In presenting the FY25 Draft Budget to the Marion Select Board during its February 21 meeting, Town Administrator Geoff Gorman said the goal has been a level-services budget, the only increases of which would be related to the cost of doing business.
“Any additional services, requests, if we wanted to hire somebody, if we wanted to make somebody go from part-time (hours) to full-time … that would be discussed separately, and we do have a couple of those items that the finance director (Heather O’Brien) and I will discuss as we get closer to a balanced budget,” said Gorman.
As presented, Marion’s Preliminary FY25 Budget of $28,989,359 includes: $13,373,309 for education, $4,371,763 for pension and insurance, $4,358,972 for public safety, $2,676,585 for general government, $2,432,547 for public works, $857,834 for General Fund debt service, $526,253 for human services and $392,056 for culture and recreation.
Gorman characterized FY24 as a busy year that included three collective-bargaining agreements not counting the schools, a reorganization of the Harbormaster Department and “retention support” for nonunion employees.
Property-insurance increases of 5-7% are compounded by the requirement to provide individual-building flood insurance that presently affects the Music Hall but will also affect the new Maritime Center, Fire Station 2 and pumping-station projects. Gorman said Marion has 24 buildings in the velocity zone.
Health-insurance premiums went up by 6.4%, reported Gorman, noting that these “nontransient” increases are probable to continue beyond FY25.
Revenue has become a complex matter, as two large residential developments once projected to be under construction by now are not, and Gorman plainly admitted the town does not know their timelines.
“We’re trying to be conservative and look into a very cloudy crystal ball,” he said.
The priority, he said, is to maintain fiscal responsibility and the triple-A bond rating that Marion owns.
Revenue growth for FY25 is estimated at $679,511, down 18% from FY24.
Free cash is estimated at $3,060,000, but construction of the new Department of Public Works operations building at Benson Brook is “the largest unknown” that could affect the account.
Expense increases, said Gorman, has been affected by police reform; this is the first collective-bargaining agreement under the reform act.
Schools will eat up 46% of Marion’s FY25 budget, and increases include 4% (Old Rochester Regional), 6.02% (Sippican Elementary) and 24% (increased enrollment at Upper Cape Tech.)
Curbside collection is up 13%, and Plymouth County retirement costs are up 9%.
O’Brien discussed revenues, noting that property taxes account for 79% of Marion’s estimated revenues for FY25. This is the first municipal budget process for O’Brien, who worked in the private sector before taking over for the retired Judy Mooney at the end of December.
Select Board member Randy Parker asked if the town should increase its annual $200,000 investment in Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) projects, a source the town had projected income from the two Route 6 residential developments yet to break ground.
In an appointment with the Capital Improvements Planning Committee, CIPC Chairman Dave Janik presented to the board. Attending with Janik were CIPC members Casey Barros, Steve Nojeim and Debra Watson. Janik also credited Mandy Givens, who was unable to attend, for her work on the committee.
In explaining the two-fold purpose of the CIPC, Janik defined capital projects for FY25 as departmental needs costing at least $10,000 and having a lifetime of at least five years.
One objective of the CIPC is to go through capital needs with each town department, assemble that information and then work to achieve a consensus on how to rank them in order of priority. Mitigating factors could include urgency, funding source, if the project is being done to comply with the law, a consent decree or a court order, etc.
The worksheet used by the CIPC to interview department heads is under an annual evaluation.
Of the 36 projects presented during departmental interviews with the CIPC, 18 (half) of them were related to the Department of Public Works.
“We used to rank them all together, but the reality is when you do that the DPW projects sometimes have certain qualities about them such as they’re for public health and safety, they’re paid for by fees, they’re under court order; they would always tend to completely outrank the other non-DPW projects,” explained Janik.
Therefore, a couple of years ago the CIPC decided to present all DPW requests within a separate category.
Janik said the total funding requested for FY25 capital projects is slightly less than $9,500,000, approximately $7,600,000 of which accounts for the DPW subtotal.
The CIPC charted rankings of 18 DPW projects and 18 non-DPW projects.
At the top of the DPW list was a $160,000 regulatory-compliance sewer project; at the top of the non-DPW list was a $95,000 Fire/EMS request for cardiac monitor and defibrillator replacement.
The three most-expensive FY25 capital requests were all DPW projects: $3,213,000 to replace the Creek Road Pumping Station (ranked fourth – DPW/Sewer), $1,787,000 to repave the Cushing Community Center Parking Lot (13th – DPW/Highway) and $1,200,000 for emergency generators (third – DPW/Water.)
The three most-expensive FY25 capital requests not related to the DPW: $804,000 to replace the Harbormaster’s patrol boat (ranked fifth – Marine), $250,000 for town records digitization (seventh) and $182,000 to refurbish Fire Engine 2 (third – Fire/EMS.)
Gorman said half of the $250,000 for the town records digitization would be covered by grant funding. Janik said that the CIPC was not aware of grant funding when it went through its review and ranking process.
“If we were to rank that project again, recognizing the $100,000 grant that was obtained for it, it would probably move several spots up,” said Janik, who also summarized the CIPC’s 10-year plan.
Out of season, usually before September, the CIPC also conducts site visits to be better informed regarding capital projects.
The board thanked the CIPC members.
In his Town Administrator’s Report, Gorman said the footings have been poured and are complete on the Harbormaster building under construction. The project is on schedule, and plans are being made to organize a groundbreaking ceremony.
In his DPW building update, Gorman reported that bid documents have been completed and have been available since February 22; sub-bids are due March 21 and general bids on March 28. Once the bid process is complete, Gorman said the town will know what the building will cost.
A lively Community Garden discussion did not include Select Board Chairman Toby Burr, who abstained from participation.
The garden group sought and eventually received authorization to use the ground north of the Cushing Community Center to create raised, planting beds. The area will be cleared without the use of town resources.
Parker said it’s a great idea and recommended for efficiency’s sake that the board pass its authority to the garden group, but Hills was dissatisfied with the lack of detail in the plan and criticized the choice of location because of the distance to water. “I just don’t think that you’re setting yourself up for success,” he said.
The group was eventually voted permission to use the location that the members would clean up, including the removal of invasive species, then come back to the Select Board with a detailed plan.
Cynthia Callow was appointed temporary election warden.
The board approved the warrant to hold the presidential primary election on March 5. The board approved a Water/Sewer commitment of $263.96 (final readings February 12.) The board authorized Gorman to dispose of two old phone systems, some of which have recycling value. The board approved the minutes from its February 6 meeting.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, at 6:00 pm at the Town House Annex building.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo