Date of Meeting: Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:25 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton; Roger Deal; Ken Sydow
Others Present: Nancy Colbert, Town Administrator; Dan Haynes, Town Accountant; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; others as noted on sign-in sheet.
Budget Meeting with Finance Committee (Present: Eric Brose, Herb Cronin, Karen McGahie, Tim Houlihan, Dave Butler):
· Discussion was held regarding a Warrant article for Highway Department’s front-end loader. Don’t specify “new” front-end loader. Will have Don look into pricing for slightly used loader versus new; then if a used one is found that is acceptable, we can reduce the dollar amount of the article on the Town Meeting floor. Herb Cronin recommends reducing in Warrant to $155K.
· Nancy reviewed the budget. She has met with John Roy and Brian McDermott eight to ten times since January.
§ School expenditures are up approximately six percent (6%) total
o 3.3% of 4.5% increase at Tahanto is due to Special Education cost increase
o Boylston Elementary School expenditures up 0.71%
§ Currently, the budget has a deficit of $52,531 that the school will be making up when they balance their budget.
§ The Town side of the budget is being reduced by about $74K overall.
§ Schools’ budget being increased by about $400K
· Dave Butler said the Regional assessment is using up the majority of the $400K increase.
· Ken Sydow noted the schools have been very cooperative in the budgeting process with the help of Joe Connelly and Nancy. Dave Butler said he could see why; their budget is up $400K, the Town side is down $75K.
· Herb Cronin said that next year the school will have to suffer the majority of the budgeting crisis. There is nothing more to cut on the municipal side. The teachers’ contract is due to be negotiated next year and we need to be firm and not agree to large increases. We’ll escape this year without a “bloodletting,” but we won’t escape it next year. If they don’t concede on the salary level, it will cost teacher layoffs.
· Roger Deal said he agrees, but feels there will be a case of “amnesia” at this time next year. We talk about it every year but unless it is communicated well in advance, and in writing, we will be in the same situation next year.
· Jim Stanton said the increase at the elementary school is reasonable. Tahanto is also not bad at 1.25%.
· Roger said he was confused about talk of various percent increases. 6% versus 4.5% versus 1.25%, etc. This needs to be presented clearly so it is understood. It should be in a dollar amount.
· Jim explained the varying percentages:
o 4.5% is net increase in expenditures at Tahanto
o 12% increase (in budget) is Boylston’s assessment
o 6% increase is the total increase in spending
o 1.25% is the increase minus the Special Education increase
· Ken said people are going to want to know what it will cost them as taxpayers.
· Herb said the point should be made that the Town budget is being cut and the school budget is increasing by $400K.
· Roger mentioned his concern about the upcoming school renovation…trying to soften the blow so that there is some acceptance when that capital need comes to the taxpayers.
· Jim agrees he would have been more comfortable with the level-service budget for municipal versus level-funded now being proposed.
· Herb Cronin stated he thinks we should start getting the message out right away about next year, that the school needs to be prepared to make cuts next year and will be willing to negotiate on contracts. We’ve “squeaked through” this year but we can’t do it again next year.
· Ken Sydow said many communities this year have had wage freezes, layoffs, etc.
· Dave Butler asked about the Assessors’ reserve fund. If money has been put aside for Verizon’s telephone pole lawsuit? Dan Haynes said yes -- $110K in overlay accounts for $50-60K of that money if it has to be abated.
· Dave noted that as presented, $54,728 still needs to be transferred from free cash to balance the budget. The Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen feel the school should also be asked to come up with that in cuts. Nancy is to call and ask them to come up with $52,531 and $54,728 in cuts. If they can’t come up with additional cuts, it is agreed that we will take an additional $54,728 from free cash to balance.
· Free cash remaining will be about $233K after articles and transfers.
A brief discussion was held regarding the status of stimulus project and money.
Upon motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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