Bisignani: Saugus to reach ‘point of stability’ by end of fiscal year

SAUGUS – In a departure from last year, the town is poised to close out the fiscal year with no operating or revenue deficit.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani admitted he was holding his breath over a possible revenue deficit but the town is in the clear. In fact, he added the town is in better shape than certainly one year ago.”We’ve reached a level of stability,” Bisignani said. “We accomplished some pretty significant things last year.”At the end of the fiscal year last June the town was weighed down with a $3 million deficit. It was made up in part of a $2.5 million shortfall in operating expenses largely attributed to healthcare issue and $500,000 in revenue deficits. The town was also battling multiple lawsuits, many centered on grievances and hoping that joining the state’s health insurance program would solve all its woes.Joining the state’s Group Insurance Commission may not have solved all of the town’s woes but it did help. It freed up money for other departments and put the town on an even keel for healthcare payments.The town even realized a small surplus with excise taxes.”But they can’t be appropriated,” he added quickly.According to Bisignani over the last year the town has settled union contracts with the Fire Department and School Department, met all the requirements from the Department of Revenue and staved off state intervention.”The Senior Center and Youth and Recreation are still open,” Bisignani added. “It’s with assistance from the state but they’re still functioning.”Overtime for the Police and Fire departments have been fully funded, which means there is no immediate concern that the Essex Street Fire Station would close. Roads have been resurfaced thanks to state funding, water and sewer bills are stable and a huge portion of the Route 1 water main issues were solved thanks to a deal with Lynnfield.When Route 1 had to be opened from Walnut Street to the town line for a Lynnfield water project it allowed the town to switch its water main from a turn of the century 6-inch waterline to 10-inch circa 1970.The only millstone still dogging the town is Kasabuski Arena but that was successfully put out to bid. Bisignani said any loose ends on that deal should be wrapped up shortly and the Kasabuski Partnership of Lynnfield will take over running the rink.The town’s bond rating is also still the same, which is not where it should be but Bisignani said that might change next year.”You have to show a pattern of stability,” he said. “Next year I might ask for a review.”The town is making progress on weed control in the ponds in Golden Hills, completed a new water meter program, has met all the requirements of the Department of Environmental Protection mandate, leased the two empty schools to daycare centers and has gotten weekly recycling for residents.He will admit, however, it’s not all picture perfect. He said there will be no great strides in adding personnel to public safety or the School Department anywhere in the near future and the budget is still tight.”But we’ve stopped the bleeding,” he said. “We’ve reached a point of stability and it’s good.”