By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
8/20/09
Town Meeting in October will be asked to endorse operational budget cuts.
Town finance officials have agreed to a plan to cut department budgets to make up a town cash shortfall totaling $330,000. That figure reflects amounts the state has cut to three areas: $91,000 to general aid, $84,000 to Chapter 70 school funds and $155,000 to Quinn Bill payments for police officers.
Under the plan, on which the Warrant Committee voted Aug. 12, the Police Department would absorb the full brunt of the Quinn Bill cut and the remaining shortfall would be reconciled through shared cuts by all departments.
The plan will be brought to Special Town Meeting on Oct. 19. Selectmen will open and close the warrant Aug. 27.
The proposed cuts, unanimously supported by the Warrant Committee, would amount to:
• $175,000 to the Police Department;
• $110,000 to schools;
• $15,000 to the Fire Department;
• $13,000 to public works; and
• $16,000 to other controllable budgets such as the library and information technology.
Departments have yet to determine how the cuts might affect them.
The largest cut the town is experiencing is to the state’s reduction of the Quinn Bill program, payments to police officers for academic degrees. Although the state is supposed to reimburse half of what communities spend on the Quinn Bill, the most recent budget slashed over $40 million from the program. Milton would have received $155,000 from that total.
Under existing contracts, the town’s sole obligation is to fund its own share. It can elect to reduce additional payments.
The Warrant Committee had explored the possibility of spending available cash reserves to make up some of the shortfall. In the end, the committee elected against it due to fears of further cuts down the road. Although no free cash has yet been certified, indications are the town could have up to $600,000.
The Warrant Committee next meets Monday, Aug. 31, at Town Hall, 525 Canton Ave.

– Scott MacKeen