Selectmen Breeze Through Budgets

While other towns and cities find themselves battling over funding needed to provide essential services, Marblehead department heads paraded into one-by-one Friday morning and presented their budget requests for next year without a hint of controversy.

Town Administrator Tony Sasso summed up what differentiates Marblehead from other local communities: “If they had their druthers, they would be requesting a lot more money. But there is just so much money.”

Selectman Judy Jacobi said the availability of ample funding was more evidence that the town is well-managed. She shared a story about visiting a relative in New Jersey who is in the municipal bond business. She said when asked why he had not sought business in Marblehead, they said “You are too well-managed. We couldn't make any money.”

The Board of Selectmen will sit down with the Finance Committee on March 21, to finalize the town's budget for next year.

Also during Friday's meeting, Sasso announced that the Finance Committee will schedule a public hearing aimed at gathering input from local residents on the proposed warrants for Town Meeting in May.

Below you will find a list of  the approved budgets for next year by department. The majority are funded at the same levels as last year with only a handful requiring increases to cover contractual obligations.

The only major change in the town's budget was an increase in funding meant to cover an increase in health insurance premiums paid for by town employees.

In addition, the selectmen agreed to transfer $13,021.03 from the reserve fund to fire department.

Although Friday's meeting painted a rosy picture for department heads, Sasso warned that if the state reduces its contribution to Marblehead by more than 5 percent, as expected, they may be forced to make some cuts to the approved budget.