1975-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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TOWN MANAGER and utility services needs-mainly electricity, heating fuel, gasoline and communications service. Collective bargaining in an inflating economy and under new Massachusetts law is driving up the cost of employee's service. Demands for new and expanded public services continue. We are con- fronted with a national trend of requesting government to take on and solve more and more of the problems which traditionally have been solved by citizens themselves. The commonwealth, as part of its desperate budget reduction actions, is shifting the obligation to municipalities to provide numerous services previously performed by the state at its expense. Meet- ing new tougher environmental protection requirements causes a marked increase in engineering and construction costs of public works projects. It has become clear that revenue from state and federal governments is declining. It is the inevitable result of their budget reduction efforts. This is illustrated by general revenue sharing. Due to the expiration of the present act in December 1976, local governments will receive only 75% of the usual full year's funding. This represents a revenue loss of more than $85,000 to Lexington. The prospects of a new revenue sharing program from Congress are too vague and unfavorable at this time to rely on in our budget planning. The cumulative result of these factors is that local government must either spend less for its public services or pay a higher share of the total costs through local taxes. I strongly recommend the spend less alternative since despite our best efforts in that direction, some increase in tax bur- den may be unavoidable. During the coming year, our primary goal will be to maintain fiscal stability, while still delivering essential public services. Highest pri- ority will be given to our goal of holding the number of general government employees at the present level. We will continue to stress improving the organization's effectiveness through a strengthened personnel system. Mr. Charles A. Cook, hired as personnel administrator in September, has added substantially to our management strength. A key part of our plan to avoid the need for increased personnel, will be the further automation of high volume manual work routines. We expect to step up our existing programs for increased productivity. These have the active support of employee unions. The town manager feels that the adjustments necessary to fighting tax rate rise pressures, must include revision of the quantity and quality of some public services. We must reexamine and redefine the standards for what is essential and what is highly desirable but not affordable under a spend less policy. Speaking for the employees, I restate our promise to Lexington citizens to continue a maximum effort to get the most possible out of every tax dollar. We in turn ask your support and cooperation in the reduction of certain less essential services if we are to meet our primary objective on continuing fiscal stability with an acceptable tax rate. Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people. Is there any better or equal hope in the world? - Abraham Lincoln First Inaugural Address 10