SAUGUS Your Local News & Sports Online. Subscribe & Scan Here! CAT D Vol. 26, No.12 CAT -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday DECKED OUT IN GREEN T TE 781-233-4446 Friday, March 22, 2024 Public Safety: the $16.6 million investment The Finance Committee launches its review of the Fy 2025 budget with a look at police and fi re departments By Mark E. Vogler he price of protecting Saugus citizens from the threat of fi re, crime and dangerous traffi c will increase by $624,529 if the Annual Town Meeting approves Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s proposed budget for the 2025 fi scal year, which begins July 1. That amount represents the combined increase of the Police and Fire Departments, which will cost the town $16.6 million next year. “The most manpower we’ve had in the history of Saugus,” Crabtree told the Finance Committee Wednesday night (March 20), after Assistant Police Chief Ron Giorgetti briefed the committee on the Police Department’s $9.5 million budget and noted that it would provide 70 sworn offi - cers and 10 dispatchers. Fire Chief Michael C. NewIRISH FOR THE DAY: Town Manager Scott Crabtree and Lorraine Lewis were dressed for the occasion as they danced during the St. Patrick’s Day party at the Saugus Senior Center last Friday afternoon. The event featured the traditional corned beef and cabbage meal and drew about 150 people. Please see inside for more photos. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) bury told the Finance Committee that his proposed budget of nearly $7 million would provide the town with a fulltime fi re services staff of 59. Crabtree, a former offi cer on the Saugus police force, said that the trained firefighting staff was the most in Saugus history. Finance Committee members seemed pleased with public safety budget briefings they received from Newbury and Giorgetti. Wednesday night’s meeting was the fi rst in a series of budget reviews that the committee will conduct before making recommendations to the Annual Town Meeting, which convenes May 6. The Finance Committee is scheduled to review the proposed 2025 fiscal year budget for Saugus Public Schools when it meets again next Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the fi rst fl oor conference room at Saugus Town Hall. Crabtree has recommended an increase of $141,934 in his proposed Police Department budget for the new fi scal year. That request includes $85,159 in additional funds for the salaries and wages of full-time Police Department personnel, which accounts for $6.2 million of the proposed $9.6 million spending plan for police. This includes salaries for the chief, 10 lieutenants, eight sergeants, 52 patrolmen, one administrative assistant, one principal clerk, one general assistant and a mechanic. The town manager’s proposed budget includes an increase of $482,595 in the Fire Department budget from the current fiscal year. That request includes $354,026 in additional funds for the salaries and wages of full-time Fire Department personnel, which accounts for $5.4 million of the proposed $7 million spending plan for the fi re service. This includes the salaries for SAFETY| SEE PAGE 4 Mid-grade Regular $3.88 3.03 64 87 Over 45 Years of Excellence! Full Service $3.45 Order online at angelosoil.com
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