RUTLAND — Considering a Proposition 2Vi override, voters will ultimately decide which route to take this spring, as the town faces spending options from fully funding services to dramatically cutting them.
But the plan supported by officials from the town administrator to the Select Board to the Finance Committee is to fund increased town costs through a Proposition 2xh override, a mechanism last successful in 2016.
The override would allow the town to keep its services as it absorbs a substantial 9.6%, or $1.3 million, increase in school assessments for the Wachusett Regional School District.
Town officials are presenting four options, from a fully funded budget that adds services to substantial cuts that result in a part-time government.
“The town of Rutland has certainly experienced budget shortfalls in the past and remedies have been found to fix these in the short term. However, as we have grown over the years, our resources have been all but depleted,” interim Town Administrator Gary Kellaher said.
Override
The needs-based budget would be funded through the $2 million override.
That budget totals $27.2 million, a 12% increase from the current fiscal year.
It would add positions after years of cuts: a police lieutenant, a deputy fire chief, a human resources person in the town administrator’s office, a payroll clerk in the treasurer/collector’s office, three DPW staff and funding for forestry/parks.
“The first iteration of the budget is one that is ‘needs based’ and would allow the departments to operate at the levels necessary to provide service to the residents,” Kellaher said.
If passed at town meeting and the town election, the average cost per taxpayer would be approximately $514 annually or $128 per quarter.
A tax calculator is available at www.townofrutland.org and can be used to calculate the cost for each individual household’s valuations.
“Along with satisfying the needs of WRSD, this would keep all of our departments fully staffed, and their purchased services and supply accounts where they should be. Please note that all departments have experienced reductions in staffing as well as services and supplies prior to this and will experience many more of these if the Proposition 2½ override fails.
“Both the Select Board and the Finance Committee have voted in support of placing an override on the May 8 election ballot, and we encourage voters to understand the importance of it passing,” Kellaher said.
Using stabilization
The second iteration of the budget would require the use of the Stabilization Fund to balance the budget, which currently has a balance of $1.16 million. But the plan would close two departments: the Rutland Public Library and the Council on Aging, which is housed at the Community Center. Those cuts could also eliminate library access for residents who can now use the other libraries in the CW/MARS region.
The third iteration of the budget would be to keep the library and COA but use more of Stabilization funding.
“This would result in reduced ambulance service and fire personnel, reduced police patrols, and reductions in DPW staff, ultimately hampering the maintenance of the town,” according to Kellaher.
As positions are cut, the savings are balanced by the cost of unemployment benefits the town must fund.
In addition, using stabilization funds is a one-year fix, without recurring revenue for the next fiscal year. So the entire budget would be at the same starting position next year.
Cuts to balance the budget
“The final iteration, as handed down by the Finance Committee, would be to not use any Stabilization funds and cut the budgets of all remaining town departments,” Kellaher said.
“This would mean that all of our departments would be reduced to part time with virtually no support staff, with the exception of the Planning Department and the Assessor’s Office. (The town administrator’s office) does not support this version of the budget for presentation at town meeting, as it will leave town government unable to function and serve the residents of Rutland,” Kellaher said.
Finance Committee Chair Karen Nahrwold stated that “these numbers are based on cutting hours in half for support staff in addition to cutting COLAs and step increases for all nonunion employees.”
Officials have debated options through multiple meetings of the Select Board and Finance Committee, facing no easy solutions.
“The override is for the security and well-being of the residents of Rutland,” Kellaher said.
But Finance Committee member Peter O’Malley said, “some can’t afford it.” He said people needed to get out and vote. “If the override fails, it’s a philosophy of the town.”
Override history
Proposition 2½ overrides have a mixed history in town.
A May 2021 override question, for $500,000 to fund municipal departments and the school districts, was defeated 231 Yes to 564 No, with 825 of the approximately 6,800 registered voters turning out to decide the question, according to town information provided by Tomeca Murphy, executive assistant in the town administrator’s office.
A June 2021 override question, to fund Wachusett and Bay Path using $300,000, was defeated 213 Yes to 316 No.
“Rutland has only passed five other override questions since Prop 2½ went into effect in the mid-1980s,” Murphy said.
Those were a 1989 question for the Naquag School; in 1991, two questions, for culture and recreation and the Naquag School; in 2014 to provide round-the-clock staffing for the ambulance/fire department, 260-251; and in 2016 to fund municipal departments, 666-621.
