2014-03-ATM-AC-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE REPORT TO THE MARCH 2014 ATM As always, the Town crafts its budget in the absence of a firm commitment on the amount of State fund- ing to expect, primarily in the form of aid under Chapter 70 (schools) and Chapter 90 (roads). In the last few years, State aid has been difficult to predict, with small consecutive reductions in FY2011 and FY2012, followed by a 12% increase in FY2013. This year State aid is expected to increase 8.4%, due almost entirely to growth in Chapter 70 aid. A rapid increase in enrollment within the Lexington Public School system has put a serious burden on the School department. The Superintendent has requested funding for new staff to meet the legal require- ments and programmatic needs of the population. For the coming fiscal year, this funding did not require a deviation from the Town’s revenue allocation model. The Committee expects that the need to provide suitable classroom space for a growing school population and the associated staff will have a significant impact on future budgets. Finally, this budget makes significant investments in capital improvements to the Town’s buildings and infrastructure. The Committee agrees that this is a worthwhile use of funds while the Town is not under pressure to meet its basic budget needs. As usual, the Committee may choose to update its recommendation on the floor of Town Meeting if new information is presented. 3