2005-01-26-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 26, 2005 Budget Collaboration – January 26, 2005 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted not to use any of the $500,000 slated to go into the Stabilization Fund. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted not to increase new growth estimates. After the votes of the Selectmen the gap sits at $1,375,493. Next a discussion regarding whether or not to put an override question out took place. It was decided by the Selectmen that it was premature to vote on this policy. Mrs. McKenna suggested that the Interim School Superintendent and the Acting Town Manager work together to try to propose a combination of revenue enhancements and expense reductions to close the remaining gap. Mr. Pagett proposed that we allocate the split of that deficit in proportion to the size of the respected budgets $70 million schools, $27 million municipal. After much discussion it was agreed not to predetermine a split but to allow the two executives to work cooperatively and resolve the gap. Ms. Vine will call a Budget Process Group Meeting for later next week to report on the progress Mr. Hurley and Ms. Vine make. th The week of February 7, the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen are expected to vote their budgets. There will also be a collaboration meeting to resolve the remaining gap issues between the four boards. Mrs. McKenna asked the Boards to think about whether we should be looking at this year as a year to provide further structural balance by increasing the Snow and Ice Budget. Mrs. Brown, Appropriation Committee, described a scenario where we have already improved structural balance in the FY06 budget process and that were we to consider an operating override in FY07, that might be a good year to take a hard look at the Snow and Ice Budget. At approximately 8:45 p.m. the Collaboration Meeting ended. The Appropriation Committee adjourned their meeting. The School Committee remained in Open Session and proceeded to a different room to continue it’s meeting. The Capital Expenditures Committee remained with the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen had a discussion on proposed Capital items. The purpose of the discussion was to determine which capital items would be included in the warrant. Mr. Burnell continued the discussion from the last meeting about the Capital Expenditures Committee’s concern that there had been a practice under the prior Town Manager to use money approved for specific capital projects to fund miscellaneous maintenance and supplement prior year projects and not use the funds for the project Town Meeting voted. Mr. Burnell urged that going forward only capital items be included in capital articles and that some of the items - 3 -