BOURNE – Bourne Town Administrator Thomas Guerino recently broke down his proposed $61.8 million fiscal year 2018 budget to selectmen.
The figure is a 3.9 percent increase over the town’s current $59.3 million one. Guerino said that his outline is still fiscally conservative and does not ask for much increases in funding.
“Through the combining of positions, reallocation of some staffing, and rethinking the long-term needs for the town, we together are beginning to put in place the staffing requirements that will serve us well into the future without large requests,” Guerino said.
The proposed budget calls for a 3 percent increase to school funding, though the Bourne School Committee has not completed its final budget.
A recent rise in health insurance costs for town employees and recent union negotiations have also raised costs, but Guerino noted that labor contracts and money turnbacks from town departments have been a boon to the free cash account.
Residents approved a reduction of over $850,000 to the 2015 budget in October of that year, which resulted in cuts to services and layoffs in most departments. Guerino said that his budget proposition continues to follow a minimum-staffing model.
The town administrator also warned selectmen that the town must be prepared to train new staff to cover recent retirees.
Preparations are still underway to finalize the budget. The town will vote to approve it at town meeting in May.
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