Saugus board OKs budget

SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 to support Town Manager Andrew Bisignani’s preliminary budget with Michael Kelleher the lone opposition.”It’s nothing personal, you know that,” Kelleher said to Bisignani following the vote. “I told you last week I couldn’t support it.”‘Bisignani said the town needs to raise a total of $71.9 million for fiscal 2010. His budget, which he called very preliminary, recommends cutting a firefighter, a police officer and a Public Works position. Bisignani said there would also be a cut of one position but no services at the Senior Center, likewise in the Youth and Recreation Department and a 10 percent cut to the Public Library’s budget.The budget also reflects the $844,000 projected state cuts for 2010 as well as the cuts made by Gov. Deval Patrick earlier this fiscal year. Bisignani said it reflects a slow down of budgeted revenues such as excise tax and building permits as well.”This is a balanced budget,” Bisignani said.Kelleher said his vote wasn’t a lack of support for Bisignani but a lack of support for the budget.”I can’t talk out of both sides of my mouth,” he said. “I can’t complain about it then not do something.”Bisignani said he expected his numbers would change before the budget hit Town Meeting in the spring and he hoped it would be for the better. With possible stimulus money coming the town’s way and possible changes on the state level he is hoping for some additional revenue. If that happens he said the School Department would be his first priority followed by Public Safety and town wide services.The School Department needs $800,000 simply to keep level services. Bisignani said if that money doesn’t come up in additional revenues the town would have to look elsewhere for it.Kelleher said that could be devastating to the budget but Bisignani said it might not have to come from the budget.According to Bisignani the town does have a little rainy day stash of $435,000 in the medical trust, some free cash and he said there would likely be some budget surpluses in various departments.”But we’ll have to wait until the fourth quarter to see how that plays out,” he added.Kelleher also found fault with his colleagues for not supporting what could become state approved revenue sources, namely a meal tax.”That could add $775,000 to the town,” he said.Selectman Stephen Castinetti was quick to say that he didn’t necessarily oppose a meal tax, he simply wanted it to be state wide. Gov. Deval Patrick is proposing a one percent increase in the meal tax which would go to the state and an optional one percent that would go to the communities that approved it.Selectman Peter Rossetti argued that with fewer people going out to eat the meals tax wouldn’t likely be as helpful as Kelleher believes it would.Chairman Donald Wong called the proposal unfair because it singled out restaurants but Stephen Horlick said it didn’t seem that harsh to him.”With all due respect a pu-pu platter is $25, we’re talking 25 cents,” he said. “It would be 10 cents (tax) on a pizza. That’s it.”Castinetti said if he had his way he would prefer to see Patrick “clean house” making administrative cuts before raising any taxes or instituting a meals tax.”Rather than put the burden on the people that can least afford it,” he said.The good news for residents is that Bisignani said he is not going to recommend water or sewer increases for 2010.”Thank you,” Wong responded upon hearing the news.