Abington Faces Budget Challenges, Explores Solutions Amid Busy Year for Emergency Services
Town officials grapple with $1.1 million deficit as police and fire departments report increased call volumes
ABINGTON - February 10 - Abington officials are working to address a $1.1 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, exploring various cost-saving measures and revenue-generating options. The town's financial challenges come as both the police and fire departments report significant increases in call volumes and service demands.
Town Manager Scott Lambiase said the town is "still working with department heads and the school department to bring our budget to a balance point." He noted that, like last year, the town will likely propose using some free cash to balance the budget.
"It's not optimal for us to use the free cash, but unfortunately the times that we're in really do call for that," Lambiase said. "We want to hold on to services as much as possible."
The main drivers of the budget deficit include rising health care costs, pension obligations, and general inflationary pressures. Lambiase emphasized that state aid continues to lag far behind inflation rates.
To address the financial shortfall, town officials are considering several measures. The Board of Selectmen voted to place an article on the annual town meeting warrant to sell a town-owned property at 22 Bedford St., currently part of the Strawberry Valley Golf Course.
Selectman Roger Woods made the motion to sell the property, stating, "We're selling. I'm the one who brought all this up. We're gonna talk about center school, which we've put out multiple times to bid, and we've got no bidders."
The board also approved putting the former Center School and North School properties out to bid as a package deal, hoping to attract developers for affordable housing projects.
In addition, the town is seeking to establish an enterprise fund for trash collection, proposing to fund it entirely from free cash this year and gradually transition to a user fee system over four years.
"We propose this year to fund it in its entirety from free cash and have a four-year process of weaning trash out of the budget," said Board of Selectmen Chairman Kevin Donovan. "It's gone up $500,000 over 56 percent in the last six years, I believe, and it's an unsustainable cost."
Meanwhile, both the police and fire departments reported significant increases in service calls during 2024. Police Chief John Bonney said the department responded to nearly 20,000 calls for service last year, with only 11 total police officers and eight sergeants available.
"To answer nearly 20,000 calls for service is just incredible," Bonney said. The department also made over 600 arrests, issued more than 1,300 citations, and processed over 1,300 firearms permits.
Fire Chief Jack Glynn reported that 2024 was the busiest year in the department's history, with approximately 4,470 calls – about 600 to 700 more than their previous record year.
"There were a lot more medical calls, but there's a lot more of everything," Glynn said. He attributed the increase partly to changes in people's behavior since the COVID-19 pandemic, noting a rise in mental health crisis calls.
Both chiefs emphasized their departments' focus on community outreach and partnerships. Bonney highlighted initiatives such as the "Chat with the Chief" program and various community events, while Glynn stressed the importance of ongoing training and mental health support for firefighters.
As Abington officials work to balance the budget and maintain services, they plan to hold a public seminar on March 26 at the Senior Center to explain the proposed changes to trash collection funding. They have also invited state legislators to discuss potential increases in local aid.
The annual town meeting is scheduled for April 7, where residents will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed budget measures and property sales.