Voters get say on town budget

Thursday, February 25, 2010

By KAREN LOVETT

Staff Writer

MERRIMACK – Residents at the town deliberative session on March 9 will consider a town budget that has so far moved pretty quietly through the pipeline.

Although some folks spoke in support of youth programs during one budget work session, relatively few people have approached the town council with concerns ahead of deliberative session this year.

At that meeting, residents will consider a $29.34 million budget, of which, $23.41 is the operating budget for day-to-day expenses. That represents a 6.7 percent increase over this year’s spending, primarily due to contracted wages, health insurance and inflation related to energy.

These figures translate into a proposed tax rate of $4.35, 12 cents more than the current rate. On a house valued at $300,000, the town’s portion of the tax bill would be $1,305 – up $36. The rate, however, doesn’t include a new union contract that voters are being asked to consider.

The contract is for supervisors and clerks in the public works and wastewater departments. The union’s last contract expired in 2009.

In the newly negotiated contract, spending would actually decrease by $23,000 and members would contribute 10 percent toward their health and dental insurance premiums. In the two following years, union members would receive up to 3 percent raises, which would be based on merit.

At one point, it was anticipated that other town employee contracts would be on the ballot this year, but negotiations have been so far unsuccessful with the Public Works and Wastewater department employees, and Police and Fire Department supervisors, according to Town Manager Keith Hickey.

The two union contracts will expire in June and employees will likely work another year under the terms of the current contract.

In addition, a new union representing police dispatchers and support staff is also still working on negotiations for its first-ever contract. Negotiations were set to resume soon.

During budget discussions, most public input was in regard to youth programs. Councilors had considered cutting funding to the Merrimack Youth Association by half, but the athletic organization’s leadership asked them to change their minds because fees have already been raised and some sports programs wouldn’t survive. The council ended up trimming the association’s budget from $110,000 to $90,000.

Skate park users were also concerned about trimming hours of an attendant who keeps order at the O’Gara Drive park. In the end, the council halved the hours because volunteers said they would help monitor the park.

At the official budget hearing, a highway department employee lobbied to restore the hours of a road maintainer to full time, and resident Mike Malzone asked the council to consider the warrant article calling for a tax exemption for the disabled. The exempted income level for single applicants would change from $45,000 to $50,000, and it would be $67,500 for married couples.

Malzone told the council that many non-disabled couples have similar income levels, and that it’s becoming difficult to subsidize others in such tough economic times.

Malzone said hoped the issue would be looked at during deliberative session.

Karen Lovett can be reached at 594-6402 or klovett@ nashuatelegraph.com.