Report of the Finance Committee 2008

The primary functions of the Southwick Finance Committee are to review departmental budgets and submit a balanced budget to the Town meeting. We must also maintain a reserve fund to make transfers for urgent or unforeseen expenditures before the Town meeting. Additionally, we have been charged to consider and make recommendations regarding any financial business of the Town.
 

Developing a balanced budget has been challenging for the last few years. We have been able to do it only through the extraordinary efforts of our Town Department Managers in controlling their expenses. On behalf of the Town of Southwick, we thank them for their cooperation.
 

The States’ fiscal situation has deteriorated this year and improvement is questionable for the coming year. We also still have some major financial issues facing the Town, primarily related to our capital expenditure needs and a costly infrastructure repairs. Substantial construction for a new Town DPW Garage and either a new school or extensive renovation of existing School District structures are on the horizon. Considering the poor economy, finding the means to pay for these projects will be challenging.  More so than ever before, the community will have to work together to successfully solve the problems facing us, now and in the future.

        

Respectively submitted,
 

Richard Buley, Chairman

Robert Horacek, Vice-Chairman

Linda Bathel

Chris Garvey

Sheila Chamberlin

Joe Ricco

Joe Lemieux

Patti Dunn-O’Connell, Associate Member

Robin Solek, Secretary