Lincoln selectmen review three FY11 budget scenarios, defer override decision

LINCOLN -- November 16, 2009, Lincoln selectmen weigh override as level-service FY11 budget hits 2.84 percent. Town Administrator Tim Higgins walked the board through three scenarios: a base budget at minus 0.3 percent that would eliminate a firefighter position, halve police administrative support, end dedicated traffic enforcement and cut conservation land manager hours by 20 percent; a level-service budget requiring roughly $217,000 in additional town-side spending; and a preferred budget headlined by a $211,000 IT increase tied to the new strategic plan and an $18,000 part-time town clerk assistant. Acting Chair Gary Taylor, filling in for Sarah Cannon Holtz, said the town must "bite the bullet here, even without McDowell," noting state aid has dropped roughly $600,000 over two years. The board also appointed James McDonald as full-time E911 dispatcher and approved appointments to the COA and Disabilities Commission before entering executive session on Chapter 61A acquisition of the McDowell property.