Town of Rutland
Finance Committee & Board of Selectmen Meeting Accepted 3/23/16
Meeting Minutes: 2/09/16 Lyndon S. Nichols
Finance Committee Meeting Opened: 7:01 pm
Finance Committee Attendance: Karen Nahrwold, Debbie Kristoff, Matt Hadley and Tom Ruchala
Finance Committee Absent: Carl Bindoo, David Bigelow and Lyndon Nichols
Margaret Nartowicz, Town Administrator, was also present for the discussions.
Bay Path Vocational Schools were in attendance to present their budget. Superintendent John Lafleche and the business manager were presenting.
10 towns are part of Bay Path; they informed us that this is a tight budget.
They informed us that for the past 17 years they have built their budget based on Minimum Local Contributions from all of their member towns. They have continued that this year, however, they were putting the town on notice that they are not sure how much longer they will be able to do so.
They have maintained all staff, and cut other accounts in order to make the budget work.
They have decreased supplies and they have made no commitments to buy new equipment. Total budget is $20,841,414. Operational budget increase of only 1.48%.
Bay Path is spending at 95.7% of minimum spending.
Budget does include a COLA for staff and some steps.
One program that was cut in order to make the budget work was the record retention program. Sheila Dibb of the Select Board questioned as to whether or not they will be able to restore this program after this year. The school representatives answered that they are committed to this program, however, they wanted to provide the member towns with a minimum local contribution budget as they have in the past, and this program needed to be cut in order to achieve this.
$1,069,000 in Errors and Deficiencies
Bay Path provides two tiers of teachers, one vocational and one academic. Bay Path does not accept out of district applications. The school actually has a waiting list.
Sheila Dibb questioned as to matriculation after graduation. 60% of Bay Path graduates go on to college of which 45% of those are attending a 4 year college. Bay Path is required to do a one year follow up with all graduates. Only 4% of graduates are not in the Military, working or in college.
Detailed line by line budget were distributed to the members present.
Wachusett Regional School District:
Health Insurance for the district is expected to increase dramatically this year. 700 employees take the health insurance. Loss ratio is very high – using more in claims than the premiums being paid in.
MIIA was not interested in quoting.
12 large loss claims driving the losses – mostly catastrophic
Budget has seen some savings in oil costs – trying to put that toward the maintenance of the buildings.
5 positions added in 2015/2016 school year. Added ½ way through the year. These positions will be fully in the 2016/2017 school year budget.
When questioned as to Deveraux’s effect on the schools, Dr. McCall informed us that 30 – 40% of the Special Education Director’s time is spent on Deveraux students.
Transportation – last year Joe Scanlon went to AA Transportation and asked for a cut to help with the budget shortfall in 2015/2016 school budget. He received a cut for that year, but extended their contract by two years, and the budget for this year will see an increase. Joe Scanlon budgeted that the State would be funding Regional Transportation by 72%. Best guess based on State discussions are that they will try to fund Regional Transportation between 68% and 72%.
When questioned as to what the Minimum Local Contribution was for Rutland, Joe Scanlon indicated that he would have to look into it before giving us the dollar amount.
WRSD is 166 square miles.
Budget presented seeks a 58% increase in maintenance. The goal is to be funneling more money directly to maintenance. In years when the budget has needed to be cut, this line is perennially hit.
Errors and Deficiencies amount is to be ready by the 12th of February. Expected to be under $400,000.
Matt made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Debbie. Unanimously accepted to adjourn at 9:20 p.m.
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