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2022-3 STM APPROPRIATION COXMTTEE 25 OCTOBER 2022
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<br /> 2120 Noncontributory Retirement Is 16,7771$ —1$ (16,777)
<br /> This change is due, sadly, to the passing of the last Lexington retiree who was eligible for noncontributory
<br /> retirement benefits.
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<br /> 2430 1 Temporary Borrowing 1$ 1,050,0461$ 762,9751$ (287,071)
<br /> This reduction of the temporary borrowing expense reflects an update from the estimate of short-term borrowing
<br /> interest costs approved at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting. The new number is a fairly exact projection based on the
<br /> actual in-levy borrowing during FY2022, which was lower than anticipated, and the interest rates of those loans,
<br /> which were more favorable than anticipated. The reduction also reflects the conversion of in-levy debt previously
<br /> appropriated for design work for the new Police Station under Article 14 of the 2018 Annual Town Meeting into
<br /> exempt debt following the approval of the debt exclusion vote for the Police Station project in June 2022.
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<br /> 2500 1 Reserve Fund Is 750,0001$ 1,250,0001$ 500,000
<br /> This article requests an appropriation to partially restore the depleted Reserve Fund, originally funded at$750,000,
<br /> to a balance of$500,000. This request will be funded by new growth revenue from the tax levy.
<br /> The initial balance of the Reserve Fund was recently transferred in its entirety to fund an unanticipated problem
<br /> with the Town's public safety communications system. There have been significant issues with emergency police
<br /> and fire communications since the Police Department and Dispatch Center vacated the Police Station at 1575
<br /> Massachusetts Ave. and moved to 173 Bedford St. In consultation with the Police and Fire Departments, and on the
<br /> advice of experts,the Town is upgrading its emergency communications system at an estimated total cost, including
<br /> an amount for contingencies, of$800,000.
<br /> To accomplish this as soon as possible, the Appropriation Committee, per a request from the Select Board and
<br /> Town Manager, approved in late September a transfer of the entire balance of the Reserve Fund, i.e., $750,000,to a
<br /> newly created capital account for public safety communications. If the cost of the upgrades exceeds this amount,
<br /> the Select Board has indicated that it will expend American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which may be used
<br /> without appropriation,to cover the remaining balance.
<br /> Since it is still relatively early in the fiscal year, it is prudent to replenish the Reserve Fund to be able to address any
<br /> urgent but unforeseen expenses that may occur during the remainder of FY2023.
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<br /> 2600 1 Public Facilities–Energy Budget 1$ 12,669,3071$ 13,069,3071$ 400,000
<br /> This request results from recent increases in the costs of electricity and natural gas, combined with increased energy
<br /> usage to provide higher airflow in Town buildings, particularly school buildings, as necessitated by the pandemic.
<br /> This request will be funded by new growth revenue from the tax levy.
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<br /> 8210-8220 Town Manager Personal Services $ 956,568 $ 1,011,696 $ 55,128
<br /> 8600 Information Technology Personal $ 867,192 $ 812,064 $ (55,128)
<br /> Services
<br /> 8210-8220 Town Manager Expenses $ 289,185 $ 294,275 $ 5,090
<br /> 8600 Information Technology Expenses $ 1,860,535 $ 1,855,445 $ (5,090)
<br /> These changes, essentially a housekeeping matter, will transfer the compensation and associated expenses for a
<br /> webmaster from the IT department to the Town Manager's office,with no net change to the FY2023 budget.
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