The budget will come before voters at the annual Town Meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. at Granite Valley Middle School.
Monson Town Office buildingMONSON – Three hours a week have been restored for the assistant town clerk and Board of Health clerk, Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers told the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday.
As a result, the assistant town clerk will continue to work 33 hours a week, and the Board of Health clerk 34 hours, Neggers said.
Neggers briefed selectmen on the latest changes to the fiscal 2012 budget of $22 million, as well as the Finance Committee’s recommendations. A total of $124,000 in cuts had to be made to balance the level-funded budget.
The budget will come before voters at the annual Town Meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. at Granite Valley Middle School.
A change regarding the number of new school buses to be purchased next year freed up some money in the budget. The selectmen wanted to purchase three; the Finance Committee changed the number to two, saving about $25,000.
Another boost is coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as Hampden County has been included for federal disaster relief funds in connection with the Jan. 11 and 12 snowstorm.
The development was announced on Tuesday by state Sen. Stephen M. Brewer. That means that all cities, towns and state agencies that spent money on snow removal are eligible for 75 percent reimbursement. Hampden County originally was excluded from the disaster declaration.
Neggers said the Parks and Recreation Commission has the final say on where a $10,000 cut in salaries will be made.
The budget proposal outlined by Neggers and Finance Director Deborah A. Mahar proposed cutting the parks and recreation director’s hours to 35 a week from 40. The department does have $20,000 budgeted for seasonal employees, she said.
The reduction to the library went from $7,000 to $4,000, and the director will determine where that cut will take place.
Neggers said the budget is balanced, but there are still concerns over the price of petroleum products.
“These are very dire times,” Neggers said, adding that the budget is “fair and reasonable” given the circumstances.
She said the passage of the Fire Department override to fund additional emergency medical technician hours also “made a real difference in putting this together.”