Override Dominates Discussion at Town Meeting

got under way Monday night in the Auditorium. And the first topic discussed was

On Tuesday, March 29, Winchester voters , which was needed to close the town’s $728,000 budget gap for Fiscal Year 2012. That number will increase to $1.5 million by 2013 and to $2.5 million by 2014.

But even with that gap, Peter Cheimets, Finance Committee chair, told Town Meeting Members that Winchester is in good shape.

“In spite of the failed override, the town is financially healthy for FY ‘12,” Cheimets said. “The schools will still need to cut $380K and Winchester will be unable to fund the substance abuse program, and in FY ’13 we’ll need to have more drastic cuts, but for next year, we're OK.”

According to Cheimets, Winchester doesn’t have as big of a budget gap for 2012 because the town passed an override in 2006, and in 2008 Winchester had a surplus of $3 million, which went to replenish its reserves.

However, Cheimets said the four factors that are driving the town’s budget – health care, increasing school enrollment, energy costs and direct labor costs – will be difficult to cut, in order to save the town money over the next few years.

 “There’s little we can do to avoid an override for the FY ’13 budget without significant cuts,” Cheimets said.

In order for the schools to absorb a 1.5 percent budget increase for FY ’13, which is more than two percent below a level-funded budget, School Committee Chair Chris Linskey, said they will need to look at every area to try and find ways the schools can save money.

“A 1.5 percent increase is too low and drastic,” said Linskey, since the schools are projecting they would need at least a three percent increase. “We’ll need to look at other alternatives to raise money. We’ll need to compare ourselves with other communities, look at possible fees and be supportive of an additional override.”

chair, Forrest Fontana told Town Meeting Members making these cuts will be difficult, but the board will honor the voters decision.

“This is going to be uncomfortable,” Fontana said of the potential cuts. “Tensions are going to rise. There’s no solver bullet; it’s a reality. This has the potential to divide us, but it all has the potential to strengthen the community. We can come together to bring change.”

Town Meeting will continue on Monday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. Due to Winchester bylaws, all articles that have to deal with the budget must begin on the first Monday in May.