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Analysis of Public Works
Public Works: I am proposing increasing this line item from $515,920 to $549,931. This increase maintains the reduced staff levels from last year and increases salaries per the recently settled DPW contract and COLA. We had to build into the budget a conservative increase in fuel costs. As the Town Administrator, I am very concerned about the continued deterioration of the Department of Public Works. There are two areas of growth in this budget that should be highlighted: I am seeking a major increase in both the tree warden and road improvement lines of this budget. Currently the amount of resources necessary to perform these two functions is laughable and leaves us no ability to
do either task well or not at all. It also sets aside $9900 for Municipal Building Fund, consistent with the Municipal Building Fund legislation, which was recently signed into law by Governor Patrick.
Snow and Ice Removal: I am proposing increasing this line item from $104,324 to $105,371 in order to compensate for higher personnel costs. This budget cannot be reduced from level funding in order to allow for overspending in the event of drastic emergency situations.
Street Lighting: I am proposing funding this line item at $80,561. This budget reflects the costs to provide streetlights on the Town’s roads. Any reduction of this line item could cause the elimination of some of non-essential streetlights.
Trash Removal & Disposal: I proposed increasing this line item from $313,000 to $320,825 as per the Prop. 2 ½ override on trash. On the collection side, I am expecting the cost to remain stable at $253,000 at least at this point. On the disposal side, I am expecting smaller costs (per CPI decreases) and tonnage due to the new Pay As You Throw trash system. The town still sees over $100,000 a year in savings in the budget due to Pay As You Throw. The citizens should know that the Town is seeking bids to do the collection of trash so this line may be more or less depending upon our negotiations. On Town Meeting floor, the citizens of West Boylston moved $20,000 from the trash
budget to education, thereby reducing this budget to $300,825.
Landfill Monitoring: I am proposing a NEW line item this year to cover our landfill monitoring costs. Ordinarily this cost is listed as an annual warrant article however I felt that this should be a budgeted amount due to the regularity of the expense. The good news is that I do not expect any funds are needed for this fiscal year as we continue to work off old warrant articles.
Cemeteries: I am proposing increasing this line item from $35,910 to $38,330. This line item pays for the salary of the Cemetery Superintendent and the salaries of the Cemetery Commissioners required by Town Bylaw (which is still listed at $1).
Total Public Works expenditures:
I am proposing funding this section of government at $1,095,018, an increase of 4.2% mainly due to the increases in the tree and road repair budgets and the new municipal building repair line.
History of Public Works Expenditures
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
$905,431 |
$1,025,489 |
$1,102,842 |
$1,158,631 |
$1,202,004 |
$1,050,915 |
$1,075,018 |
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