Pepperell Select Board approves $27.8 million cut budget, sets May 13 override vote

PEPPERELL -- March 18, 2019, Pepperell Board of Selectmen votes to place a bare-bones $27,809,571 FY2020 budget on the May 6 Town Meeting warrant and sets a May 13 special election on a $1.46 million Proposition 2 1/2 override. All three votes, approving the cut budget, placing a contingent supplemental budget article on the warrant, and setting the election date, passed 2-1, with one board member dissenting on public safety grounds. The budget eliminates eight positions: a police patrolman, a firefighter-paramedic who doubles as fire inspector, a DPW highway worker, and five part-timers across Town Hall, DPW, the Council on Aging, and the Library. The plan draws $591,000 from free cash, roughly two-thirds of the town's available reserves, leaving approximately $300,000 in the account. Town Administrator Andrew warned the board that without the override, the fiscal year 2021 deficit is estimated at $1 million. Library Director Deb Spratt said cuts would cost the library a state certification waiver, putting state aid at risk, and Fire Chief Tyler said losing one firefighter-paramedic represents a 20 percent staffing reduction in a two-person shift structure.