Town Meeting union contract votes

I see that I am quoted in this article in the Standard Times this morning and while the quote is accurate, I think it does not capture all of what I said in regard to these increases. The pay raises for the Dartmouth Town Employees Association and the Police Brotherhood cover the last fiscal year, FY08, when they worked without a contract and this one, FY09. Other town unions have contracts which are in force and give them pay increases (most are getting 3%). These two unions agreed to 2% increases for the last year and this one. The objective that the town was trying to reach was to have all the union contracts up for renewal at the same time, July 1, 2009. These agreements get us there.
I completely agree with ...


... Mr. Lynam's comments last night at the Town Meeting that we don't have the money to pay for these increases going forward (But we do have the money for last year and this one) and that we do not have a plan on how we are going to deal with our shortfalls in the future. I have written on this blog many times about our need for a comprehensive plan. Here ,here, here, and here for example. These contracts add to the problem but are not the only ones that do so. Other bargaining units are, as I said, getting larger increases over the same period. I think it fair and equitable that these employees, who agreed to a lower increase than others are currently receiving, get at least some increase as well.
Now for the bad news! There is no way the town can pay for similar increases or even these current ones going forward. There is no disagreement on that from the Select Board, Budget Director, Finance Committee, or others who have looked at the fiscal numbers. What I said at the Town Meeting and I am saying now is that next year, our town will have to make some substantial changes. Either we need fewer employees or we need for those employees to get less in pay and benefits, or we need an operational override. It is a complete failure of planning that has gotten us to this point and a continuing failure that we do not have a plan for next year and the next five years. I would like to see such a plan put forward and will continue to agitate for that. I am tired of having the same crisis year after year as I am sure most residents are. We need a plan for next year and our town administrators are the ones who must provide that plan. What are your thoughts?