TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BUDGET COMMITTEE
PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday - February 12, 2008
356 Main Street - Farmington, NH
Members Present: Chairman Joe Pitre, Ann Titus, Gail Ellis, Brian St. Onge, Deb Cantwell, Mike Morin, and Arthur Capello.
Members Absent: Steve Henry (excused)
Selectmen's Rep: Paula Proulx
School Board Rep: Steve Durrance (excused)
Public Present: Gerry McCarthy, Marty Gilman, Tony Mincu, Joan Funk, Scott Roberge.
Chairman Joe Pitre called the meeting to order at 7:04pm and led the committee in the Pledge of Allegiance. Joe opened the public hearing on the Town Budget.
A. Review of Warrant Articles:
1. Arthur Capello asked what the tax impact of the budget is before the warrants and Tony Mincu responded it is a $0.07 decrease of last year's tax level before the Selectmen applied the unexpended funds.
2. Gail asked if the roads in Article 24 (Sky View Drive and Whippoorwhill Ridge Road) are ready for acceptance except for the top-wearing course. The Selectmen responded no. Gail asked if the Selectmen would speak to the conditions of and cost of completing the roads and they responded that they could not because of pending litigation.
3. It was noted that Article 10 should read it has a negative $0.07 impact.
4. It was noted that Article 15 should read it has an impact of $0.04.
5. Arthur questioned if all the warrants pass will there be a $0.19 increase. Tony said no, Article 10 includes the warrants so there would be a $0.07 decrease. Joe noted that it will appear to be a $0.47 increase from last year because the Selectmen bought down the taxes this year with some unreserved balance funds. Paula added that Article 10's tax impact should be just for the operating budget and not include the warrants, so it should be a negative $0.12.
6. Mike said he calculated the amount to be raised from taxation to be $3,042,960. Arthur noted that when he did the calculations he came up with a $0.64 decrease. Tony commented that he used the 4.79 million-assessment rate to figure the tax rate and the budget committee is utilizing the 4.94 million rate. The budget committee discussed that they are more comfortable utilizing the 4.79 million-assessment rate because then if the rate goes up the taxes will go down. The new calculation was a $6.36 proposed tax rate and in 2007 it was $6.35.
7. Deb asked Tony to reflect the tax impacts with dollar signs or in cents because the way they are presently written is confusing and misleading.
B. Review MS-7:
1. Mike questioned the revaluation of property line that showed $51,000 and $53,000 but in the budget it reflects $23,000. Tony said he asked this question of DRA and they said to place it this way because the town has a capital outlay of $30,000 and there was no other place to put it.
2. Joe asked what the Economic Development line was for. Tony replied for the virtual town hall, website, economic development committee and downtown and business committee.
3. Arthur asked if there are any more petition warrant articles and Tony replied no that the deadline had passed.
4. Paula noted that on pg. 4 of the MS-7 on line 4589 (other culture and rec.) the selectman appropriation should read $13,900.
5. It was noted that on the last page of the MS-7 the subtotal 1 for the selectman recommended budget should be $5,773,251 and subtotal 3 should be $229,400 in both budgets.
Arthur Capello motioned to close the public hearing on the town budget, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
C. Acceptance of Warrants:
1. Arthur Capello motioned to recommend Article 11 as written, 2nd Ann Titus. Discussion followed in which Paula said she got a memo from Cyndi Paulin that said there was an extra $7,000. Tony stated that the $7,000 is on the school side of the budget. Paula asked if they budgeted for it and Tony replied that he did not know. Motion carried with Ann Titus abstaining.
2. Arthur Capello motioned to recommend Article 12 as written, 2nd Brian St. Onge. Discussion followed in which Mike said this will leave $3,000 in the fund. Gail commentd that the CIP shows a loader replacement in 2009 for $219,000 and then in 2014 a sidewalk tractor. Motion carried with Mike Morin opposed.
3. Brian St. Onge motioned to recommend Article 13, 2nd Arthur Capello. Motion carried with all in favor.
4. Mike Morin motioned to recommend Article 14, 2nd Deb Cantwell. Motion carried with all in favor.
5. Debra Cantwell motioned to recommend Article 15, 2nd Mike Morin. Motion carried with all in favor.
6. Arthur Capello motioned to recommend Article 16, 2nd Ann Titus. Motion carried with Mike Morin opposed.
7. Debra Cantwell motioned to recommend Article 17, 2nd Arthur Capello. Motion carried with all in favor.
8. Arthur Capello motioned to recommend Article 18, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
9. Arthur Capello motioned to amend Article 19 to $19,600, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
Arthur Capello motioned to recommend Article 19 with the previous amendment of $19,600, 2nd Ann Titus. Motion carried with all in favor.
10. Arthur Capello motioned to recommend Article 20, 2nd Gail Ellis. Discussion followed in which Mike said he would like to lower the amount to $25,000 so there is some consistency, noting there is $49,700 in the fund now. Gail said that the CIP calls for ambulance replacement in 2009. Paula said the Selectmen made the recommendation of $30,000 because Rich Fowler had $50,000 in fire and they changed that to zero because their are grants available and only $5,000 in ambulance. Motion carried with Arthur Capello opposed.
11. Mike Morin motioned to recommend Article 21, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
12. Mike Morin motioned to recommend Article 10, 2nd Ann Titus. Discussion followed in which Paula asked why the town would not use the 4.93 million-tax value that the school applied. The budget committee and the Selectmen came to a concensus to apply the 4.93 million and calculated the tax impact to be a $0.12 decrease. Brian questioned why the article is not showing a true tax impact to the residents, explaining that many residents will not understand that the tax rate was higher before the Selectmen bought it down and that this year's calculations are based on the original tax rate. Paula explained that it will be Tony's job to explain the buy down process to the residents at the town meeting. Gail suggested having Tony attach an explanation sheet of the actual tax
impact as a cover sheet to the warrants. Tony replied that he could do that. Motion carried with Arthur Capello and Brian St. Onge opposed.
D. Other:
1. Arthur commented that the School Board decided to leave off the tax impact from their warrants. Gail responded that the budget committee could post the tax impacts.
2. It was noted that if all budgets and warrants pass the tax rate for 2008 will be $20.03.
3. The next meeting is scheduled for 2/18/08 to accept and sign the MS-7 and review the minutes.
Brian St.Onge motioned to adjourn, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
Chairman Pitre adjourned the meeting at 9:37pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
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Ann Titus, Secretary
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