Finance Committee members support override
Dear Editor,

On May 6, Shrewsbury residents will vote on a Proposition 2-1/2 override to support the operational budget for town government. We, the undersigned members of the town Finance Committee, strongly urge the citizens of Shrewsbury to support the override. The past three budget cycles have already required progressive reductions in town services, staff and infrastructure investments. With this current budget, we now face a breaking point with respect to the ability of the town to off er basic services. The budget that we have recommended to Town Meeting was brought into balance through significant use of free cash and reserve funds, layoff s in multiple town departments, and reductions in human services.

Residents should be aware that the budget leaves us in a financially vulnerable position, since non-renewable reserve funds are largely depleted and free cash will be less than the value recommended by the state and bonding agencies. The budget requires staff reduction throughout town government, including police, fire, public buildings, engineering, collector, the Council on Aging, parks, highway, library and school. Clearly, these reductions reduce the ability of town departments to service citizens efficiently and to maintain the town infrastructure. The library reductions are sufficiently severe that any further reductions threaten state certification. Reductions to the Council on Aging will change the character and negatively impact the Meals on Wheels program. For additional details, we urge citizens to read the Committee's budget message, which will be available on the town Web site.

It is important to view this budget in the context of the larger economic situation. Fixed costs, such as health care and insurance, have increased at rates well above inflation, while available revenue has risen much more slowly. Town government has and will continue to seek new revenue in terms of commercial development, but the current economic climate has not been favorable for generating significant growth. Partially-funded mandates at the federal and state level have accounted for increasing portions of both the municipal and school budgets. The increase in the school budget, in fact, is largely driven by externally mandated costs. While the increase in school spending appears significant, the current school budget actually represents a decrease in educational services to the majority of Shrewsbury schoolchildren.

Shrewsbury citizens are fortunate that town departments have been able to deliver excellent services to citizens at a lower cost than like communities. Maintenance of town services at the level that we have come to enjoy now requires an adjustment to the tax base. Given the financial climate, May's override does not provide a permanent solution to the town's fiscal situation. Nevertheless, we urge Shrewsbury citizens to approve the override as we continue to work with town officials and departments toward a sustainable solution to our fiscal problems.
Sincerely yours,
Gene Buddenhagen,
Chairman
May Kay Alexander
Andrew Carslon
John Campbell
David L'Ecuyer
Charles Giacoppe
Clare O'Connor
Donna Largess
O'Connor
Fran Russell