With reports of the country’s economic crisis filling headlines on a daily basis, it should be of little surprise that a “trickle-down” effect would be seen in towns across America. Harvard is heading into some rough financial waters, with an ongoing “structural deficit” made worse by this year’s lower-than-expected revenues, and exacerbated by an expected decrease in state aid.
Selectmen have approved a hiring freeze for town positions, and are taking steps to rein in town spending. The Financial Analysis Impact Team has proposed a change to the budget process that would require departments to live within a pre-defined budget, and selectmen have decided to move out the date of the Annual Town Meeting to ensure that all available financial data are in hand before putting an omnibus budget up for vote.
Tough financial times like this call for creative, “outside-the-box” thinking. Is it time to take another look at regionalization opportunities with Ayer, Devens, and Shirley?
