Hull has a new budget proposal

After months of grappling with a $2.2 million budget shortfall, with frequent public forums to keep Hull voters appraised of their options and able to voice their opinions, Town Manager Phil Lemnios presented newly revised budget options for the May 18 town election, buoyed by an additional $600,000 to help close the gap.

The extra money comes after town unions agreed to a pay freeze for this fiscal year and next, as well as kick in more for their health insurance. Previously, they paid 10 percent of their yearly healthcare costs, but all unions, with the exception of the teachers union, have agreed to pay 25 percent.

The savings will soften the blow of some of the more contentious items on the budget agenda. Those that have raised the most public outcry include cuts to the police and fire departments, as well as shutting down the town's public library.

With the new money, one scenario, budget option A, would restore a position at both the police and fire departments - where two jobs at each would otherwise be lost - return $383,872 to the School Department, give $100,000 to the library so that it would not close, and put $152,068 into the town's reserve fund in anticipation of state aid cuts.

Budget option B, which includes a $1.6 million debt exclusion override, would also restore the tax collector and parking clerk positions; return the School Department to its current funding level, with $400,000 restored; boost public nursing services; and maintain current library services. In addition, veterans services would largely maintain its current funding level.

Lemnios said the town is seeing an increased need for the veterans services due to newly widowed spouses of WWII veterans drawing on support, and service men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said the debt exclusion of budget option B combined with the $600,000 savings would not only maintain most town services but also would put the budget in a better place to withstand future economic difficulties that will need to be addressed in fiscal year 2011.

One point of contention that remains is the omission of the town's community outreach program from both budget options.

Town Meeting is set for May 4, 7 p.m., May 5, 6 p.m., and May 6, 7 p.m., in the high school gymnasium; the final public forum will meet May 14, 7 p.m., in the high school exhibition room. The annual town election is set for May 18.