Abington Faces $1.6 Million Budget Deficit, Considers Waste Hauling Enterprise Fund
Town officials explore options to address rising costs, including transitioning waste services outside general tax base
ABINGTON - January 13 - Abington officials are grappling with a $1.6 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, driven by rising waste hauling costs, increased health insurance premiums, and the ongoing effects of inflation.
Town Manager Scott Lambiase presented the current state of the budget to the Board of Selectmen on Jan 13, outlining the challenges and potential solutions being considered.
"We're holding flat on our future revenues, including our state aid is expected to remain flat," Lambiase said. "The state is having a hard time meeting their own projections."
To address the shortfall, officials are proposing to transition waste hauling expenses into an enterprise fund, moving approximately $1.6 million outside the general fund and tax base. The change would be phased in over four years, with free cash used to offset costs entirely in the first year.
"We're probably one of the only communities in the area that hasn't done this," Lambiase noted. "Most communities have done it many years ago."
The town plans to hold public input sessions on the waste hauling proposal to gather community feedback.
Other key budget drivers include:
- Health insurance costs, expected to rise over 12% this year
- Inflation affecting gas, goods and services, and electricity prices
- Flat state aid projections for both Chapter 70 school funding and unrestricted general government aid
Board of Selectmen Chairman Kevin Donovan emphasized the collaborative effort to address the budget challenges.
"We are on it. We're turning every stone that we can possibly turn to ensure by the time we get to town meeting, we're going to have a plan for you to consider," Donovan said.
The budget process will continue with department presentations to the Finance Committee and future budget hearings with the Board of Selectmen.
In other business, the board heard a proposal for new street hockey rinks, sparking debate over the potential location.
Bryan Woodford, a local hockey coach, advocated for building the rinks at Arnold Park, citing accessibility and economic benefits for nearby businesses.
"On Wednesday evenings, this is going to bring a significant amount of people into an economic area that deserves the business in Abington," Woodford said.
However, Donovan raised concerns about potential legal constraints on building structures at Arnold Park, stemming from the original land donation.
"I think we've got to research that. I don't know the definition of a structure," Donovan said. "I don't know, you know, we were always told back then, and that was many years ago, we couldn't put a fence around it because that violated the terms of the will."
The board directed Lambiase to work with various groups and return with a comprehensive plan for recreational development, including potential locations for the hockey rinks.
The proposed rinks would be funded in part by a $50,000 grant from the Boston Bruins Foundation.
"We're lucky enough to be next on the list with $50,000," said Alex Bezanson, a supporter of the project.
Board member Amanda Zompetti expressed support for moving the project forward while exploring all options.
"I don't want this to get stalled where we can't bring it to the town meeting in April and make them wait another year," Zompetti said.
The board also:
- Set a Feb. 10 deadline for submitting articles for the annual town meeting
- Ratified a new three-year contract with the firefighters' union, Local 2080, providing annual raises of 2%, 2.5%, and 2.9%
- Established a gift account to receive donations for a retiree appreciation event
The next Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27, where officials expect to receive updates on various ongoing projects and continue budget discussions.