Finance Committee Minutes
The Finance Committee was called to order at 6:30 P.M.on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 6:30 P.M. by Chairman, Ralph Ledger. In attendance in addition to Ralph were: Mira Munson, Ted Locke, Eric Munson, Jr., Steve DellaGuistina, Tom Paine and Margaret McClellan.
Current Budget
The current budget, expenditures to date, was reviewed and all accounts seemed to be in line with expectations. Early on, the selectmen had asked all department heads to hold back 10% of their requests for spending.
2009 –2010 Budget
Ted Locke, our representative to the Regional School Committee, reported that the Regional School Committee hoped to only increase the school budget by 5%. We respectfully requested flat funding.
The Committee set the due date for budgets from all Departments for February 20, 2009. They plan to review all budget requests at their next meeting on February 24, 2009 at 6:00 P.M. Margaret was requested to send a letter to Department heads announcing the due date and setting the following guidelines for budget development:
Budgets of:
- Less than $1,000 – to stay at level funding ’09 budget
- $1,000 to $10,000 – cut 10% from ’09 budget
- more than $10,000 – cut 15% from ’09 budget
In addition, all salaries are to be frozen and there are to be no requests for capital spending this year (although the committee would like a list of capital needs for future reference).
Additional Business:
Ralph agreed to contact Dave Barney to see if he wished to continue on the Finance Committee . Ralph agreed to let the Selectmen know his answer so they could try to appoint a new member if necessary.
Margaret reported that we have 30 parcels in Tax Title (mostly in Wildwood). The group agreed that when we get the money for current lots that have been sold, we should earmark the money for selling as many of the current parcels in Tax Title as possible. The committee also felt that where taxes are owed on second homes and have not been paid in several years, these taxes should be pursued vigorously.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 P.M.
Our next meeting is set for February 23, 2009 at 7:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mira K. Munson, Secretary
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