Local town officials brace for impact from fiscal cliff

Swampscott selectmen are saying towns will not be as affected by looming fiscal cliff cuts as cities like Lynn will be since they aren?t as dependent on federal aid.?It won?t be as devastating to us as Lynn or Lawrence and other cities that,” said Chairman Rich Malagrifa on Thursday. “The fact is that we?re an upper middle class affluent community. The state doesn?t give us a lot of aid.”See also: Fiscal cliff fall will affect everyoneSelectman Glenn Kessler agreed. “It will be less painful for us when the state says cut back,” he said. “At the city level there will be many times more cutting than what there would be for a percentage of a town like Swampscott because it is more self-reliant. This isn?t just us, look at Nahant, Beverly, Marblehead. They have to take care of services at the local level.”Kessler said already he has been told by state Sen. Thomas McGee that were was “no money” to fund maintenance projects in Swampscott, like the seawall or the chipped railings on the pier at Fisherman?s Beach.?And that was before the fiscal cliff,” Kessler said, using the economic-coined term referring to the fall into recession the country could face if Congress doesn?t change a law enacting tax increases and spending cuts set to go into effect at midnight on Dec. 31.Selectman Barry Greenfield said he didn?t think the fiscal cliff will be a problem long enough to affect towns or cities. He predicted representatives would be pressured to reach a compromise by mid-January, which would cause the stock market to take a hit, but leave municipalities out of cut-back decisions.However, Greenfield said, if the fiscal cliff goes on long enough, the first cuts from a lack of federal and state aid will be in infrastructure and education, but will continue to be “across the board” with health care and health insurance.?I don?t foresee job cuts,” said Malagrifa. “We?re pretty lean as it is.”Cuts in Saugus are a very real possibility if a decision isn?t made. According to Joanne Vannah, chairman of the Saugus Alternative Energy Committee, a proposal to install solar panels on town buildings, including the landfill at the Department of Public Works, could fall through.Vannah said a renewable energy tax credit could be cut, which would mean more money would have to be spent on the panels.?We probably wouldn?t bring anyone in until we know if that?s going to be retained,” she said.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].