Even though Linda Brabant, the director of the Tewksbury Senior Center, describes this year’s budget as “bare bones,” she doesn’t believe much will change at the facility. “We live within our means, and we’ve been frugal over the years, so I think we’re used to it,” she said. The current operating budget for the Senior Center (not including salaries) is $72,000. Of that, $69,000 is allotted for building maintenance, including a contract for the building’s HVAC. “We don’t even have $3,000 budget for supplies,” said Brabant. Despite the center’s ability to cope with limited funds, Brabant said …

Last fall, Library Director Diane Giarrusso and other department heads were asked to craft goals and objectives for Fiscal Year 2012. Last month, she put the finishing touches on a budget for FY 2012. The two don't mesh. “We were asked (by Town Manager Richard Montuori) to craft a budget that was level-funded in staffing, and a 10 percent cut in other areas,” said Giarrusso. “We needed to look at our budgets a few more times to see if there were places to cut or places that we could absorb less funding.” The proposed budget for the next fiscal year represents a seven percent cut in library …