This Column first appeared in print July 10, 2007.

Town Side. School Side.
Share the Pain, Share the Gain.
Essential Service. Non-Essential Services.

These are the refrains of Tewksbury’s budget process over the last four months. Hitting fever pitch in the days leading up to the continued Annual Town Meeting, anyone with even a passing familiarity with the goings on in town is likely sick of the song and dance playing out repeatedly in meeting rooms and cable channels across town.

As an observer of the process for more than a year, watching as various boards, committees, departments, and residents study, review, wrangle, finagle, argue, and ultimately agree on a way to figure out another tough budget year I’ve learned much. I have tremendous respect for everyone involved in the process, particularly those that attend all the meetings and present real, plausible solutions. I am thankful that smart people give so much time and effort to the process, especially those that volunteer their time.

Looking at the comments at the top, one sees an essential divide. That gap will widen substantially in coming weeks and months. That which is ‘town side’ and ‘school side’ either blurs or sharpens depending on which side of the argument each participant stands. As a town, we must resist the need to trivialize the needs of one portion of our population while over blowing the importance of another, singular area.

Now that the fiscal year 2008 budget has passed, the next step begins as boards and committee turn their collective attentions to the three-year fiscal plan. This year Tewksbury faced only a $3.3 million deficit. The projected deficit for next year rises to well over $6 million. If we are not careful, we will face the same kinds of cuts and damages Stoneham with which Stoneham grapples. Stoneham had a three-year financial plan and as part of that plan, Stoneham officials requested an override. The measure did not pass and Selectmen began the painful process of devastating cuts we only read about. Just because the FY 08 budget has passed doesn’t mean we can stop talking about the budget.

I think it is likely that we’ll be asked to consider an override for Tewksbury. I trust that we’ll know where every penny will go, and as a town, we’ll be invited to set our spending priorities through public hearings. I also hope that we’ll have these answers ironed out well in time for town meeting next spring and not end up throwing another Hail Mary pass with dubious outcome.

Follow the progress of the Three-Year Financial Plan Task Force in the news over the coming months. It may not be the most exciting, interesting, or fulfilling reading encountered within these pages, but staying informed and active on the budget topic will help bring a smart solution to Town Meeting next spring.

Low voter turnout is partially blamed for the Stoneham override failure. Tewksbury cannot afford not to find an elegant, intelligent solution to our fiscal woes. We must remember that our town is one town of many departments, under one budget, and that all departments are important. Right now, there is enough time to find that answer unique to Tewksbury and make it happen for our town.