THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 1, 2024 Page 3 ~ The Advocate Asks ~ Saugus selectmen offer their individual impressions of the town manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. BRIEFING THE BOARD: Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree unveiled his proposed Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget to selectmen during Tuesday (Feb. 27) night’s meeting in the first floor conference room at Saugus Town Hall. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we put this question to each member of the Board of Selectmen: What’s your take on the town manager’s proposed budget? What do you like? What are your chief concerns, if any? Here’s what they had to say: Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta I appreciate all the hard work that went into preparing the FY 2025 operating budget. This preliminary budget will now be given to the Finance Committee, where they must receive the budget by March 1 per our Charter. Our Finance Committee will have multiple, public meetings to review each budget in detail. We do see some additional funds being recommended in certain line items, like repairs & maintenance of playgrounds, and repairs & maintenance of street paving, which is needed. Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini As stated, it is still very early in the process with so many unknowns. Local aid, local receipts, permits, fees are all best guesses this early. I sincerely appreciate the Manager and his team’s conservative approach to budgeting as it protects us from overextending ourselves and having unforeseen cuts if revenue estimates are too high. I was pleased to see many positions have been filled this year and we are adding to our DPW crew and other departments. Also, allocating an additional $1.5mm to the schools in addition to the related increases in pension and health insurance for school employees and retirees (schedule 19) essentially equates to allocating an additional $2.5mm to $3mm in total to the school department. It appears all department requests were granted and in some cases the manager’s budget is higher than the department recommended. I am sure things will get pinned down as we get further in the budget cycle but from what I see now I am very optimistic. Selectman Corinne Riley The Town Manager has always had a good plan for town finances. I’m very happy that there are only a couple of open positions that need to be filled, and I would like to see the manager fill the positions in the Planning and Economic Development department. I am also glad to see that his proposed budget includes a significant increase to the School Department, and I’m sure the school administration for the district will work hard to increase the level of education for our students. My concern is at the state ASKS | SEE PAGE 4 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Private Parties Private Parties 4-8 p.m. $10.00 8:30-11 p.m. $11. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM 12-9 p.m. $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
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