by Lex Thomas
On Monday, May 4, 163 qualified voters attended Sterling’s Annual Town Meeting and deliberated over 40 warrant articles that will affect the town for FY 2016 and beyond.
Voter approval highlights:
- $10,221,455 town operating budget passed, which includes a 2 percent salary increase for Sterling’s non-union employees. The FY 2016 budget represents an increase of $611,000 over the current year. Two adjustments were made to the proposed budget during the meeting, adding $9,781 to the DPW’s request due to a “clerical error, and eliminating $19,000 from the Council on Aging, funds earmarked for operational expenses at the new senior center, which are not needed due to a completion date that is later than originally expected.
- $9,055,323 state required net minimum contribution to the Wachusett Regional School District, and $1,312,301 Sterling contribution above the net minimum for operational expenses. According to Lance Harris, Sterling’s representative to the WRSD Committee, the net minimum contribution was lower than originally requested, due to a renegotiation of transportation contracts. He also stated that the overall WRSD budget is not to exceed $83,797,672 in FY 2016.
- $768,076 assessment to Monty Tech, which represents approximately $100,000 more than Sterling’s current assessment, to offset the costs of eight additional Sterling students that will attend the school in the upcoming year.
- $38,000 to purchase and equip a new vehicle for the Police Department, to replace the police chief’s vehicle.
- $627,181 in Chapter 90 funds for expenditures earmarked by the DPW.
- All Fire Department funding requests were approved, including $82,500 for a new utility vehicle that will provide forestry response and become the department’s day-to-day service vehicle; $35,000 to replace the Jaws of Life apparatus; $51,975 to replace firefighter protective clothing; and $98,862 to pay salaries for two additional fulltime firefighter/paramedic positions.
- $17,000 to purchase a new server and approximately three desktop computers for town hall.
- Voters approved creation of a Veterans Service District, and $20,000 to help fund the salary for a veteran’s agent.
In addition, voters supported the Finance Committee’s recommendation to not fund the DPW request of $160,000 for a new loader.
During the Special Town Meeting that immediately preceded the Annual Town Meeting, town residents voted to transfer $165,000 from free cash (excess revenue over expenses) to the capital investment fund; to transfer $416,241 from free cash to the stabilization fund; to transfer $105,000 from free cash to the snow and ice account to cover the deficit in the snow and ice budget for FY 2015.
Unlike last year’s Annual Town Meeting that ran for more than seven hours over two nights this year’s meeting wrapped up in one night, and lasted about four hours.