The town will have $1 million more to spend in fiscal year 2020, but not enough to keep up with expenses, the town’s finance director Jon Snyder said in a less than cheery budget forecast.
Snyder told the board that based on what he sees, the town can increase its levy limit by the 2.5 percent provided by law, and another 1.5 percent based on growth, for a total of 4 percent. But the budget outlook, which is largely driven by salaries and other fixed costs, is projected to go up 6 percent. With assessments from the high school and Tisbury School expected to increase 5 to 6 percent, Snyder predicts the town will either have to seek a Proposition 2½ override or ask departments to hold the line on budgets.
“Bottom line is we’ll have to take a close look at all budgets and expenses,” Snyder said.
In a memo written to selectmen and the finance committee, Snyder asked selectmen to control spending through warrant articles. “This year, FinCom’s budget guidance asks departments to level-fund discretionary (non-salary/wage) expenses, and, as an exercise in planning, it also asks departments to prepare a budget with 2 percent reduction in overall costs,” Snyder wrote. That could result in cuts to overtime or part-time and seasonal workers for some departments, he wrote. There’s a possibility of further cuts should the town seek an override and voters reject it, he wrote.
Selectmen chairman Tristan Israel asked for a budget outlook by department that compares numbers with the previous year.
A 3.2 percent cost of living increase for the town’s professional staff — about 15 people — seems to be off the table, considering the budget shortfall. “Those numbers drive up other numbers,” Israel said.
Assessing the assessors
None of the assessors were in the room — by their choice — but their ears had to be burning.
Selectmen discussed the decision by the board to revoke the exempt status of the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse and four other nonprofit organizations in town.
Israel said the board of selectmen was taken off-guard by the decision, and though the selectmen’s purview is unclear, he had hoped to have a conversation with members of the board of assessors.
But a letter sent that same day explained the situation with the Playhouse and other nonprofits, but declined the invitation to talk about it. “We are not going to participate in the court of public opinion,” the letter, signed “Board of Assessors,” states. “The Vineyard Playhouse Company, Inc. can appeal the decision of the assessors when they receive the actual tax bill, the official notification.”
Several Playhouse officials and supporters were in the audience, and expressed disappointment in the decision of assessors not to attend.
“It’s been deeply disturbing to us that this happened and that we weren’t given an opportunity to respond,” M.J. Munafo, the executive director of the Playhouse, said. “If I knew that that was what they were planning to do, we would have come in.”
Selectman Jim Rogers again cast doubt on the role of selectmen in all of this. “I certainly have empathy for the Playhouse,” Rogers said. “We don’t have the statutory authority to instruct an elected body in the performance of their duties.” He urged the Playhouse to go through the appeals process.
Gerald Yukevich, treasurer for the nonprofit, said that will be done, but pointed out even that comes at a cost.
“It’s going to cost us money to defend ourselves,” Yukevich said. “We have to go through this process. It may cost the town money to counter it. And I think the money that will be spent will be a total waste, because we will get the abatement through the state court, and all of this will be a big carousel of folly. I’m outraged as a citizen.”
Munafo also sought to remind the public and specifically donors that none of this changes the status of the Playhouse as a nonprofit recognized by both the state and federal governments. Donations remain tax-deductible, she said.
Rogers did question if the assessors are following state law when it comes to open meetings and public records. He said that’s something selectmen can check in with the board on.
Selectmen still hope to have a meeting with assessors. “I find it unfortunate,” Israel said, noting he sees the community benefit of the Playhouse and other nonprofits like Center for Living and Hospice that had their exempt status revoked.
In an interesting twist, when selectmen learned some businesses had not responded to a request for documents regarding common victualler’s licenses during discussion on renewals, they wanted to make certain every effort had been made to call those applicants.
“That’s what small communities do,” town administrator Jay Grande said.
In other business, the board granted retirement classification for the town’s EMS workers. Fire Chief John Schilling said the move would keep the town competitive with the other five Island towns that provide this classification for EMTs.
The board heard an update from library director Amy Ryan on the progress of a proposed library renovation project. Ryan said architect Maryann Thompson was chosen from four firms. She noted that Thompson had worked on the Polly Hill Arboretum and Walden Pond Visitors Center.
George Balco was reappointed as the town’s representative on the Steamship Authority Port Council for two more years. Though the board thanked Balco for his continued service on the port council, Israel took the opportunity to get in a swipe at the SSA, saying it should be presenting the report from HMS, a consultant doing a complete management review after a series of breakdowns, on the Island. The report is being released Tuesday in Falmouth.
“I would hope you would ask them to come here to have a meeting about that same report,” Israel said to Balco. He expressed concern that the communication aspect of the report has been removed.
Rogers praised the SSA workers who, he said, sometimes get a bad rap. “I think it’s a pretty damn reliable source of public transportation,” he said. SSA employees go out of their way to help people, he said.
Both also expressed concern with talk in Woods Hole about reopening the legislation that authorized the SSA, calling it a big mistake.
The board approved increased sewer flow for two addresses on Main Street. Though no tenants were named, 30 Main St. (located in the same building as the Beach House) and 35 Main St. (former Bowl and Board) are both under consideration for restaurants.
The former Bowl and Board is being looked at by a business owner who would open a 130-seat restaurant. A smaller 35-seat restaurant and takeout is planned at the other location.
Selectmen approved the sewer flow, with Israel offering some commentary on his concerns about traffic flow in downtown Vineyard Haven.
“I assume it has to go through all the process,” Israel said. “Because 130-seat restaurant does have a traffic — I’m not saying it’s bad or good, but there are some other issues.”
Jeff Kristal, a member of the sewer advisory committee, said he was told by 35 Main St. owner Ben Hall that the applicant is in the process of going through the permitting process with the board of health and the zoning board before signing a lease.