Councilors: Public safety layoffs may be unavoidable

Public hearing on Fiscal Year 2009 budget set for April 22

This story appeared in the Derry news on April 15, 2008
and was written by Eric Parry
Staff writer

DERRY — Next year the town will likely not be handing out as many paychecks.

Personnel make up more than 60 percent of the town's budget and many councilors said earlier this week that they expect to lay off some workers next during next year's budget hearings. Currently, the town employs 250 full-time employees and 23 part-time employees.

"We're almost at the point where it's all personnel," said Councilor Brent Carney of the town's $40 million budget.

Councilor Kevin Coyle said he believes the town's largest department, the Fire Department, is overstaffed by four people and he would like to see the Police Department not fill its one empty position.

Two weeks ago, the Police Department hired four new officers to fill positions created due to retirements.

Each firefighter costs about $110,000 in salary and benefits and Derry has an unusual proportionate amount of firefighters compared to surrounding towns, according to Coyle.

But other than personnel, there isn't much waste in the budget the Town Council is currently reviewing, according to some councilors.

"I don't see any glaring areas of waste," said Councilor Neil Wetherbee.

The problem is that all of those paychecks and benefits packages could tie the town's hands when it comes to special projects like building a senior center or expanding municipal water and sewer service in town.

"Next year we're probably going to have harder decisions to make," Wetherbee said.

Other than adding $50,000 to the $1.4 million highway repair and maintenance line in the Public Works budget, councilors said they haven't made any significant additions or cuts to the town's budget in the three workshops they've held so far.

Unlike some neighboring towns, Derry maintains a fund to repair roads on a regular basis. But over the last couple of years the cost of materials has skyrocketed which means the town has fewer dollars to work with.

"If we don't do them now then we'll be forced to take out a bond," Coyle said.

The Health department's budget was scheduled for review on April 12, however that has been tabled until further notice so councilors can review the $165,773 budget.

On Thursday, April 17, the Town Council is scheduled to review the Planning Department, cable, Derry Public Library, Taylor Library and the Town Clerk budget at 6:30 p.m.

A public hearing on this year's budget is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. The council is expected to approve a budget on May 20.