Selectmen will hold a special meeting tonight to discuss planned budget cuts with town departments that are facing reductions of at least 5 percent from what was proposed for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Eight departments will be given 10 minutes each to make their cases for funding while the town considers cuts that are expected to result in some layoffs. “They’ll be coming in pleading their case,” Selectmen Chairman Steven Ouellette said.
The police and fire departments, which have the two largest budgets other than schools, are not scheduled for the meeting. Ouellette said both departments have been working with selectmen and have “already been crunching numbers.”
Selectmen will consider ideas brought forth by employees during the meeting, Ouellette said. In addition to instituting 5 percent cuts, Town Administrator Michael Coughlin has proposed not filling vacant positions, eliminating transportation for the Council on Aging, and closing the Briggs Road fire [...]

Original post by Grant Welker