Town of Farmington
Budget Committee
January 9, 2007
Public Hearing Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Chairman Arthur Capello, Deb Cantwell, Ann Titus, Michael Morin, Gail Ellis, Joe Pitre, and School Board Rep. Rich Cilley.
Public Present: Superintendent Michelle Langa, Deb Briggs, Josh Turner, Christine Popek, Sheryl Olstad, Carol O'Connell, Lisa Dore and Steve Duffy
Meeting called to order by Chairman Arthur Capello at 7:04pm
1. Deb Briggs stated that the 2007-2008 Proposed School Budget would have a tax rate impact of 43 cent increase from 2006-07 and includes a 10 cent increase for the statewide education property tax.
2. Public Hearing for School Budget opened.
a. Deb Cantwell and Gail Ellis questioned why the Instructional Staff Services line and SAU Mgm't Svcs. Line show a 0% increase when that is not the reality. Deb Briggs responded that is an error and she will fix it.
b. Deb Briggs stated for the record that the 2006-07 Revenues are based on the tax rate and the 2007-08 Revenues are a conservative estimate.
c. Gail Ellis questioned if the town is on target with projected revenues for 2006-07. Deb Briggs responded yes but that many of the revenues come in once a year, or quarterly.
d. Gail Ellis questioned if additional funds come in from grants once the books have closed and what happens to that money. Deb Briggs responded that grant money can only be expended on what the grant was originally written for and that if a grant is underspent or comes in after the budget year the SAU applies to carry over the funds. Then either the funds are carried over or they are returned to the agency.
e. Carol O'Connell questioned what is happening with the frozen budget and how it will effect the 07-08 budget. Arthur Capello responded that the this year's budget does not effect next years and the question on this year's budget would have to be addressed at a school board meeting.
f. Steve Duffy questioned if the Medicaid Distribution number pretty much stays the same. Deb Briggs replied yes. Steve noted for the record that in 1996 the revenue from this line was 0 and has slowly increased over the years.
Public Hearing closed at 7:35pm.
3. Arthur Capello reminded the committee and the public that the deliberative session for the budgets is scheduled for February 8, 2007 at 7pm in the High School.
4. The Budget Committee gave the school budgets one more look over with the following comments and suggestions.
a. Arthur Capello moved to decrease the bottom line by $3550.38, Deb Cantwell seconded. Discussion followed that this is to reduce the Admin. salary increases to 3.3%. Motion failed with 2 in favor (Arthur Capello and Deb Cantwell) and 5 abstentions (Mike Morin, Ann Titus, Gail Ellis, Joe Pitre, and Rich Cilley). Superintendent Michelle Langa stated for the record that she strongly believes the administration deserves the 3.8% increase because they are non-unionized, they deserve it, they have had to stretch and hurdle a lot this year, they have had
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to have a lot of extra instruction this year and it would be a moral booster. Rich Cilley also questioned how this cut might effect the budget, Deb Briggs responded it would change the budget by one cent.
b. Gail Ellis stated for the record that she does not understand why the town is expending $8000 for Northstar which home tutors students that are coded, who choose not to go to school or got in trouble and can not go to school. She questioned shouldn't the town be able to draw the line somewhere. Rich Cilley responded that it is a legal obligation to education these students until age 21.
c. Gail Ellis also questioned why the substitute lines were increased by so much this year, in some cases by 600%. The discussion was held that substitute budgets were over expended this year plus with new curriculum coming in the teachers/staff will have to undergo training that will require substitutes over and beyond the sick and personal day coverages.
d. Mike Morin moved to accept the 2007-08 Proposed School and SAU budgets of $14,885,367.23, Arthur Capello seconded. Motion passed with one abstention from Gail Ellis.
5. Warrant Articles for 2007-08:
For the record School Board Rep. Rich Cilley abstained from all voting on the warrant articles because he already voted on them. A copy of the warrant articles is attached to these minutes.
a. Deb Cantwell moved to accept Article 4, Gail Ellis seconded. Discussion followed that the tax impact for the article is 14 cents and that if the article is not passed the money to pay for the para contract will have to come from somewhere else in the budget and therefore taken from the students. Motion passed with Ann Titus and Rich Cilley abstaining.
b. Deb Cantwell moved to accept Article 6, Gail Ellis seconded. Motion passed with one abstention from Rich Cilley. This article has no tax impact.
c. Mike Morin moved to accept Article 7, Ann Titus seconded. Motion passed with one abstention from Rich Cilley. This article has no tax impact.
d. Mike Morin moved to accept Article 8,9, and 10, Deb Cantwell seconded. Motion passed with one abstention from Rich Cilley. These articles have no tax impact.
e. Ann Titus moved to accept Article 11, Joe Pitre seconded. Motion passed with one abstention from Rich Cilley. This article has no tax impact. Mike Morin asked how this effects the Playground Committee. Rich Cilley responded that the committee is looking to raise 100,000 but is willing to work in phases. This $40,000 would get the grounds up to date and a few new pieces of equipment.
f. Mike Morin moved to accept Article 12, Gail Ellis seconded. Motion passed with Rich Cilley abstaining. This article as no tax impact. Arthur questioned if there is a separate fund for the ballfields. Deb Briggs responded yes the Outdoor facilities fund is available but is not typically used for fencing which is what this money would be used for so that the players and spectators are safe.
g. Gail Ellis moved to accept Article 13, Ann Titus seconded. Motion passed with Rich Cilley abstaining. This article has no tax impact. Arthur Capello questioned why the monies for these articles are coming out of this one fund and Deb Briggs responded that we have two similiar funds with similiar monies and they are trying to bring one down.
h. Deb Cantwell moved to accept Article 14, Gail Ellis seconded. Mike Morin added a friendly amendment to include Article 15, Arthur seconded, Amendment was accepted. Motion carried with one abstention from Rich Cilley. These articles have no tax impact. Discussion followed if the money could come out of the school bond. Deb Briggs stated that there is $129,200 left on the 6 year bond and Steve Duffy added that typically you should leave the bond monies alone because they usually have a better pay off at the end.
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i. Joe Pitre moved to group Article 16, 17, and 18, Gail Ellis seconded. Motion passed with Rich Cilley abstaining. Gail Ellis moved to accept Article 16, 17, and 18, Ann Titus seconded. Motion passed with Rich Cilley abstaining. These articles have no tax impact. Arthur questioned if SAU applied for any Homeland Security Grants. Michelle Langa responded no but her office could look into it.
j. Joe Pitre moved to group Article 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, Gail Ellis seconded. Motion passed with one abstention from Rich Cilley. Arthur questioned what Article 22 would be to purchase for and Deb Briggs responded it would buy a phone system for the high school that gave the teacher voice mail boxes and such. Ann Titus moved to accept Article 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, Deb Cantwell seconded. Motion passed with Rich Cilley abstaining. These articles have no tax impact.
k. Deb Cantwell moved to accept Article 24, Mike Morin seconded. Discussion followed that this bus replacement is to keep in line with the Capital Plan and will replace bus #7. Motion passed with Mike Morin opposed and Rich Cilley abstaining. This article will have a a tax impact of approximately 9 cents.
l. Mike Morin moved to accept Article 25, Ann Titus seconded. Motion passed with one abstention from Rich Cilley. Arthur Capello asked if these bus cameras are more durable than the ones purchased a few years ago and Rich Cilley replied that yes they are and they are the same cameras that Middleton uses and their roads are similiar. Mike Morin asked why this item is not in the operating budget and Deb Briggs responded that it was brought up after the budget was complete.
Thursday, January 11, 2007 budget committee hearing will not be needed as all business was completed tonite and it was a contigency date.
Rich Cilley moved to adjourn, Mike Morin seconded. Motion passed with all in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 8:55pm.
Repectfully submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
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