PRSRT STD PRSRT PAID US POSTAGE #35 PERMIT MA UPTON, 01568 TOWN CRIER UPTON & MENDON, MASSACHUSETTS March 15, 2019 | Vol. 27 No. 5 | www.TownCrier.us POSTAL PATRON POSTAL CAR-RT-SORT WS MA 01568 UPTON, The Upton & Mendon Town Crier Town Mendon & Upton The Inc. Crier Publications, Town Street 48 Mechanic MA 01568 Upton, Est. 1993 • Mailed FREE to all 5,800 addresses in Upton and Mendon Goodbye Winter Mendon Upton School FY20 Budget Up 3.95 Percent By Melissa Orff The proposed budget would mean increases in Staff Reporter assessments to Mendon and Upton of $696,452 (7.59 During what is shaping up to be a “challenging” percent) and $836,022 (7.51 percent), respectively. budget year, the Mendon Upton Regional School Both assessments would be well above the 2 ½ percent Committee certified a $36,749,234 operational budget plus new growth that the towns have historically for FY20 (2019/2020 school year) during their March funded for the school district. Other anticipated 11 Open Budget Hearing. revenue for the FY20 budget includes a “paltry” The new “level services” budget, which means according to school officials, $20 per student increase keeping the same program and services in place, is a in Chapter 70 funding equaling $44,020. $1,396,966, or 3.95 percent, increase over the current “We have never had a more atrocious year with year’s budget. regard to State Aid,” said Maruszczak, also citing that due to regional transportation reimbursement being The proposed budget would mean increases level funded for FY20, the district would actually be in assessments to Mendon and Upton of receiving $46,012 less in this reimbursement. “In total, $696,452 (7.59 percent) and $836,022 (7.51 we are looking at less State Aid then in FY19. That percent), respectively. Both assessments means the fairly substantial burden falls on the two communities.” would be well above the 2 ½ percent plus Along with State Aid and local contributions, the new growth that the towns have historically The winter of 2018-19 is almost officially over as spring starts on budget is proposed to be funded with district receipts Wednesday, March 20. Marked by low snow totals, it left in a flurry, funded for the school district. of $300,000 from the E&D (Excess and Deficiency) dropping 16 inches of the white stuff locally on March 3-4 and account and $150,000 from revolving accounts such as depositing a slushy-icy mix on the March 10. Here the early March “I feel this is a fiscally responsible budget, but before and after care. storm decorated tree limbs in Mendon. Goodbye to snow shovels, understand that this is a large challenge to both of our On the expense SCHOOL BUDGET p 20 hello to garden spades! Jane Bigda photo communities,” said Maruszczak. side, some of the Upton Selectmen Debate Need Mendon Facing a $343,000 Budget for $575K Fire Truck Deficit and a $1.4 Million Police By Michelle Sanford Station Debt Exclusion Staff Reporter/Columnist Upton residents will be asked to approve funding for a $575,000 rescue pumper By Michelle Sanford truck for the Fire Department at the Annual Town Meeting on May 2. Staff Reporter/Columnist Following a lengthy discussion on March 5 with Upton Fire Chief Mark During a March 6 Selectmen’s meeting, Town Administrator Kim Newman spoke DiFronzo on whether or not to include the request in the proposed Annual Town about Mendon’s budget for the next fiscal year, stating with the current expected funding Meeting Warrant, Selectmen approved an article for its purchase in a two to one and expenses, the town could be facing a deficit. The recommended FY 20 budget will be vote. presented to Mendon voters during the May 3 Annual Town Meeting for approval. “After talking with the staff and looking at the Department, one of the things According to Newman, the draft budget is level serviced. There were approximately I recognized was we don’t have a second engine,” said DiFronzo, explaining the $500,000 in department requests and, “We’re not considering any of those this year,” she need for the $575,000 vehicle. The Fire Chief said he performed research of towns said. similar in size to Upton and discovered 96 percent of those communities have a Even though no new requests were being contemplated, Newman reported there was still second engine. Upton has one. a budget deficit of approximately $343,000 and discussed with the Board some possible line The proposed pumper truck would replace Rescue 1, a 1992 vehicle that carries item reductions to consider. no water, has no pump, tank, or firehose and cannot be used to fight a fire like Those reductions included decreasing some of the Finance Committee’s reserve a fire engine. The replacement pumper has those features but also carries more fund’s contribution, as well as cuts in the accounts for police insurance, the ambulance equipment and 1,000 gallons of water. replacement fund, and the amount the town holds in reserve for negotiations. The Selectmen were divided on purchasing the capital item. “We still have three As of the March 6 meeting date, the Mendon Upton Regional School Committee had not years to pay on the Quint, and that was supposed to take care of all these different yet certified the new district budget, which initially proposed a 5.4 percent overall increase. functions,” said Selectman Stephen Mattelian. “We also just bought the pumper Until that certified figure comes out, the Selectmen didn’t want to make any final decisions tanker truck a year and a half ago. Do we really need another truck? We’re trying to on any municipal reductions make this a lean budget cycle to try and save some money. This is a very large ask.” Proposed Prop. 2 ½ Debt Exclusion The used 2000 Quint, which voters agreed to purchase at the 2014 Annual Town Voters will face another budget gap in FY 20, as Selectmen also approved language for Meeting for $365,000, serves the dual purpose of both a ladder and an engine a debt exclusion ballot question that would fund the police station’s increased price tag. truck. At the time officials said it would be a cost Upton Selectmen Debate p 9 The unexpected discovery of unsuitable soils, as well as Mendon Budget Deficit p 15 2,400 VEHICLES 1. 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