Pepperell Selectmen authorize snow and ice deficit spending as FY2020 budget shows $200,000 gap

PEPPERELL — January 14, 2019 — Pepperell Selectmen honored a local rescuer, retired their highway superintendent, and faced a $200,000 preliminary budget gap at the January 14 board meeting. Town Administrator Andrew McLean told the board that even with $341,000 in free cash factored into revenue projections, department requests exceed available revenue by roughly $200,000 before school assessments, the governor's local-aid budget, and health insurance rates are finalized — calling it "a really tough year." Auditor James Gysty of Gysty, Hinkston & Company delivered a clean opinion on the fiscal year 2018 financial statements but flagged a net pension liability of $12.6 million and a newly required net OPEB liability of $9.4 million, together producing a reported $16 million unrestricted deficit on the statement of net position — a figure Gysty said is common across Massachusetts municipalities and should not affect bond ratings. The board unanimously authorized deficit spending on the snow and ice account under MGL Chapter 44, Section 31D and appointed 13 members to a new Light, Air, and Noise Pollution Ad Hoc Committee. A proposed $3,000 payroll-practices review by HR consultant Mary Beth Bernard was carried to the next meeting pending board receipt of references.