Townsend selectmen warn school committee of limited budget
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Two words that neither politicians nor residents like to hear - "override" and "layoffs" - were used at the joint meeting between Townsend's Board of Selectmen and school officials on Monday, Feb. 12.

The specifics of either option weren't discussed, but North Middlesex Regional Superintendent Maureen Marshall said there are few places for cuts in the preliminary FY08 budget.

"It will be very difficult for us to absorb any more losses," she said. "It will be very hard for us to deliver a level-funded budget, which I think is impossible, or a budget that will solve your problems."

Town Administrator Greg Barnes asked the school committee to keep their budget as close to last year's as possible because big increases will mean a big deficit.

Barnes said if the school district asks for an increase of 4 percent over last year's contribution then there will be a $200,000 deficit, and if the district asks for a 9 percent increase then there will be $600,000 deficit.

"We are here to convey to you the difficulty of the town absorbing any increase," Barnes said. "We are more than likely talking about layoffs."

Marshall presented her level-services budget of approximately $38.2 million to the school committee after the meeting with selectmen. That doesn't include transportation spending, which is approximately $3 million.

The increase is 7 percent over last year's budget, but Marshall is unsure what the hike means for town assessments.

Both Barnes and Marshall said the budget would have to be cut, including personnel, or there would have to be an override.

Neither wanted to get into a detailed discussion until the state budget numbers are presented.

"We don't have figures from the state to determine that (assessment to the towns) yet," School Committee Chairwoman Theresa Morse said.

Marshall said the school district is still waiting for even preliminary budget numbers from the state in two areas.

The first is how much Chapter 70 money they will receive. Chapter 70 determines how much state funding a school district will get, and this year there is a new formula deciding that funding mechanism.

"There are going to be winners and losers in that," Marshall said. "We don't know where North Middlesex will fall."

Marshall said she has been told not to expect firm figures until the last day of February.

The second set of unknown budget numbers is the state minimum required contribution. Last year was the first year that the school district asked the member towns - Ashby, Townsend and Pepperell - for more then the state minimum.

Marshall promised Barnes and the selectmen firm and realistic assessments as soon as she receives the state numbers.

"We understand what boat you're in and we're in it with you," she said.