By Julie Huss
jhuss@derrynews.com
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DERRY — Fire personnel are pitching in to help the budget by offering to forego cost-of-living raises for next year.
As budget work continues, members of the firefighters union agreed to give up raises to keep expenses in check, keep firefighters employed, and help keep the town's four fire stations up and running.
"Our members are part of this community, your neighbors, in your schools and churches," Local 4392 spokesman and firefighter Michael Willinsky said. "We believe keeping all our fire stations open and manned is what our community deserves."
The offer to give up raises comes midway through the town's budget workshop season, where councilors and administrators wrangle over the proposed numbers for fiscal year 2011 while coming up with ways to save as much money as possible.
With a 0 percent increase the goal, this year's budget proves a challenge. Facing a $1.5 million revenue loss, town officials are trying to figure out what they can and cannot do.
"This was a difficult budget year," Town Administrator Gary Stenhouse said. "We're just not bringing in the money we were bringing in."
He cited the lack of revenue from interest and investments, and a drop in the number of motor vehicle registrations as major factors in the town's budget crunch.
Derry is required to stay within the tax cap established by the town charter, Stenhouse said, while balancing the need for town services in an economic downturn.
Town departments spent the last several weeks parading budget numbers past councilors, offering information on why they needed this or that, and how line items could be trimmed or eliminated to ease budget pains.
Stenhouse is recommending the town dip into its general fund balance account to help alleviate some of the budget stress. He also recommended reducing the road maintenance budget by $400,000, making it less likely some local roads will see new pavement in the next budget cycle.
"We understand the financial times that we're in," Superintendent of Operations Alan Cote said. "And some of the lower-volume roads are taking a back seat. We are just concerned that once this is cut, when are we going to get the money to put it back?"
Councilor Kevin Coyle disagreed with both the road money reduction and the use of the fund balance to help pull the town out of its budget mire.
"I think it's horrid to cut $400,000 from a budget that should have (millions)," he said. "To go down a path, where we'll never get that money back, it's a bad idea."
Traditionally, fund balance money is used for special projects, but not to fund town operations.
"You will never catch up," Coyle said.
Fire Chief George Klauber said he is proud of his department's quest to keep expenses down and said every measure has been taken to make sure residents stay safe and have the protection they need. Councilors applauded the department for its efforts.
"This is a very pleasant surprise," Council Chairman Brad Benson said.
He said all fire union personnel should be proud of themselves for stepping up to help the town.
Klauber said his department asked for minimal increases in its budget. The plan to purchase a new engine to replace an out-of-date model would not impact the town's tax rate, he added. Emergency responses are up, he said, but the department has worked hard to keep overtime hours down and finances in check.
Stenhouse praised the Town Council and individual departments for moving things along in a very tough budget time.
"We have a pretty smooth budget process here," Stenhouse said. "We move along pretty quickly here."
The next step in the budget process is the public hearing set for May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Derry Municipal Center's third-floor meeting room.
