2022-03-28-AC-ATM-STM-rptrev - Laserfiche WebLink

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2022 ATM,2022-1 STM APPROPRIATION CONMTTEE 21 MARCH 2022 The proposed budget is balanced, as required by law, and it will provide the consistent and reliable level of service that is expected by residents. The 2.8% growth of the operating budget is low, but it was affected by a short-term drop in debt service, which is part of the Shared Expenses. The other two categories, Education and Municipal Departments, are more in line with expectations based on revenue growth. The year-over-year reduction in the "Other"category is driven largely by a lower contribution to the Capital Stabilization Fund. Program Improvement Requests A Program Improvement Request (PIR) is part of the Town's process to develop an annual operating budget. The Town first develops a "level service" operating budget that supports existing services at rates comparable to those of the prior year. Each PIR is a proposal from a Town department to update or initiate new services funded by the operating budget. The Town Manager reviews and approves PIRs for the recommended municipal operating and shared expenses budgets, and the Superintendent of Schools does likewise for the school operating budget. Once the complete operating budget is approved by Town Meeting, the successful PIRs become part of the "level service" operating budget in subsequent years. Thus, PIRs offer a transparent view into the growth of the budget beyond the core economic drivers. Below is a summary of the PIRs related to the municipal budget that have been recommended for approval. PIRs for the LPS are covered in the school budget and are not listed here. Department Recommended Funding Public Facilities $ 43,796 Public Works $ 26,967 Public Safety $ 144,566 Culture &Recreation $ 127,363 Land Use,Health and Development Department $ 41,184 General Government $ 62,437 Total PIR Requests $ 446,313 Public Facilities • Department 2600 Public Facilities - $43,796 to enhance the role of the Management Assistant to manage the new 20-year capital database, increasing the FTE from 0.5 to 1. Public Works • Department 3100 DPW Administration & Engineering - $24,471 to make the DPW Management Analyst full-time. • Department 3400 Environmental Services - $2,496 to upgrade a W-6 position at the Hartwell Avenue compost site. Public Safety • Department 4100 Law Enforcement - $42,447 to support enhanced police training under the new state certification requirements. • Department 4100 Law Enforcement - $45,450 in anticipation of the need for staff to transport detainees to another location once the police move to their temporary location. • Department 4100 Law Enforcement - $8,036 to fund a third crossing guard on Marrett Road for the Hastings Elementary School. • Department 4200 Fire &Rescue - $48,633 to purchase a training manikin to allow staff to practice their life support skills. 4