DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board and Finance Committee voted to amend the Information Technology Services during their meetings this week. 

 

The revised budget increases the budget 4.41 percent bringing the total budget consisting of expenses only in the amount of $71,000. 

 

The previous budget was level funded from last year but the town's insurance agent has now developed requirements to maintain cyber security as part of the town's cybersecurity insurance. 

 

This software will enable the town to have multi-factor authentication and endpoint detection and response so if there is a breach they can find where it came from. 

 

The town will have to pay for this software annually so will now be part of the budget in years to come. 

 

They approved the Parks and Recreation budget in the amount of $62,000, a 3.12 percent increase 

 

This budget was previously a grant the town would give to the Community Recreation Association but last year it became a contracted service. 

 

The town has to abide by the anti-aid amendment that prevents it from giving money to private entities. 

 

The town has contributed to the CRA since it opened a century ago. The association offer programs including summer camps, sports, and recreational activities to the community. There is financial aid for those who qualify. 

 

Officials say this form of budgeting is cleaner than providing the nonprofit with a grant so that they can provide its services to the town.

 

The funding that the town pays helps the CRA cover some of the expenses the programs cost allowing the programs to cost less for the participants. 

 

They also approved the Town Accountant in the amount of $116,926, a $23,026 increase from the previous year. This increase doubles the hours that the assistant is doing.  

 

The increase will also cover the cost of the expenses and cost of the professional and technical training that the town accountant will also have to go to this year to remain certified.  

 

They also approved decrease of $16,500 in the Audit Budget bringing the budget to $35,000. The reason for the decrease is because audits happen every other year.