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Gibson promises stable future in state of town address |
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March 10, 2010.
By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
WEST SPRINGFIELD -- Town officials navigated West Springfield through numerous challenges last year and came out more or less unscathed.
Mayor Edward Gibson highlighted some of the municipality's accomplishments in his annual State of the Town address last week. However, 2010 could present even higher hurdles for those in town government to overcome.
Gibson commended employees for producing a balanced budget in fiscal year 2010 (FY10) despite a reduction of $1.4 million in local aid.
Looking ahead, he told Reminder Publications the FY11 budget would be the most challenging of his mayoral career. "It has the potential to be the deepest cuts in local aid communities have seen and unlike last year it appears there will be no federal stimulus dollars to help supplement the budgets," Gibson explained.
He noted the "probability of workforce reduction" in light of deeper cuts to state aid.
When asked about the projected reductions, Gibson replied, "We would not know the true potential impact until we finally get a firm state aid figure from the House and Senate."
Gibson was able to keep his State of the Town address somewhat upbeat given the financial woes, citing the completion of the levee and flood control upgrades; and the financial system conversion between the municipal finance and school departments, enhancing the flow of information and reducing overhead.
Gibson also noted the ongoing cleanup and deconstruction of the Trade Center; and the $2 million spent on sidewalk and road improvements.
He said moving ahead he is looking at other cost-saving measures including the use of the Municipal Relief Act. Gibson cited several programs that may benefit West Springfield: optional early retirement, collective purchasing, sound business purchasing practices, municipal electronic billing, mutual aid agreements, a local option tax amnesty program and joint or regional assessing agreements.
"Unfortunately at this time the number one thing the Legislature could do for local cities and towns in regards to municipal relief is not included in this act at this time," he said. "That would be to give cities and town the same rights to make changes to health insurance plan design changes outside of the collective bargaining process, which are the same rights the state enjoys in dealing with the G.I.C. plan!"
Gibson added another proposed cost-saving measure includes the revocation of the Quinn Bill and movement to a new Police Educational Incentive program.
When asked about the details of such a move, he replied, "I cannot get into any detail of it at this point until I have the signed Memorandum of Understanding back from the two unions.
"It is different from the Quinn Bill in that it costs the town less than if the town had to fund the full 100 percent of the Quinn Bill (including the state share they haven't funded) and it is set up somewhat differently than the current parameters of the Quinn Bill," he continued. "Less costly for the town than taking on the full funding of the Quinn Bill. Perhaps more secure for the police than not knowing what might happen to changes to the Quinn Bill."
Gibson said he is confident that West Springfield will fare well until his next State of the Town address.
"We are positioned well and are in a healthy financial position to meet this financial downturn, as evidenced by the June 30 financial audit, have planned accordingly and I am proud to say that West Springfield is one of the financially strongest communities in Western and Central Massachusetts," he said.
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