By Adam Swift
A fiscal impact analysis completed by RKG Consultants was recently sent out to the town council.
Further discussion of the analysis was expected at Tuesday night’s council meeting, and Town Manager Tony Marino said the full fiscal impact analysis will be posted on the town’s website.
A fiscal impact analysis estimates the municipal revenues and costs associated with new development, according to the summary from RKG.
“The primary focus is on the town’s General Fund since that is typically where tax revenues and most municipal service costs are accounted,” the report states. “RKG applied an incremental cost approach to Winthrop’s General Fund budget which covers both town costs and school costs. From there, we can determine the costs borne by the town resulting from both residential and commercial development.”
As the town moves forward, Marino stated that it can forward different unit counts for development to RKG, and they can create any model the town needs to see the impact of development over the next five to 10 years.
“This will help with budget planning in the future as we anticipate any increase in services that future development will require,” Marino stated.
In other updates in his latest report to the council, Marino stated that the Revere Street TIP project will be paving the next section of binder during the evening hours of Friday, July 11.
“This project continues to move forward on schedule, and they have started installing the new curbing,” he added.
The request for qualifications criteria for the architect and designers for the new fire station project have come in and Marino said the town is in the process of scoring them and deciding who should be brought in for an interview. The town received five proposals from architectural firms.
In other business, Marino said the town has reached out to several ambulance companies as the town looks to improve service.
“Ambulance contracts do not have to be put out to bid and we are looking at local ambulance companies to improve service and minimize response times,” the town manager stated.
Finally, Marino said the town has successfully negotiated four of its five union contracts. The only remaining contract to be finalized is the clerical contract, and Marino stated that there are two dates scheduled in July for negotiations with that union.