Keyes: Blackstone projecting $1M in ATM spending

BLACKSTONE — Town Administrator Daniel M. Keyes says there will be a number sending requests for school building, equipment and other needs proposed at the annual town meeting this spring.

Keyes told the selectmen at a meeting Tuesday that proposed capital expenditures, so far, total about $1 million. Those expenditures, he said, would be funded from free cash, which was certified this year at $1,210,836.

Keyes said some of that $1.2 million in certified free cash has already been earmarked, including $75,000 that was approved at a special town meeting a few weeks ago to develop schematic designs for repairs and upgrades to the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Blackstone, and $40,000 to purchase a 2017 Ford F-350 pickup truck to replace a recycling center truck.

The town would also be looking to deficit-spend $75,000 from the snow and ice removal budget.

That, Keyes said, would leave the certified free cash account at roughly $1,013, 262 by the annual town meeting on May 29.

Three capital spending requests being requested at the meeting will include $250,000 for a new street sweeper; $150,000 for a new fire alarm system at the high school; a new vehicle for the Parks and Recreation Department; a fire truck upgrade; $250,000 for post-employment benefits (OPEB); and $198,500 for a project to reconstruct the historic stone arch bridge on Elm Street.

The money for the bridge project, however, is being reimbursed by the state after the town was awarded $198,500 through the Municipal Small Bridge Program.

Blackstone was one of 12 cities and towns selected as part of the second round of funding for the state pro- gram, which helps cities and towns replace or preserve bridges with spans between 10 and 20 feet that are not eligible for federal funding.

The state program provides for state reimbursement to municipalities of up to 100 percent of the total design and construction cost of eligible projects. As part of the program, MassDOT and each selected municipality enter into an agreement to reimburse funds for approved projects.

The town contracted with engineering consultants Fuss & O’Neil to perform a town-wide bridge inspection, which included the dry stone masonry arch bridge. The town-owned bridge carries Elm Street, which is a minor arterial road and provides access to many residential homes as well as the Kimball sand quarry. The road is also a main commuter route to Route 495 and Route 126.

The warrant for the annual town meeting will remain open for additional articles until March 6. The selectmen will vote to close and approve the warrant on March 20 before it is forwarded to the Finance Committee for its approval.

According to the inspection report, the bridge is badly deteriorated and needs to be reconstructed.

Keyes said the town is in good financial shape heading into the budget season. The town’s audit report for fiscal 2017, which ended June 30, showed the town as being in excellent financial shape and ending the last fiscal year with a positive net position of nearly $30 million as of June 30, 2017.

The town also had a fund balance of approximately $12.3 million, and a general fund balance of $7.5 million, which is approximately 30 percent of the town’s entire 2017 general fund expenditures.

In addition, the town’s other post-employment benefits (OPEB) funding shows a 15 percent funded ratio as of June 30, 2017.