YES vs NO

Winchester's annual operating budget funds town-wide operations in all departments-- some more visible than others. The current (FY2019) budget of nearly $122M falls into the following key categories:

Education: $50.5M
Debt Service: $13M
Health Insurance: $11.2M
Public Safety: $10.1M

Public Works: $7.1M
Pensions/Benefits: $6.3M
Transfers: $5M
Water & Sewer Enterprise: $4.8M

General Government: $4.8M
Energy: $2.2M
Capital Expenses: $2.1M
Library/Archives: $2.0M

While property tax revenues increase at 2.5% per year (plus new growth, such as assessments on additions/new construction), which is is the maximum rate allowed by Proposition 2-1/2 without an override, Winchester's expenditures have been increasing at nearly 5% per year for some time (more residents, students, classrooms, teachers; higher healthcare costs; etc). To balance our budgets, the Town has cut back on staffing ad expenses and drained our reserve funds (Free Cash) to a point that can no longer be sustained:

Based on the two budgets voted by the School Committee (Jan 8th Public Hearing and March 5th) and the two municipal budgets presented by the Town Manager (February 15th) currently under review and consideration by the Finance Committee for recommendation to Spring Town Meeting, residents can expect to see some of the following impacts on key municipal & school services depending on the outcome of a spring override question: More detail (covering all Town departments) is pending.

YES = 5.85% increase needs-based budget with room for fy21-fy22

A YES vote will raise the tax levy limit sufficiently to accommodate an FY20 town operating budget currently projected at $129.6M, an increase of 5.85% over FY19 as well as revenues for FY21-FY23.

no = 0.9% increase "cut-budget" with more cuts for fy21 & beyond

A NO vote will leave the levy limit unchanged, forcing cuts in staff and services provided by the town & school district as mandated increases in costs exceed projected revenues. Additional deeper cuts will be necessary for FY21-FY23.

SCHOOLS

YES (NEEDS)

A YES vote funds mandated expenses, increased teacher/aide staffing, plus a number of long-sought program improvements for FY20, including:

Math coach (district-wide) to support teacher professional development
K-5 adjustment counselor/SEL coach
Increase All-Day Kindergarten aides from 1/2 time to 3/4 time positions
World Language expansion to grade 6 + non-western language (Mandarin)
Technology Director (cut in 2013)

NO (AUSTERITY)

A NO vote limits the district's budget increase, which does not cover mandated special education expenses. This will trigger:

Reduction: 15-18 FTE teacher positions
Fewer reading/intervention specialists
Larger average class sizes
Reduction of elementary music instruction
Reduce athletics funding by 20%
No new staffing for counseling/social-emotional wellness

POLICE

YES (NEEDS)

A YES vote funds key WPD resources, expanding to 38 (from 36) the number of uniformed officers:

Two (2) additional uniformed officers
Plus one (1) additional full-time 911 dispatcher
Plus one (1) additional part-time dispatcher (currently, some calls go on hold)

NO (AUSTERITY)

A NO vote triggers several cuts, reducing the Winchester Police Department to 34 uniformed officers:

Reduction of two (2) patrol officers
Reduction of 12 crossing guards
Elimination of WPD K-9 unit (Axel)
Reduction of two (2) part-time parking enforcement officers (revenue loss)

FIRE

YES (NEEDS)

A YES vote sustains WFD staffing needs to 'catch-up' with and serve a growing Winchester:

Retention of two (2) firefighter positions once current federal Department of Homeland Security grant funding draws to a close (see forfeiture note at right associated with the loss of these positions in a NO vote scenario)

NO (AUSTERITY)

A NO vote results in staffing cuts and forfeiture of federal grants already received for staffing:

Reduction of two (2) current firefighter/paramedic positions
Loss of two (2) additional firefighter/paramedic positions due to loss of grant funds
FY20 forfeiture of $142K federal reimbursement
FY21 - FY22 forfeiture of additional $209K in federal reimbursement

PUBLIC WORKS

YES (NEEDS)

Since 1980, DPW staff has been cut by 34%. A YES vote provides over a 5% increase in funding to provide:

Added maintenance personnel services
Maintain Transfer Station Tuesday evening hours
Added custodians at expanded WHS and expanded McCall Middle School (to "catch up" with increase in square footage in new spaces/additions)

NO (AUSTERITY)

A NO vote will drive a nearly 6% decrease in DPW funding with the following cuts:

Elimination of 15 part-time summer jobs (parks, playgrounds, schools)
Custodial vacancies remain unfilled
Reduced street sweeping/line painting
Reduction in repair & maintenance of traffic signals and street lights
Eliminate Transfer Station Tuesday evening hours

OTHER IMPACTS - (revised)

With input from department heads and the Select Board, Town Manager Lisa Wong has developed town-wide budgets to reflect both a YES and NO vote on the March 26th spring override. While the Finance Committee continues to evaluate departmental budget request for Town Meeting, a few key effects of a NO vote have been identified including (but not limited to):

ENGINEERING - Impacted services include traffic mitigation, bridge inspections, energy proposals, design & inspection, GIS database
RECREATION DEPT - Reduction of 2 (two) full-time and limited part-time employment, resulting in limited services to residents
HEALTH DEPT - Reduction in Hazardous Waste Days, eliminated geese control program, possible part-time health inspector position
RETIREES - A YES vote will provide $250K in funding for OPEB (healthcare costs) + pension liabilities. A NO vote will leave unfunded.

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