Barre Finance Committee Flags $329,000 Deficit in Fiscal 2018 Budget Review

BARRE -- May 3, 2017, Barre Finance Committee identifies a roughly $329,000 deficit in its fiscal 2018 budget review. The committee held a working session May 3 with a financial consultant, identified in discussion only as "Jean", who walked members through updated revenue projections across municipal departments, including ambulance receipts projected at $360,000 and water anticipated receipts revised upward to approximately $598,694. The police department budget drew extended discussion, with an overtime account historically underbudgeted at $23,000 and routinely overrun now recast at $83,000; the full police and dispatch budget was placed at approximately $970,000. The consultant characterized the $329,000 deficit estimate as conservative, noting expected free cash certification and cherry sheet revenues could reduce the gap before Town Meeting. The committee closed without formal votes, with the capital planning warrant still unresolved as of the meeting date.