Solution needed for budget shortfall

If you’re looking for a good example of how things can fall through the cracks with big consequences, look at Amenia.

Last week’s Town Board meeting revealed an unnerving situation: The Wassaic Fire Company sent its budget for 2009 certified mail to the Town Hall, but it went missing. It was signed for by someone, but apparently not the town clerk, as she said she never received it. The Wassaic Fire Company assumed its financial needs were being addressed by the town supervisor, who wears a second hat as the chief financial officer while he drafts the town budget.

However, because town Supervisor Wayne Euvrard did not have the final numbers from the Wassaic Fire Company, he worked off the preliminary budget numbers submitted earlier in the process. Those numbers amounted to a $3,000 deficit for next year’s operations. The shortfall means big trouble for the fire company, because workmers compensation insurance for the district increased by $3,000 and now it won’t have the money to pay for that coverage. But it has to pay for that coverage. Some how, some way. By July.

According to Attorney to the Town Michael Hayes, the town’s hands are tied because it cannot give money from its general funds to the fire company, even though it would like to, because then people who don’t live in the Wassaic fire district would be paying for services they don’t receive.

"Once the fire budget is set through the town’s budget, the controller’s office is of the opinion that the town can’t provide more money," he said last week, adding the town can’t even borrow money to pay for the insurance because it would amount to the same thing as loaning out money from its general funds.

Therefore it seems the Wassaic Fire Company will have to borrow the money to pay for the insurance, something it doesn’t want to do nor should have to do, as the mistake wasn’t its own.

There needs to be better management within Town Hall to keep track of what comes in and what goes out. No doubt it’s a difficult task; there must be a deluge of paperwork that goes through those doors on a daily basis. However, when something is signed for, the person who takes on that responsibility must see it all the way through and guarantee the item gets into the hands of the person it was intended for.

There should have been more checks and balances along the way. When the budget was being finalized, a call should have been placed to the Wassaic Fire Company to double check that it submitted final numbers, especially if they never appeared at the desk of the town supervisor and chief financial officer. Also, a representative from the Wassaic Fire Company should have attended the budget public hearing to ensure its fiscal needs were being met.

There also needs to be better organization throughout the process and more ownership of one’s responsibilities here. To let the fire company get to a point where it now has to worry about paying for its workers’ comp insurance is not appropriate. Let’s get on the ball and make sure this type of situation does not reoccur. That much should be par for the course for any of the departments working with our local government. That goes doubly for the groups dedicated to serving each and every one of us on a daily basis — let’s get it together and help the fire company do its job of helping us.

The fact remains, however, that the fire company still needs $3,000. Therefore, this paper would like to put an option on the table. Perhaps the two entities could co-sponsor a fundraising event that would gain the department the funds it needs, because the bottom line is that everyone in the town, whether in the hamlet of Wassaic or not, benefits from the Wassaic Fire Company. The fire company answers calls day and night, not only in Wassaic, but in Amenia and all around the region to assist other fire departments whenever necessary. It’s now time to pay back the volunteer firefighters and EMTs from Wassaic for all they do.

And it won’t be difficult to raise the money if everyone pitches in. There can be a fun-filled fundraiser with various events: safety demonstrations, firetruck rides, raffle drawings, silent auctions, a cake walk, a bake sale, a car wash, even a dance. The town can do its part by helping to provide space for the events and any other items it’s allowed to donate to alleviate the cost from the fire department. It can also offer manpower. Its participation would be a good-will offer in light of its responsibility in the whole affair. The community itself would also be given the opportunity to show its support with the likely result being that the fire company would reach its goal with ease.

The goal is simple: to raise $3,000 for the Wassaic Fire Company. A proposal has been set forth. Let’s see if something can be organized to put the plan to action. We’ll even donate the first cake.