Which way do we go?

The hardest part about preparing a municipal budget:  actually getting the necessary parties to submit the components.  It absolutely shouldn't be, but it is.  

You hear all kind of reasoning.  Quite frankly, most without any real validity.  

Let's start with revenue projections.  The only component that is unknown at this point in time is state aid.  As important as that figure is, it isn't needed to establish a proposed budget.  It is not.

What it is needed for is to determine whether the budget can be funded.

You might say what is the point of doing a budget if you don't know whether it can be funded.  

The point is very simple actually.  Each year, every year, all budgets should be prepared from the perspective first and foremost based on what do I need to perform in the next year.  Every item of every budget should be looked to as to need, rather than the never ending process of I received the money last year so I am entitled to it this year.  

What also has to stop is the they got it so I should get it to.  One of the biggest impediments to a thorough review of salaries, not only in our town, but everywhere, is the simple fact that if you make adjustments to a pay scale, if everyone doesn't get the same percentage increase, you have automatically done someone wrong.  

The most consistent and difficult impediment to a smooth budget process.  The decades long practice that has been complained of for decades is the failure to release town revenue projections until January.  Followed by a close second is the fact that those figures historically change on a near weekly basis.  Followed by a close third is the constant practice of amended budgets throughout the process, followed by a close fourth is not knowing what the town administration has in mind by way of recommendations sometime in early March if you are lucky.

Just a little rant at this point.  One that will get bigger in the next few weeks.

Shifting gears ...

Back to Monday's selectmen meeting.  The point on which there was zero discussion, and the point that should be in the forefront right this very minute, lack of a treasurer notwithstanding, is the Town Administrator concept.  

Make no mistake about it, the bulk of that DOR report, the inefficiencies perceived and in need of correcting, the benefits suggested, the ability to improve, is conditioned on adopting a strong Town Administrator position.  

Discussing the report with someone a week or so ago, the opinion was offered that the individual was against it because it would lead to too much politics.  How it could lead to any more political play then currently goes on escaped me, and still does.  

That aside, what is happening is time is dwindling for any significant discussion and indeed meaningful input about whether that is in fact what the Town wants.  

I can all ready envision, and at least from my view see, the groundwork forming to do some cherry picking.  I can imagine wheels turning to take care of certain pesky little issues in the good name of the "DOR recommendations" without really upsetting the apple cart.  

As tempting as some of the recommendations are, absent a change in administration structure, there are 4 or 5 recommendations that I will not support in any way shape or form.

Here is another matter, one that the present Board ought to very seriously consider, rather than devote an significant time to developing a selectmen's policy manual at this point (and I agree one is needed), let's decide what kind of Board of Selectmen the current members of the Board are willing to support.  If there is going to be a move toward a town manager/administrator how much time does it make sense to spend presently.  You can argue it may be a matter to simply amend the policy later, I might counter, it may be more beneficial to first determine where you are going before you decide to map out a route.