Scituate takes hit on aid from state
Scituate officials are reviewing how the town will adjust to the state aid reductions contained in the budget signed by Governor Deval Patrick last week.
“It’s not as good as we would like,’’ said Joseph Norton, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.
He said the town will have to absorb just under $500,000, the difference between what the town estimated in April and the amount in the budget.
The town had based its budget on a higher figure contained in a previous version of the legislation.
Norton said the board, at its meeting Tuesday night, will make transfers from various accounts to cover the shortfall. By using reserve funds and unused money from the municipal side of the budget, he said, the town probably will not have to hold a Special Town Meeting to raise money.
However, Paul Donlan, director of business and finance for the School Department, was skeptical.
He said town officials and School Committee members began meeting during the week to discuss what would be done to cover the shortfall, but that he did not attend those sessions and does not know what the schools’ responsibility will be.
“If the deficit is $500,000, we’ll certainly share in that,’’ Donlan said.
Until late last month, when the teachers union agreed to a wage freeze for fiscal 2010, the School Department had been set to cut 40.7 teacher, administrator, aide, and other staff positions.
Donlan said the concession by the teachers has reduced the cut from 40.7 to possibly 20.He said 10 to 12 teachers and administrative positions have already been eliminated, but he is waiting to make more cuts, depending on how selectmen handle the $500,000 state aid gap. He said 10 to 12 aides and other staffers could be cut.
Adding to the worry, Donlan said, was last Wednesday’s report that state revenues plunged further in June, leaving a new $180 million shortfall in receipts at the state level.
“Does that mean we are going to have cuts midyear?’’ Donlan said.
“I can’t cut teachers in the middle of the year.’’ 