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Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 Saugus native, Guam Emergency Planner awarded Civilian of the Year By Petty Officer 2nd Class Kelsey Hockenberger S ANTA RITA, Guam (Feb. 19, 2021) – Dr. Thomas Wall, a member of the Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 team, was recognized as the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Senior Field Civilian of the Year in an awards ceremony held at Konetzni Hall, Feb 19. Wall, the Deputy Director of Emergency Planning for training at CSS-15, led the development, coordination, and execution of a highly successful training and exercise program that incorporated COVID-19 precautions into a diverse response organization involving more than 400 personnel both in and outside of Guam. “This award is a direct reflection of the work that our emergency planning team puts in daily,” said Wall, a native of Saugus, Mass. “I’m honored to be part of a successful program that continues to train Sailors and civilians at the tip of the spear.” Wall, a recognized expert in emergency planning, served as a key member of a corporate working group involving several shipyards, Naval Nu$4 MILLION | FROM PAGE 1 $2.25 cember 2020,” Crabtree wrote in his Feb. 15 letter to selectmen, which accompanied his preliminary budget. “The local estimate receipts remain at the same levels again in Fiscal Year 2022 to be conservative and the Governor has released the first round local aid estimates at this time,” the town manager wrote. In his letter, Crabtree recalled how the Coronavirus added to the uncertainty and challenges of preparing Dr. Thomas Wall Civilian Service Achievement Medal recipient a municipal budget. “As we have seen over the past several months circumstances can change dramatically affecting the budgetary estimates for revenue and expenditures,” the town manager wrote. “During the final preparation of the Fiscal Year 2021 estimated budget, we were three months into a pandemic, something none of us had experienced before,” he wrote. To minimize COVID-19’s impact on the budget and in order to stabilize services to town residents while maintaining current staffing levels, Crabtree noted that $2.4 million was appropriated from the town’s Stabilization Fund. But this action was taken with the understanding “that these funds would be replenished in order to not jeopardize our current AA-plus bond rating.” In December as the town prepared to set the tax rate, the results of the 2020 Fiscal Year were determined, the state’s local aid budget had been approved and the new growth for the town certified, a Special Town Meeting voted to rescind the earlier vote to withdraw from the Stabilization Fund while approving the use of $1.5 million from Free Cash. “As we prepared the Fiscal Year 2022 estimated revenue and expenditures budgets, many of the same concerns exist as when the Fiscal Year 2021 budget was approved,” Crabtree said in his budget message to selectmen. “The pandemic continues, revenues have not returned to levels prior to the pandemic as economic recovery continues, and the fixed cost increases and contractual obligations have absorbed the Proposition 2 ½ and new growth projections,” he said. “In this budget, Town departmental estimates are recommended at levels equal to or less than FY20 appropriations amounts with the exception of fixed costs and contractual obligations,” he said. “As a result, to balance the Fiscal Year 2022 budget, maintaining current services to the residents and preventing reductions to staffing through layoffs, the recommendation is to use $1,400,000 from reserves.” Crabtree noted that his recommended operating budget for the School Department is $29.9 million – an increase of $300,000 of the current budget approved by Town Meeting. It is also less than the $30,073,439 recommended by Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr., who also noted that a level funded budget for the 2022 Fiscal Year should be $31.7 million. But Crabtree stressed that the $300,000 increase he clear Laboratory, and Naval Reactors headquarters. His work ensured strengthened relationships between the U.S. Navy and Government of Guam. “Tom has been an integral part of the planning and response team here for six years,” said Capt. Bret Grabbe, commodore of Commander, Submarine Squadron 15. “His efforts have positively contributed to our emergency preparedness and have ensured our readiness across a full range of real world events. Wall received the Civilian Service Achievement Medal. was recommending for the School Department “does not include the indirect costs paid by the Town on behalf of the School Department and included as part of the total Net School Spending (NSS) calculation required by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).” “For Fiscal Year 2019 according to DESE based on actual expenditures for the Town is 49.25 percent over the required school spending,” the town manager wrote in his budget message. In his letter to selectmen, Crabtree cited these “challenges” in preparing the estimates of expenditures in next year’s budget: Health Insurance: The rates have not been finalized by the provider. “We have made a conservative estimate based on the current enrollment. We will have to revisit our estimate later in the budget cycle.” Trash hauling and incineration has been increasing at a concerning rate over the last couple of years. “In addition, due to the challenges in the recycling industry involving specifically China, the cost of disposal of recyclable materials is on the rise. We continue to monitor this budget for any fluctuations due to the pandemic and will consider making adjustments later in the budget cycle.” Pension Contribution: “The pension appropriation increase of $454,589 for a total payment in Fiscal Year 2022 of $7,656,719 is based on a funding prepared by PERAC (Public Employees Retirement Administration Commission) to fully fund the pension obliga$4 MILLION | SEE PAGE 5

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