Government

No Increase in Water/Sewer Rates Recommended, Expenses Expected to Fall

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Watertown residents and water customers are expected to get a break from increasing water and sewer rates in Fiscal Year 2018, while the expenses are actually expected to be lower than the previous year. Chris Woodcock, the town’s consultant for the Water and Sewer enterprise funds, told the Town Council Tuesday night that he recommends that water rates be kept the same as the current year. “I come to you with not terrible news tonight,” Woodcock said. “I estimate revenues in each case (water and sewer) to exceed expenses so you don’t need to have rate increases, but I don’t recommend you reduce rates.” Woodcock recommends revenues in the Water Enterprise Fund to be more than $322,000 than expenses, and Sewer Enterprise Fund revenues to be more than $135,000 above expenses.

Fiscal 2018 Budget

Town Manager Unveils FY2018 Budget Which Includes Five New Positions

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The Fiscal Year 2018 Watertown budget presented by Town Manager Michael Driscoll is nearly 4 percent higher than Fiscal 2017 and includes a 5 percent increase for the Watertown Public Schools and new positions for a handful of municipal departments, including the Police Department and Library. Tuesday night Driscoll presented the budget to the Town Council for the 25th time, see the presentation here. The town budget totals $132.6 million, which is $5 million more than the previous year. Local real estate and personal property taxes total $94.8 million and State Aide accounts for $12.1 million. Local receipts – inspection fees, motor vehicle excise taxes and hotel excise taxes – provide $11.9 million for the budget.

Schools

Schools Need $1.75 Million to Maintain Programs, Special Ed Costs Rising

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The Watertown Schools will need $1.75 million more next year to maintain the current staffing and programs, according to school officials, and special education costs are expected to grow in FY 2018 and beyond. The total FY18 Level Service Budget is $45,332,330 representing a 4 percent increase over FY17 (the current school year), or $1,755,330 more, said Mary C. DeLai, interim Director of Business Services. The amount includes cost of living adjustments and step increases provided in union contracts. In October, Town Manager Michael Driscoll included a 5 percent increase for the schools in his preliminary FY18 Town Budget. One area that DeLai anticipates where costs will increase is special education.

Fiscal 2018 Budget

Watertown Budget Has Increases for Town, School; Officials Must Find $1.8 Million More

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Next year’s town budget calls for a healthy increase for town departments and even larger for the schools, Town Manager Michael Driscoll said Tuesday night, but there will be some work to do to make up a shortfall of nearly $2 million before the budget is adopted in the spring. Watertown’s total operating budget for Fiscal Year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018) presented to the Town Council was $133.3 million, but the forecast revenue is $131.5 million, Driscoll said. See the budget documents here. The budget calls for a 2.5 percent increase for municipal departments, including Police and Fire, Driscoll said. The Watertown Public Schools would receive a 5 percent increase.