1997-03-24 to1997-04-16-ATM-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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5U14 Adjourned Town Meeting-April 2, 1997 cont... 8:49 Barrie Peitz, School Committee Chairman, presented comments on School Department financial requests. Ms. Peitz explained that line item 1100 and Articles 22 and 23 were three vital components of a broad design for service levels and capital expenditures. 8:52 Ms.Peitz requested the Moderator recognize Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeffrey Young for a formal presentation. Dr. Young presented an overview summary of budget increases and reviewed a summary of the 1998 budget requests. F.dnraYinn 1100 Lexington Public Schools $42,403,743 (And further that the School Department is authorized to enter into equipment lease/purchase agreements from time to time provided that each such agreement is subject to annual appropriations.) 1200 Minuteman Regional School 721,950 9:05 p.m. Presented by Jane Pagett,Lexington representative to the Minuteman Regional School. Ms.Pagett recommends approval of line item 1200 at the requested amount. Ms. Pagett has concerns about the budget, but in the short term, requests Lexington make payments to Minuteman in accordance with the previously negotiated agreement. 9:15 p.m. Paul Lapointe, Appropriation Committee Chairman, spoke to acknowledge the outstanding work of Jane Pagett as the Lexington representative to Minuteman. He also expressed the concerns of the Appropriation Committee: 1. Minuteman's cost structure is still too high, its spending over twice the foundation budget for vocational schools as identified by the state; 2. Minuteman's practice of estimating revenues fails to budget revenues such as tuition, choice students from other towns, interest income, etc. 3. Minuteman's fund balance growth from 15% to 32%; 9:23 p.m. Mr. Lapointe presented the following substitute motion for line item 1200: MOTION: With respect to the FY 1998 Budget and $721,950 assessment proposed by the Minuteman Regional Vocational School Committee, I move that Town Meeting take the following actions: 1. Reject the proposed budget and assessment because: a. Minuteman's costs remain too high relative to several benchmarks. b. Minuteman's proposed budget does not include over $3 million the District will collect in FY 1998. c. Minuteman's fund balances are extraordinarily high. d. Minuteman has no policy regarding fund balances and cash reserves. 2. Appropriate$51,365 to a separate line item for the Middle School program Minuteman conducts in the Lexington middle schools. 3. Appropriate$470,585 to Line Item 1200 for Lexington's FY 1998 Minuteman assessment. 4. Appropriate $200,000 to a separate line item as a Minuteman assessment reserve, said reserve to be allocated to Line 1200 only at such time and in such amount as may be required to pay Lexington's FY 1998 assessment as finally voted by the Minuteman School Committee. 9:23 p.m. Mr.Lapointe explained justification for passage of this amendment. 9:25 p.m. Nyles Barnert,former Chairman of Minuteman's School Committee, spoke in opposition to the substitute motion.