Predicted layoffs of town employees began this week to help balance the current fiscal year 2009 budget, but it appeared that only a few workers will actually lose their jobs and that most personnel cuts will come from reduced hours. However, town officials on Saturday said that barring an economic miracle, they don’t see any way the town can avoid steep cuts in services—and more layoffs—in the fiscal year that begins on July 1.
The personnel reductions were part of budget cuts made at a Jan. 24 meeting of the selectmen, School Committee, and Finance Committee called to deal with a projected $350,000 shortfall in the fiscal 2009 budget. The three boards were aware at the time that the shortfall might be less than that, and state figures released Wednesday, Jan. 28, confirmed that Harvard will lose $179,606 in local aid in this round of cuts, not $300,000 as was feared. Nevertheless, the three boards agreed that the town needs to cut spending as much as it can, as soon as it can, to prepare for a massive shortfall in fiscal 2010.
Because some of the workers affected by the current year’s budget cuts had not been notified by last Saturday, officials were careful not to specify which jobs would be lost, but the Finance Committee reviewed a general list of fiscal 2009 reductions. At the Department of Public Works, $36,000 will be saved by not filling a vacant position, accounting for roughly a third of the $105,000 in nonschool reductions. Another $40,000 will come from closing the library on Fridays, reducing staff on other days, and cutting other expenses. The remaining $29,000 in budget cuts is spread over seven other departments: police, fire, land-use boards, Board of Health, town clerk’s office, Finance Department, and Council on Aging. Several part-time workers in those departments will be laid off and others will work fewer hours, said town officials.
On the school side, personnel reductions include hours for aides, tutors, and clerical help, as well as elimination of a long-term substitute position supporting special education cases. No classroom teachers will be laid off under the plan the School Committee approved last week to cut $245,000 from this year’s school budget.
