Bourne Town Hall
BOURNE – A proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2019 in Bourne would see an increase of almost $4 million over the current year.
The $66 million proposal was presented to the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee last month by Town Administrator Tom Guerino.
Additional town staff are a major reason for the increase as the proposal includes salaries for a new assistant town administrator, assistant fire chief and four fighters previously covered by grant funding.
“There were several requests for new staff this year from a number of different departments and for a vast majority of these requests staff is warranted,” Guerino said.
“However, financially, all cannot be accomplished in one or two years.”
Other new positions in the proposal include two in the Public Works Department, a custodian for the facilities department and a shellfish propagation specialist in the Natural Resources Department.
The budget also includes a 3 percent increase in health insurance costs and a 3.8 percent increase for the school department.
“The funding levels I believe we are putting in here are consistent with the needs that have been brought forward by the school department, or at least are very close,” Guerino said.
Superintendent Steven Lamarche will soon present a detailed budget request from the school department.
Last month, Lamarche said he would be asking for a budget increase of $800,000 to $22.5 million.
One of the top priorities in the budget proposal is the expansion of the Bourne Middle School’s Bridge program, which helps students who take extended leaves for several reasons, including medical issues. The program currently offers clinical assistance.
Lamarche said they would also like to add an adjustment counselors at the middle school.
Another priority is supporting technology needs within the district.
The proposal will be examined by Selectmen and the finance committee before heading to Town Meeting for approval in the spring.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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