Budget cuts have many looking for leadership
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - Whether it's residents seeking support from officials or officials looking to their colleagues for input, it seems that everyone is turning to someone during Shrewsbury's current budget crisis.

With a $1 million fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget shortfall looming, residents are becoming more vocal than ever and are providing answers they believe to be the solution to the town's budget problem.

At a public hearing before the Finance Committee April 3, many people called on the officials to publicly back the $1.5 million Proposition 2-1/2 override that will go to the voters in May.

"It is your duty, your moral obliga- tion and your responsibility to promote the override," resident Chris Jutten said.

Former School Committee member Alden Harris, as well as the majority of people attending the hearing, asked for support not only from the committee but from the community as a whole.

"The fiscally responsible thing to do is not cutting, but having the courage to increase taxes," he said. "It's the only thing left."

But not everyone in attendance was a willing to support the override. John Lukach said he believes lowering the rate of salary increases for town employees would result in a significant cost saving for the town.

"Salaries of public employees cannot continue to increase at a rate two times or three times the rate of inflation. It's just not sustainable," he said.

Town Manager Daniel Morgado argued that the town employees have been very understanding of the current fiscal situation and, because many are also town residents, are experiencing the same financial troubles as everyone else in Shrewsbury.

Morgado has put together a four-phased budget sheet detailing which areas can be cut, and what the cost savings of each item would be. He has provided $2.1 million in possible reductions, almost all of which would be necessary if the override and the proposed pay-as-you-throw

" trash removal program were to be voted down.

Current budget cuts on the table include the layoff of nine town employees, cuts to the library that could result in a loss of certification, additional cuts to the School Department and the elimination of paid Meals on Wheels drivers.

Some expressed concern that it will be the most vulnerable residents that will be the most hurt by the cuts.

"We cannot balance the budget on the backs of those who need the Council on Aging, on the poor or on the children," Helen Clark said. "These are human beings and they need our help. There must be something else we can do."

Clark's sentiments were echoed by Selectman Maurice DePalo at the April 7 Board of Selectmen meeting. DePalo said he would like to see if funds for Meals on Wheels drivers and the library could be found elsewhere within the four levels of cuts.

Other selectmen agreed that the cuts were difficult, but requested the conversation be held off until final budget numbers are in and they can see what they're actually dealing with in terms of reductions.