Selectmen Find Ten Grand Under the Mattress

Peru's Selectmen have been scrambling ever since the voters rejected (twice) a request for an appropriation of $72,900 for Town Office operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011. The voters approved $62,900 instead, a number recommended by the Finance Committee and one that exceeds what was actually spent in FY2011 for the same line items. The extra $10,000 was considered necessary to cover $4,500 in annual "maintenance" for the Town's new super-dee-dooper computer software, plus $4,200 for a new health benefit for the Selectmen's secretary, another $500 for rising heating costs, and $800 just because.

At last night's meeting the Board continued its exhaustive search for nickels and dimes. There was a lengthy discussion about where exactly the Town's street lights are located and whether we needed every single one of them, inviting the question, how many selectmen does it take to turn off a light bulb? Ultimately it was decided that the allocation for street lights might be trimmed by $1,000 by dousing four or five lights, although a follow-up call to CMP is needed to confirm the actual savings, if any.

As the process moved on, the Town Clerk's deputy was the big loser. The Selectmen decided to cut the position back to 250 hours for the year, which would save the Town $3,500. The amount set aside for assessing was reduced by $2,000. $800 of the secretary's wages will come from the Planning Board's budget instead. Phone expenses will be trimmed by almost $800, office supplies by $600, and janitorial supplies by $200. The Selectmen hope that $1,400 in "other" expenses incurred in FY2011 will not crop up again in FY2012. Such wishful thinking brings the "savings" to a little over ten grand. Mission accomplished.

This hit list is considered a rough draft and is subject to further tinkering.