town Treasurer June Hubbard-Ward, who said it would not aff ect the town's bond rating.