Ayer Officials Urge Deferral of Three Budget Articles to Guard Against COVID-19 Cuts

AYER — June 11, 2020 — Ayer officials recommended deferring three spending articles totaling roughly $1.48 million at a public budget forum ahead of the town's June 15 Annual Town Meeting. Town Manager Robert Pompioso, Finance Manager Lisa Gabri, and Assistant Town Manager Carly Antonellis presented the fiscal year 2021 omnibus budget of just over $31 million — a 3.3 percent increase — at the remote forum broadcast from Town Hall on June 11. The Board of Selectmen voted May 19 to recommend deferring Article 14 ($230,000 for the UDAG fund), Article 25 ($300,000 for forward pension funding), and Article 26 ($949,139 for stabilization) to a fall town meeting on October 26, freeing up the funds as a hedge against an anticipated state aid reduction tied to a projected $7 billion state revenue shortfall. The town has incurred $40,996.01 in COVID-19-related expenses to date, holds just over $12 million in total reserves, and received its first CARES Act reimbursement of $28,000 on June 10. The Nashoba Valley Regional Technical High School assessment rose 13.8 percent due to increased Ayer student enrollment, the single largest percentage jump among the major budget drivers.