by Kim King
Telegram and Gazette

In the first discussion about planning for the fiscal 2018 budget, selectmen were asked for their ideas about what budgetary priorities they'd like to set.

"It's just part of the budget process," Town Administrator Adam Gaudette said, adding that it's quite early to be working on specifics and that no numbers on which to base next year's budget are available.

Still, selectmen want to hear about capital purchases department heads feel they need to make and they want the School Department to weigh in on anticipated expenses too.

And like a Christmas list, selectmen will mull over their wants.

For Selectman Ralph E. Hicks, the list is easy.

He'd like to see the Town Hall open four days a week and he'd like some evening hours to accommodate those who work

In the first discussion about planning for the fiscal 2018 budget, selectmen were asked for their ideas about what budgetary priorities they'd like to set.

"It's just part of the budget process," Town Administrator Adam Gaudette said, adding that it's quite early to be working on specifics and that no numbers on which to base next year's budget are available.

Still, selectmen want to hear about capital purchases department heads feel they need to make and they want the School Department to weigh in on anticipated expenses too.

And like a Christmas list, selectmen will mull over their wants.

For Selectman Ralph E. Hicks, the list is easy.

He'd like to see the Town Hall open four days a week and he'd like some evening hours to accommodate those who work.

I think it's appalling that a community with 11(thousand) or 12,000 people doesn't have a Town Hall that's open one night a week," he said.

He'd also like to reopen Luther Hill Park and provide a summer recreation program and swimming lessons. He has some concerns about the library, too.

Many of the items were cut when the state Department of Education began overseeing the Spencer-East Brookfield School District and set a larger budget figure than the town had approved. Other cuts came after two failed overrides of Proposition 2½ in 2014, Mr. Gaudette said.

Mr. Hicks admitted that Proposition 2½, which limits taxes, makes it difficult to increase budgets for the wish list to be fulfilled.

"Proposition 2½ is a well-intentioned law," he said. "But it limits what we can do."

Mr. Gaudette said he simply wants to set some budget goals and then work with the numbers to see what's possible.

"You start off optimistic," he said. "And then you either maintain your optimism, or you lose it.

posted by Jeff Bennett