By Patrick Donges
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-970814.mp3
North Adams, MA – According to the North Adams Transcript, residents of the city were "irate" Tuesday night after Mayor Richard J. Alcombright's presentation on the Proposition 2 override that will go to the polls June 21.
Residents will have to decide if the city will be able to raise the state mandated tax levy limit from $13.2 million to around $14.4 million to fill a $1.2 million budget hole in 2012.
In his presentation, Alcombright laid out the cuts already slated to me made in the 2012 budget if the override is passed and deeper cuts that are being considered if the measure fails. Here's Alcombright.
"I cut about $380,000 that represents at some level about seven positions. Either positions that were vacated or it represents a couple of reductions in force or reductions in hours for part-timers. And it also talks to the elimination of a couple of positions, one being the assistant building officer and my administrative officer, at least until January of next year. Certainly if there isn't an override we will have to cut more."
For example, Alcombright said an additional seven city positions would potentially face layoffs if the override fails.
Some of the most glaring cuts are proposed in the school budget, as the 2012 spending plan already eliminates eight teachers and two full-time administrators, among other positions, from the North Adams Public School District. This is set to take place regardless of whether the override is approved. If it fails, Alcombright said all team leaders and head teachers face layoffs and fees for athletics, pre-k and kindergarten may be established.
"Another $400,000 to $600,000 worth of school cuts, which would just be overwhelming. Considering many things; particularly the fact that we have 26 percent of our kids in some sort of special educational plan. We really want to preserve what we have. This is all about preserving what we have."
Alcombright said he wouldn't have described Tuesday's crowd as irate
"I think the people that were there were passionate. They don't want to pay anymore money, I don't blame them. I don't want to charge more money."
North Adams City Council member Michael Bloom, who supports the override, said three people spoke out against the measure while several others stood in support.
"People obviously are concerned like everybody else about the money they have to pay. That's why this is going to be a very very tough decision for people to make. And probably in many cases a tough decision to support because it comes right out of your pocketbook. People may be looking for the city simply to spend down every single cent we have and then after that cut everything in sight. The vote will give us that direction."
One of those residents who did speak out during Tuesday's meeting was John Barrett, who served as mayor of North Adams for over 20 years before Alcombright's election in 2009. Barrett said Alcombright isn't giving the public all of the facts on the city's finances.
"He's using scare tactics here. He's made reference to how much can be cut in the school department. The city of North Adams is only about $350,000 above foundation level, which basically means you can't cut more than $350,000 from the school budget in order to continue to receive state aid."
Alcombright and Barrett traded verbal barbs at Tuesday's meeting, specifically on the settlement with city employees on years of disputed medical insurance trust payments, which Alcombright said added $700,000 to the city's insurance line item.
"That line item, had it been funded properly and had it had been accounted for over the years, wouldn't have been this new $700,000 figure on our budget."
Barrett disagreed with that characterization, saying Alcombright has spent more than $700,000 in raises for city employees during contract negotiations since he has taken office.
"He just settled a three year contract in the public services department. He just signed a three year contract with the teachers. Last July, this fiscal year, he gave $180,000 in retro pay to police and fire. You add up all those things and it far exceeds what he's talking about in the medical insurance trust."
Alcombright will hold five additional public hearings on the override proposition, the first of which is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 31 at Drury High School.