SANFORD — A majority of the Town Council Tuesday told Town Manager Mark Green they would like an operating budget for 2011-12 that reflects no increase in the tax rate.
To do that, Green said Wednesday, he’ll need to pare prospective spending by just over $1.4 million. That is in addition to about $740,000 Green presented in cuts at a workshop on Feb. 8. That measure reduced the projected tax rate increase from $1.56 to $1.01.
Green on Wednesday said he doesn’t want to speculate on what form the additional cuts might take.
“It’s safe to say that to cut $1.4 million is going to require reductions in services and most likely there may have to be some reductions in personnel,” he said.
Green said he is working diligently to bring in a budget that reflects the council vote. Whether enough savings can be made through letting currently unfilled jobs remain vacant along with others measures remains to be seen, he said.
The original budget that reflected a tax rate increase of $1.56 was one that Green himself said would likely change, when he presented it back in January. At that time, the proposal for the operating budget was $21 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Overall, revenue is projected at $5.9 million, about $675,000 less than last year, Green reported at the Feb. 8 council workshop.
About $980,000 in projected revenue from the repealed pay-as-you-throw trash disposal system has been removed from the budget. The town will generate $300,000 in new revenue as a result of a dispatch agreement with Old Orchard Beach. Three new dispatchers will be required, but the town will still come out ahead on the deal and three other towns, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel are also considering joining Sanford Regional Communications, Green has said.
The motion to ask Green to bring in a budget that reflects a zero increase came from Vice Chairman Alan Walsh, who said the public can’t afford a tax increase.
Voting in favor were Walsh and councilors Kenneth Burgess and Richard Wilkins and Chairman Gordon Paul. Opposed were councilors Joseph Hanslip, Anne Marie Mastraccio and Bradford Littlefield.
Councilors Tuesday were expected to discuss the possibility of including some employee furlough days into next year’s work calendar to save money, and a number of municipal employees showed up to hear the discussion. The subject was postponed, however, until Green has a chance to submit revised budget figures.
Furloughs were first raised by Paul in January. At a February workshop, Green produced figures that show one furlough day would save about $28,650 for all employees. Most municipal workers are unionized and furloughs would likely need to be negotiated. Some workers, like police, fire and dispatchers, are essential employees and furlough days may not be feasible, he said.
At the Feb. 8 workshop, Paul said he supports furlough days to avoid layoffs.
Anne Marie Mastraccio said police, firefighters and dispatchers can’t take furlough days, and to require the remainder of the employees to take unpaid days off would be unfair.
Paul acknowledged that furlough days have a negative impact on morale, but said that it is better than a layoff.
Walsh at the Feb. 8 workshop said he supports a minimum of 10 furlough days to save $280,650, or the elimination of enough positions to equal the same amount.
Councilor Kenneth Burgess said he’s in favor of furlough days. He said employees choose whether to be firefighters or take administrative positions. The savings, he said, seem to be significant.
No votes are taken at workshops.
Green on Tuesday told the Town Council that he expected to have the budget proposal ready for the council by Feb. 28, preceding the March 1 Town Council meeting. After the council has its say, the budget proposal moves on to the elected Finance Committee for recommendations, which are voted at the May Town Meeting.
Sanford’s tax rate is currently $16.52 per $1,000 of property value.
— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.