This Week's Winchendon News
Town Manager Presents Two Proposed Budgets to the BOS and FinCom
Prop 2-1/2 Override Would Keep Services in Place with Reduced Expenses Across the Board
DPW Director Brian Croteau and Town Manager Bill McKinney answer questions about the Water Enterprise Fund.
Photo copyright Town of Winchendon
On Monday, March 24, the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee held a joint meeting to hear Town Manager Bill McKinney's final proposed numbers for the town's General Fund budget for FY 2026. About twenty residents attended the meeting, which included time for public comment and questions.
Mr. McKinney began by presenting the level-funded budget he had first brought before the Boards on March 10, explaining where slight adjustments had been made. At that time, the net school spending amount the town is required to contribute for the school district was not quite finalized because the district was still waiting for information on a couple of items. The town is also still seeking a health care option that might reduce that very large increase.
Mr. McKinney explained that the impact of the level-funded budget was the same as previously discussed. The Beals Memorial Library, Old Murdock Senior Center and Recreation Department will be entirely defunded, the buildings closed, and the staff will lose their jobs. These closures provide the bulk of the cuts, a total of $556,980 based on this year's budget. The Police Department, Fire Department, school district, Department of Public Works, and Veterans' Services will be level-funded.
Most of the budget line items are the same as presented two weeks ago. Mr. McKinney explained that Town Hall expenses showed an increase because the town will have to budget funds to maintain the closed buildings--there is a budget category for Vacant Buildings. The Town Clerk expenses can be reduced because there is no state or federal election in FY26, just the annual town election. That line item will need to increase in FY27. The six-digit killer increases, which the town can do nothing to reduce or change, remain Debt Service, Retirement payments, Health/Life Insurance and school transportation costs, a total increase of $1,043,580 for those four items alone. Unemployment will increase because of the reduction in staff. With all of the cuts, the FY26 expenses will be $452,280 more than FY25.
Anticipated revenues are a bit higher than in the draft version, largely because Mr. McKinney discovered a past debt exclusion vote that he could factor in, so revenue for FY26 increases by $911,078. This was still about $300,000 short of a balanced budget, so Mr. McKinney increased the estimated revenue from the local cannabis tax, ambulance fees and interest by about $100,000 each to balance the budget.
FinCom Chair Tom Kane and FinCom member Dr. Maureen Ward had questions about how two departments had allocated their funds. Mr. McKinney explained that the department heads were responsible for working out their budget details as long as the total amount was level funded. Mr. Kane and Dr. Ward questioned why salaries for the Fire Department and Department of Public Works were increased and other expenses reduced to balance that increase, when other departments, such as the police, level-funded all line items. The Town Manager's own salary is level-funded.
Fire Chief Tom Smith rose to respond. He explained that every year the department has had to stop spending for expenses and reallocate funds, because they had underbudgeted for salaries. His intention was to start with realistic salary amounts up front. They would be looking for grant money to help with other expenses. Mr. Kane raised some questions about the number of shifts and personnel on the department schedule, which Chief Smith explained.
Mr. McKinney continued his presentation with an overview of the four Enterprise Funds (Water, Wastewater, Transfer Station and PEG (Cable)), which are projected to have very small surpluses. The Water Enterprise Fund will require "a significant rate increase" in the future because of paying back the state loan for the water main replacement.
Mr. Kane asked why the Water Enterprise Fund budget showed a 17 percent salary increase. Director of Public Works Brian Croteau rose to explain that with the Enterprise Funds, unlike the town budget, they had to budget for possible union negotiations in advance. He'd lost two employees in the last week, Mr. Croteau said. The amount included estimated overtime. The water lines are aging, Mr. Croteau said, "We're not a community that is looking ahead and replacing lines like we should be. We're a community that has multiple breaks a year, which is requiring more overtime to keep the residents with drinking water."
Mr. Croteau said that the price of materials has gone up 20 to 30 percent, and with replacing water meters, they're selling about a million gallons less of water than planned for, which is why rates need to be increased.
For the Wastewater (Sewer) Enterprise Fund, Mr. McKinney explained that the numbers were adjusted to show that revenue from sewer betterments decreases over time and the budget had shown them increasing. Mr. Croteau added that the department is now accepting outside septage for treatment, which brings in about $50,000 and takes that much off the shoulders of Winchendon rate-payers.
For the PEG (Cable) Enterprise Fund, Mr. McKinney told the Boards that FY26 is the last $30,000 payment for capital improvements from Comcast that the town gets, so starting in FY27 the town will have to make up for that. This fund covers the town broadcasting system.
With no further questions on the level-funded budget, Mr. McKinney continued to the presentation of a budget that included a $1.9 million Proposition 2-1/2 override. He began by explaining that his office had assembled an ad hoc committee to consider the override question, which consisted of Dr. Ward from the FinCom, member of the BOS Erika Eitland, Karen Kast McBride from the School Committee, and three citizens: Frank Allen, Monique Connor and Jenelle Sroczynski. "So the six of us had met several times, talking about the override and how much could residents afford? We talked about the $4 million at the beginning, obviously not a realistic number. But we went back, we talked to the department heads and tried to come up with a more workable number that is hopefully something that the residents feel that they can afford, and that would be beneficial to the town to try to maintain level services."
The "level service" budget that Mr. McKinney showed included the $618,144 increase in the school district budget which was the lowest tier budget the district had whittled down. The Town Manager/Selectmen/FinCom budget includes $351,500 to allow for contract negotiations (it might not all be needed) and does not include the Vacant Buildings amount because the Senior Center and library would remain open. The police would remain level-funded; the Fire Department and DPW would increase by $65,180 and $71,820 respectively. Most of the rest of the level-service budget is the same as the level-funded budget. Revenues are the same except for the increase in the property tax levy, now an increase from this year of $2,503,987.
The higher budget still does not quite balance, so Mr. McKinney estimated an additional $100,000 in ambulance fees and $15,053 in interest income to make the budget balance at $38,003,425. "W're doing everything we can to try to keep what we can open." Mr. McKinney said. "So this is still not, 1.9 is still not enough, but it's close enough that we're trying to make it work."
Dr. Ward asked if Mr. McKinney had considered more than one option for voters--putting out a budget for a $2.9 million or $3.9 million override and showing what those would get for the town. Mr. McKinney replied that it would be up to the BOS to decide what they wanted to put on the ballot.
Ms. Eitland said, "It's very clear that 1.9 is the bare minimum. I really would like to acknowledge our department heads, whether it's the Town Manager, Police Chief, Fire Chief...like so many of our department heads, aren't taking raises when they should be. We have people who are super committed and dedicated. And so this 1.9 is just that bare minimum to cover some of this.
"What I see is that this is sort of an inflection point. A, I appreciate that we're not trying to go more in debt. Thank you. However, I think B, the issue here is this is a moment we could be investing and I think one thing that came clear in Bill's letter to us is the fact that this is not a one time thing. We will be visiting this again next year, and for everybody, it's like sitting on a pine cone. We don't want to have to do it more than once."
In response to questions, Mr. McKinney clarified the increase in the school district "level service" budget, explaining that originally, [Superintendent of Schools] Dr. Gosselin had proposed three possible budgets with increases of $1.2 million to $1.9 million. Given the town's situation, the school district reduced their level-service budget to an increase of about 3 percent. Without an override, the school district will need to work with a level-funded budget and make further cuts.
Ms. Eitland said, "I think it goes back to, what is $1.9 million getting us? I think about level service, and what the Superintendent shared, we're in corrective action for math, corrective action for English. So if that's what level services is, accepting corrective action, then it seems that this is a time that we should be investing. And so again, giving the community a chance to say, beyond the bare minimum, we would like to provide X to support that investment and get out of this hole that we're in right now from our performance perspective [at the schools]."
Dr. Ward said it was important to explain clearly to voters what each ballot choice would get them as a benefit, and to be positive and not focus on what they're not getting. Not everyone listens to the board meetings or gets information in other ways ahead of the vote.
Members of both Boards spoke about the problem with retaining qualified staff, especially in the schools where good staffing impacts student outcomes so strongly. It was important to keep Winchendon an attractive place to work, and not be relying on overtime to get things done because there isn't enough staffing.
Board Chair Rick Ward thanked Mr. McKinney for putting the presentations together.
MORE INFORMATION:
FY 2026 General Fund Budget Workbook (with line items)
https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/fy26_budget_workbook_final_for_march_24.pdf
FY 2026 Level-Funded (No Override) Budget Presentation
https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/fiscal_yr_2026_no_override.pdf
FY 2026 Level Service (With Override) Budget Presentation
https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/2026_budget_presentation_brad_final_with_override_20250324.pdf
"Town Manager Gives BOS and Fincom the Lowdown on FY26 Level-funded Budget" in the March 13-20, 2025 edition of the Winchendon Courier.
Residents Weigh In to BOS and FinCom about Budgets and Override
Resident Rick Lucier addresses the BOS and FinCom as other residents listen.
Photo copyright Town of Winchendon
Following presentations by Town Manager Bill McKinney on two proposed town General Fund budgets for FY 2026--one level-funded with deep cuts, one level-service with a $1.9 million Proposition 2-1/2 override--at the joint Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee meeting on Monday, March 24, the floor was opened to the some 20 residents present for public comment. A fairly wide variety of concerns and suggestions were expressed.
Resident Yvonne Senecal, who is a candidate for Board of Selectmen in the upcoming town election on May 5, rose first. She thanked the Boards and departments for their hard work on the budgets. "However, all departments need to prepare for decreases in spending," she said. "Some costs are fixed with mandated, uncontrollable increases. We all understand that. However, contracts can be renegotiated to reflect the decrease in available funding. I have worked in healthcare and have done budgets and scheduling, if I had put forward a schedule that included overtime in my basic schedule, every week, I would have been fired from my job. The Fire Department can do better. Maybe encourage all staff to put their heads together and put out a minimum schedule each week that doesn't require overtime. Overtime should be used for sick time, benefit time and special emergencies." She added that if a position hasn't been filled for two years, it should be eliminated.
"I also feel that the DPW can look at more efficient utilization of equipment and utilization of staff as well as adequate supervision," Ms. Senecal went on. "You can't ask town residents to increase taxes if you don't show them that you're willing to cut costs. The school department also needs to reflect funding realities. It is very hard on residents to increase taxes to pay for a school system that fails its students. Critical failures, students not performing at grade level and a top heavy organization cause families to opt out. Slim down administration and return to basics, I feel are the keys to success. We all know that throwing money at a problem doesn't solve it. Consolidate schools, eliminate unnecessary busing and maybe renegotiate contracts. All need to be done better before asking for more money."
After Ms. Senecal, resident Rick Lucier rose to speak. "My concern is, I don't think you're expressing it well enough that this [Proposition] 2-1/2 override is not only for this year, it's for next year, with a two and a half percent multiplier on top of it, and it keeps going in perpetuity. You just can't say we're going to do 1.9 this year, and then it's over. It continues and continues and continues. So you're already telling the folks at home that you're already $2 million in debt for next year, and then another $2.1 million in debt the following year because of that increase, with the two and a half percent increase that you're getting on your property taxes. You talk about a water increase and a sewer increase on top of other increases that you don't even know about yet, because you don't have all your numbers, and again, we don't have Free Cash."
Mr. Lucier said that "working on it...don't cut it". He went on, "I don't understand why them two dirty words haven't come up yet, which is 'wage freeze.' How much money would this town save if all of these people that are so dedicated would freeze their wages?" He added, "And to tell the seniors that they're going to lose the Senior Center when they're the biggest bunch of people that feed the town money in taxes. I've been here 47 years. I haven't had a kid in high school since 1997 yet every year I've got to feed money to the schools. Have to pay for that override."
Following Mr. Lucier, resident Karen Kast McBride rose, saying she was speaking in her capacity as a member of the ad hoc override committee. "There were six of us, and I think about half of us had agreed that we needed to go for more than [a $1.9 million override] and the reason was because level service doesn't cut it for any department, and I think the residents deserve better. And I say that as somebody who, I don't want my taxes to go up, any more than anybody else in this town does. And I do think that, unfortunately, we're here for a number of reasons."
Ms. Kast continued, "We need to figure out a way to ensure that this town doesn't go downhill. And we go downhill when we close the library, we go downhill when we close the Senior Center. There's no excuse for that in my mind. Yes, I sit on the School Committee, and I'm going to say this, come to our budget hearing tomorrow night, and if you have questions, I'll answer all the questions you want, and we can discuss any misconceptions that there are about where our money goes and how it's spent, but I do want to say that we spent an awful lot of time and effort on the numbers and everything that was put into this." She urged residents to consider a higher override amount because "the bare minimum does not do this town a good service."
Resident Jill Sackett then rose to speak, saying she had four main points. "Are we sure that we cannot possibly find a way to keep the library and the Senior Center and the Rec Department open in any way, whether it's close another day or have one longer day. When I look as a layperson, in the [budget] detail here, I see several line items that appear to be on track to be underspent or not spent, when I look at the year prior and what we're on track with for today...looking at this, someone would go, well, wait, can't we get $10,000 here and $50,000 there, and with this, that, and the next thing, we've cobbled together maybe something to save the library, the Senior Center, the Rec without an override."
Ms. Sackett said she firmly believes the town needs this override, but "I think a lot of the problem is convincing the voters that we need this override. You're going up a big uphill with people who have lived here a long time, have a lot of distrust, have history with leadership that isn't here anymore, with things they weren't happy about. How do you convince the votership we need this override to get us over this hump." Ms. Sackett suggested putting some information on the postcard that is mailed to all residents reminding them to vote and linking to the Town Meeting warrant. That's already paid for.
"Then long term, I think one way to get people to buy in and possibly pass this override is like people were intimating back here," Ms. Sackett said. "We need to know what's the long term solution here? What are we going to do after we check this box and get over this year. Is it some sort of firm commitment to pursue better economic growth here? What is it going to look like? Is it [school] regionalization? Something fairly substantial has to happen, and we need a commitment from the people here, the elected officials here, to help us understand how we're going to really do something different. Because again, we'll just be in this endless round and around and if this town starts going downhill, we can't get new business here. It's really going to be bad for all of us. We will not attract business. People will not move here if we're not keeping the roads plowed, and we don't offer a public library, and we don't have any sort of respect for the seniors, for example, or we're having a brand new amphitheater that Robinson Broadhurst Foundation built, sitting empty and not being used."
Resident Mark Dorwart rose to ask, "Several times I've come before all of you and mentioned unlawful and inefficient equipment purchases by the DPW director. Not one of you has ever asked me for supporting documents. Every time I have said I had supporting documents, nobody has asked me for those. That's all I have to say. Efficiency is important. If we're going to shut down libraries, let's get efficient DPW purchases."
Resident Pinkie Evans Liao rose to speak next. "I was here one year ago and you said you were in trouble. And I said, 'What are you going to do about it?' And you said nothing last year. And so this year, you're asking for an override, and I agree with the last person, what are we going to do to quit this cycle? I expected from the ad hoc committee that you would come forward and say, 'This is how we got here. These are things we need to start doing so we don't do this again.' I know this town is supposed to have a Stabilization Fund, Free Cash. I don't know where those are. I feel like right now you're saying we don't know where the money is. We don't know where it's been spent for the last year and a half, but give us some more money and we'll do something with it."
Ms. Liao said she wanted specific answers as to why the town needed an override and what it will be spent on, and those should be in the Town Meeting warrant. The department heads are working very hard, she said. "The idea that you would even consider closing the library and the Senior Center, I think, are obnoxious." The Fire Chief mentioned that a fourth person on shift and another ambulance would bring in additional revenue--what are those numbers?
"I don't have enough information to say yes, I'm willing to give you some more tax money," Ms Liao said firmly. "The statement that it's $50 a month, everybody cannot afford $50 a month. And if I've read right what you're saying at these meetings, it's $50 this year. It's $50 next year, it's $50 the year after that. Because there is no plan for how we're going to get out of this. I want to see movement towards a plan that is going to take us out of this vicious cycle and move us forward in some way. I would like to see a Select Board committee, not ad hoc that meets and we don't know what's going on, a Select Board committee that's before the cameras, that people can come and ask questions or offer suggestions, or something like that."
Resident Richard Ames rose to question why the ambulance revenue didn't offset the total amount budgeted for the Fire Department, so their budget would show as $1 million rather than $1.7 million. He asked how the per-pupil expenditure for Winchendon Public Schools compares with the rest of the state. No one is reducing anything, he said. "What are the hours of the library? Have you got hours the library isn't used at all? How many people are going to the library every day? How many people are going at 12 o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock? Do you have to keep the operating hours you have now? Can you reduce them to use different hours? Same thing with the Senior Center. Are you open and no one's there but the director? Are you providing programs that the people want? Are you just providing people things that the manager thinks they want? Is anybody doing surveys on what the library should be doing and doing surveys on what we should be doing with the Senior Center?" He said that the town is just spending money and no one knows where it's going.
Last to rise was resident Rick McKenzie, who began, "I moved here about eight years ago, and when I first got here, I asked one of my neighbors, as I looked around town with all the Xed-up buildings, what's the vision of this town? Where are we going? What's the plan? The response was, our plan is we don't have a plan, and we don't want to plan because we want to keep it just the way it is. And there's a saying that goes, without a vision, the people perish. And as I'm sitting here listening to all this tonight, our people are perishing, and you're wanting to put it on the backs of the taxpayers. We can have all this stuff if we have equal sacrifice. And to threaten reduction of services with the Fire Department, maybe they won't be there, and 10 minutes after the call your loved one dies, it is obnoxious and it is downright disturbing to realize that you people are threatening and using threats to get money. It's very disturbing. I think you're better than this. I know some of you, had conversations with some of you, and I know you're good people. Let's act like it."
With no more residents wishing to speak, Board of Selectmen Chair Rick Ward said, "I want to thank everyone for their input. You gave us some very compelling information and point of view, and those will be taken into consideration with whatever we can do. And I guess the message clearly was we need a plan forward, not just to get through this. So that will be an emphasis we'll be pushing. I'm sure members of the committee have already pushed this, and it'll be a town wide approach, because our Master Plan calls for it too, when we go into that. So, yeah, this is a big blip in the road, but it's not the solution, the override. We have to take a whole different outlook forward. We have to look at regionalization." Not just school regionalization but more regionalization of services, he added. "There are a lot of questions, you gave us a lot tonight. I was very impressed with what you gave us. I want to thank you."