ROCHESTER – Suzanne Schindler, Rochester's finance director, said fiscal year 2025 will be a “slightly tougher year than previous years,” with revenues falling more than $100,000 below the preliminary operating budget.
Schindler told the Rochester Finance Committee on Feb. 12 that estimated revenues are about $121,000 short “to make this budget work.” Schindler also said there is no school budget yet, which would impact the town's approximately $25 million budget.
And based on numbers in Gov. Maura Healey's proposed state budget, the city of Rochester would receive an approximately $20,000 increase in grants from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2025.
“It's not a huge amount of money,” Schindler said.
The town received more than $3 million in state aid in fiscal year 2024, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
But while it's unclear what the “bottom line” will be, given that Mr. Healey's budget must pass the state House, Senate and budget conference committees, Mr. Schindler has The figures are “very close to the final numbers,” he said. It's the governor's budget. ”
“But what I think is changing; [Healey] We've already made 9 degrees of reduction across programs,” Schindler said, referring to budget cuts the state government made earlier this year to address budget shortfalls.
Schindler said the numbers are estimates at this time and are subject to change.
The Finance Committee also approved more than 20 specific budgets that had been submitted. The budget ranges from contingency funds to plumbing, gas and electrical inspectors and lawyers.
Of that amount, the commission approved $20,000 for the mattress recycling item.
“Right now, people are dropping mattresses in the DPW, and they're also dumping mattresses on the side of the road, dumping them in the woods, and we're picking them up, and it's costing us every time we do that. ” said Town Administrator Glenn Cannon. He said.
The commission also approved a budget of $11,200 for the town cemetery. Cannon said the cost of maintaining cemetery lawns has risen to $45 an hour. This increase is due to a change in the company doing the work. My previous company charged $20 an hour.
The Finance Committee also passed a motion recommending to the Rochester Select Board a 3% cost of living adjustment affecting certain town employees.
“Certainly, as we look at this, there will be places where we need to make cuts. So I would rather… [cost-of-living adjustment] Now we can set that rate and look for places to reduce it,” Cannon said during discussion of the motion.
