Residents packed Benson Town Hall on Tuesday, May 12, voicing frustration and concern over a budget deficit exceeding $2.75 million that could lead to cuts in town services and staffing.
Many people at the meeting came to support the fire department after concerns that staffing reductions were being considered as part of the town’s effort to close the financial gap.
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Town Manager Dane Rideout attempted to calm some of those fears during the meeting, telling residents that fire department positions would not be cut.
Still, he warned that the town’s financial issues have been building for years. According to Rideout, Benson has enough money to continue daily operations, but its “rainy day fund” is empty.
“One of the scariest moments I’ve had here has been when we had supposedly the Ice-mageddon coming,” said Rideout. “We did not have the money to fix any material or structural failures based [on] Mother Nature. There was no money, and we did not know where we would get the money if powerlines were going down.”
Rideout blamed the deficit on a combination of overspending, delayed or unpaid reimbursements, and an underperforming electric fund.
As part of a proposed plan to stabilize the budget, the town could eliminate 13 positions, 11 of which are vacant, across multiple departments, including public works, police, and fire services.
The discussion also sparked criticism over leadership salaries. Some residents questioned why the town manager’s salary of $140,000 a year was not being reduced to help offset the shortfall.
“Benson is a small town,” one resident said during public comment. “Why do we need to pay people a hundred-something thousand dollars? No reflection on you personally, but you need to go back home.”
Town leaders have not yet finalized the budget, and additional discussions are expected in the coming weeks.