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2007-12-11 Ad hoc Budget Schedule Report
LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS REPORT OF AD-HOC BUDGET SCHEDULE COMMITTEE DECEMBER 11, 2007 Supersedes report dated November 14, 2007. Revised to address comments from stakeholders Contents Introduction 3 Summary Findings 4 Optimal Budget Schedule 5 Appendix 1: Override elections in Lexington 9 Appendix 2: Example of an Optimal Schedule 10 Appendix 3: Overrides in Towns with Representative Town Meetings 12 INTRODUCTION The Ad Hoc Budget Schedule Committee was appointed by the Lexington Board of Selectmen in August 2007. Members are chair Tom Diaz (School Committee), Helen Cohen (School Committee), Bonnie Brodner (Town Meeting Member, Precinct 3), Mary Ann Stewart (Town Meeting Member, Precinct 1), Norm Cohen (Board of Selectmen), George Burnell (Board of Selectmen), and Andy Friedlich (Town Meeting Member, Precinct 5). Nonvoting liaisons: Susan McLeish (Appropriation Committee), David Kanter (Capital Expenditures Committee), and Pam Hoffman (Appropriation Committee). The committee was asked to "study and recommend a budget schedule to accommodate operating overrides, when necessary, earlier than the first week of June."1 Lexington's history features a town budget prepared between the fall and the following February, town elections on the first Monday in March,2 and the Annual Town Meeting in late March-usually about three weeks following the elections-which includes approval of a town budget. Operating override elections, if needed, have been scheduled by the Board of Selectmen following Town Meeting's approval of a contingent budget. (As with any election, an override election requires 35 days of preparation following the Selectmen's vote to hold the election.) Beginning in 1988,3 Lexington has had twelve override elections. In three elections, questions were defeated. In 2006, two of the four operating override questions were defeated. In 2003, the single operating override question was defeated, and in 1997 the single debt exclusion question was defeated. Operating overrides have been in early to mid June. (See Appendix 1: Override elections in Lexington.) In two years, 2003 and 2006, significant numbers of town employees were laid off as a result of override failures-school, library, and municipal employees in 2003, and school employees in 2006. Even in years in which overrides pass, town employees and hiring managers face an uncertain situation until the override election is over. The schools hire significant numbers of people every year-about 100 in 2007-and are especially affected in their efforts to recruit new teachers, to compete for teachers with specialized skills, and to diversify their workforce. The Town has an interest in making this period of uncertainty shorter, by making operating override elections earlier.4 1 From charge to this committee, adopted by the Lexington Board of Selectmen, July 31, 2007. z In past years of presidential primaries, town elections were held on the first Tuesday in March instead-the same day as the primary. For 2008, the state moved the presidential primary to February 5~' [Senate Bill No. 2414, signed by the Governor, November 26, 2007; becoming Chapter 179 of the Acts of 2007], and so the town election will be on March 3rd. 3 Proposition 2~/2 was passed in a state referendum in 1980 and became effective in 1982. 4 Debt exclusion overrides, which can occur at any time on the calendar, are not germane to this committee's work, since the committee is mainly concerned with effects of overrides on hiring. SUMMARY FINDINGS The committee studied and discussed several alternatives: 1. Hold town elections in November, allowing Town Meeting to convene much earlier. This attracted interest but is contravened by state law, which requires our annual town elections to be held in February-May. (MGL Ch. 39, 9A) A change of election date would also require a change of town bylaws. 2. Schedule override elections on the first Monday in March, on the same day as town elections-that is, before Town Meeting convenes. 3. Collapse the schedules for both the budget and Town Meeting as much as possible, to make an override election as early as possible. The result is called an "optimal schedule" in this report. The committee recommends the third course of action-option 3-and it will be discussed in more detail later in this report. Option 2 was researched and discussed. There are towns that conduct overrides before their annual town meetings actually vote on the budget. However, there are few doing so that also have representative town meetings. In Lexington's political culture, the committee believes this option would require the budget to be completed extremely early (including approval by the elected boards), because voters and campaigners would expect the usual level of budget detail in the Yes and No override campaigns. A budget might have to be completed in December if it were to be the subject of a March 1 override, and yet, for reasons explained later, budgets are not likely to be fully approved before February. There was also a consensus in the committee that members of our representative town meeting would feel disenfranchised by an override campaign and election that prejudged the budget to be presented to the annual Town Meeting. Option 3 would allow overrides to be scheduled as early as the second half of April, if the department heads and their governing boards, seeing the necessity of an override, were to make an early override a very high priority. The Superintendent comments 5 that amid-April override would be enormously advantageous compared with our current situation, in which a great deal of hiring is delayed until the summer, but that any advance over a June override would be very helpful. 5 Private communications between Superintendent P. Ash and T. Diaz, Q4 2007. OPTIMAL BUDGET SCHEDULE An optimal budget provides an override election at the earliest practical date while meeting the constraints of the laws and bylaws governing the budget process, informing and satisfying the general public, and without changing the circumstances in which Town Meeting votes the budget. The constraints imposed by the law are summarized first. LAG FROM BUDGET TO TOWN MEETING The Selectmen are legally required to submit a budget four weeks before it is taken up by Town Meeting. Section 90-73. Submission of budget to Torn Meeting. Added 4-5-7989 ATM by Art. 48; amended 4- ~ 0-2000 ATM by Art. 23 ~ The Selectmen (hall submit a budget at the Annual Torn Meeting. The Selectmen's proposed budget (hall be diftributed to the Appropriation Committee, Capital Expendituref Committee and to each To~vn Meeting member at leaft four ~ee~f prior to the date Shen the Annual Torn Meeting if scheduled to confider it. REVIEW BY APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE Section ~ 78-72. Motionf and order of bufineff. D. No motion carving an expenditure or appropriation of money, except ~vhere such expenditure is required by la~v, (hall be acted upon at any torn meeting until some report thereon haf been made by the Appropriation Committee. The law does not specify the lag time between the Appropriation Committee's report and deliberation by Town Meeting. In Lexington, the Appropriation Committee has tried to provide its report a week before consideration in Town Meeting. TIMING OF TOWN ELECTIONS AND TOWN MEETING The annual Town Meeting, by state law, must convene in February, March, April, or May. Lexington town elections, as per town bylaws, take place on "the first Monday in March in each year, provided, however, if it shall fail to be so called in consequence of any defect in the warrant or other irregularity, it shall be called for a date as soon thereafter as may be practicable." (Historically, in presidential primary years, the town elections have taken place the same day as the primaries: the first Tuesday in March. ~) There is no legally mandated lag between town elections and the convening of Town Meeting. In practice, the intervening time (typically about three weeks) is used by the Moderator and the Town Meeting Members Association to provide information to new Town Meeting members. All members need time to study the budget, and new members need to be introduced to the procedures of the representative Town Meeting. The first meeting of the annual Town Meeting is often taken up by committee reports, award presentations, and the like. The information tables at that first meeting, as with all meetings, are the place to provide handouts for articles to be taken up at the next meeting. OTHER DEPENDENCIES The budget schedule is constrained not only by law but by external events not completely in the control of local officials. State aid For example, state aid to municipalities is a significant contributor to Lexington's budget: $9 million in fiscal 2008. However, the exact amount of this aid is not known at a convenient time for a town's budget; 2007 was the first time in many years that the governor's bill, presented in late February, included a state aid figure that was a good approximation of the final number. The Town Manager will estimate state aid conservatively. The sooner the budget process is concluded, the more uncertainty there will be in the estimated aid revenue. Kevenue split Lexington's Town Manager prepares new revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year near the beginning of the budget process. By consensus among elected officials, revenues are first set aside to pay for "shared expenses." These are expenses shared across all town departments, such as health care benefits for employees and facilities expenses. (New revenue is mainly the sum of new growth, 2.5% of the past year's tax levy, and any increases in local receipts.) From the Town Manager: ~ There is a too-step process for developing the revenue split.• ~ See footnote 2 on page 3 regarding the dates for 2008. ~ Email from Town Manager Carl Valente to Selectman Jeanne Krieger, October 23, 2007. ~. Staff develops revenue pr jections for the coming year and brings this to the BOSS and the Summits for concurrence. This happens in mid November and provides a general picture of anticipated revenue gro~th for the year Wye may be slightly delayed this year because it is a revaluation year Which may delay our nee gro~vth figure. 2. Once eve have our revenue projections for FY09, ~e need to first subtract Torn and School Shared Expenses to determine the remaining revenue available to split. This year ~vill be a bit more complicated because ~e gill need to include as part of Shared Expenses the budget for the Department of Public Facilities. Per the Selectmen's agreement pith the School Committee, the school department portion of this budget ~vill first be submitted to the SC~O before it is for~varded to the To~vn Manager. So chile ~e are ~vorl~ing on budget estimates for all Shared Expenses pliability insurance, health insurance, debt service, etc. the SC needs to be revie~ing its portion of the Facilities budget. X111 of this ~orl~ generally tapes place during December and ~e present the revenue split figures to the Summit in early f anuary (usually right after the Superintendent and Torn Managerpresent their budgets so that any budget shortfall can also be presented. After revenue is set aside for shared expenses, the remaining new revenue (if any) is apportioned between the school department (School Committee) on the one hand and the municipal departments (Selectmen) on the other hand. In recent years, by consensus, the actual spending of the past fiscal year is used as a guideline for the percentage that each major unit (e.g., the schools) receives. For a number of reasons, including the points made by the Town Manager, above, the revenue split does not occur before early January. ELEMENTS OF AN OPTIMAL SCHEDULE Option 3 suggests an optimal schedule by means of the following steps-each being dependent upon the successful completion of a prior step: 1. Complete the town budget as early as possible-no later than mid February. Completed means voted by the governing boards and serving as the basis for the Appropriation Committee's final report and for printing for Town Meeting members. 2. Convene Town Meeting the third ~lednesday following the town election. Use the first session of Town Meeting only for committee reports and other nonfinancial matters. At this first session, the Appropriation Committee report would be on the table for Town Meeting members if it had not already been provided to them. For example, if the election is on March 3, 2008, Town Meeting would convene March 19, 2008. 3. Take up the Town operating budget at the second meeting of Town Meeting, on the Monday following the first meeting-the fourth Monday in March. s Board of Selectmen. ~ A Summit is a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Appropriation Committee, and Capital Expenditures Committee. 10 School Committee. 4. If the operating budget is approved by Town Meeting, the Selectmen vote the question the same night, as was done in 2007.11 The override election can then be five weeks (35 days) later. The fourth Monday in April is therefore the earliest possible date in most years.12 However in 2008, the fourth Monday in April is also the first day following the schools' spring "Patriot's Day vacation." Therefore, the earliest election date for 2008 is one week later, the first Monday in May.13 11 This committee acknowledges that debate and voting on the operating budget may take more than one session of Town Meeting. Although legally the Selectmen can call an election at any time based on any criteria they choose, our recommendation is that they vote the night Town Meeting approves the operating budget, and not before, and that the election will be 35 or more days from the date of their vote. 12 If Town Meeting remains in session after approval of the budget, reconsideration of the budget is possible. The committee discussed the idea of having a second Town Meeting to take up nonfinancial matters, and dissolving the first Town Meeting as soon as the budget is approved. However, no recommendation is made either way. Note that in 2007, the Selectmen voted to put override questions on the ballot well before Town Meeting was dissolved, simply resting on the assumption that there would be no reconsideration. 13 Override elections have been held on both Mondays and Tuesdays in the past and may be in the future; the Selectmen decide on the date. APPENDIX 1: OVERRIDE ELECTIONS IN LEXINGTON Jun-07 2008 Schools $3,981,589 Approved 6/5/2007 Jun-07 2008 DPW debt exclusion $27,500,000 Approved 6/5/2007 Jun-06 2007 Override Schools #1 2,614,509 Not Appr. 6/5/2006 Schools #2 $551,607 Not Appr. 6/5/2006 Maintenance -Schools & Municipal $1,059,100 Approved 6/5/2006 Municipal $799,335 Approved 6/5/2006 2006 total $5,024,551 6/5/2006 Jun-04 2005 1 (schools) $3,271,485 Approved 6/8/2004 Jun-04 2005 2 (Lexpress) $213,028 Approved 6/8/2004 Jun-04 2005 3 (DPW) $194,693 Approved 6/8/2004 Jun-04 2005 4 (library) $191,730 Approved 6/8/2004 Jun-04 2005 5 (social serv, support) $179,961 Approved 6/8/2004 Jun-04 2005 6 (public safety) $173,443 Approved 6/8/2004 2004 total $4,224,340 Approved 6/8/2004 Jun-03 2004 Override $4,957,000 Not Appr. 6/2/2003 Jun-02 2003 Q1: Streets (debt excl.) Approved 5I20I2002 Jun-02 2003 Q2: Fields (debt excl.) Approved 5I20I2002 Jun-02 2003 Q3: Harrington & Fiske (debt exclusion) Approved 5I20I2002 Jun-02 2003 2002 total $42,550,000 Approved MaylJune 2000 2001 Override - TownlSchool Services and Roads $3,440,829 Approved 5I22I2000 Dec-98 2000 Debt Exclusion - School Building Project $52,235,000 Approved 12/7/1998 Dec-97 - Debt Exclusion - School Building Project $68,200,000 Not Appr. 12/8/1997 Jun-95 1996 Override - TownlSchool Services Schools $1,172,152 Approved 6/12/1995 Open Space $29,000 Approved 6/12/1995 Police $102,000 Approved 6/12/1995 Fire $196,848 Approved 6/12/1995 1995 total $1,500,000 6/12/1995 Jun-92 1993 Override -Trash Collection $2,718,092 Approved 6/15/1992 Jun-90 1991 Override - TownlSchool Services $1,097,829 Approved 6I11I1990 Aug-88 1989 Debt Exclusion -Pine Meadows Golf Course $11,000,000 Approved 8/17/1988 APPENDIX 2: EXAMPLE OF AN OPTIMAL SCHEDULE The diagram on the following pages simulates an optimal schedule by taking the Town Manager's proposed schedule for Fiscal Year 2009, assuming that an override is part of the picture, and overlaying this committee's suggestions for an optimal schedule. The override would be on May 5, 2008, the first Monday in May. N ~ ~ 01 0 3 V ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ _ ~ ,_~ ~ L d N (~ ~ L ' ............ L .: ., .. a~~N~3L as ~~=oo~` m ~ 0 ~ ~ ~~o ~ c N d = _ ~ ~ = a N ~ ~' + + +~ a m ~- '-o°~ od~° = m ~ c ~ = g c 0 °' o a m yi a ~ a~ ~ N o a ~ ~~ 3 L3 ~ ~ a N~~~aN~,~o _ +~ c H o~ m m °' ~ c ~ ~ ~ ~ _ ~ +' +.' = a N N C N _ _ ~ ~ N ~ ~ M M ~ 9 i ~i ~ N ~ ~ 3 a r. ~ d ~ a ~ ~~ M ~ ~a ° ~ r> ~ ~ _ ~~ ~-Nea~ om~,~0``' _.. Nl. C.. v.. y. ~ i ~- *'' . ~1 p.. ~.. ~ ; C 0 ~.M ..................................................., 0 3~~ 'L N N ~ _ _ p~ r 2 Q s ~ N i v~ I cV A N N ~ . L a 0 ©(n ~ ~ G1 ~ ~ N d ~ r ~+ r ~ r ~ r M N r ~ .3 ±' ~ +, ~ N ~ d N N N.. _.. ~... o a `~ ~ W. a ; ... .......................; ~s o N ~Y N o L r L a 3 ~ (~ r ~ +, ~ = N r r ~ ~h ~~~ ~~ o ,_ E_ _ ~~ o ~ ~ ,,,,... .... ...; d N r ~~ ~ ~ 0 L ° a ~, M a c = E ~ ~ N ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ _ M = r 0 ._ r ~ ~ r . ~ ,~ C N ~ a c N I E ......................................................................... ................................................................................................................. o r o N r m N . ......... ...... ~,~,~;~;~;~iN~iC N~iN~T''~ii~~'Ni~iO; p ~ p ~ ; ~ , ~i ~ i~ C ''~ ii= i~ i U ''~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ '',~ ~ U ' U''N'IV iU iC ~'~ i~U iC ''3~;~'~~ '0;~;-i>''~ ~~ iUl i~ ~ °,'~,O;Ni~'~i~~;~ a''~'' a~c~°;~;'L '~' '''~iOi~iO'N'~if6~O'O~' IIoU;3;°I~E~°,~o~ , 'I 'I ~ ~ I~ ~ ILL I~ IVJ ~ '''~~L I~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~'' ~ N ~ ~ ~ 'I Q I ~ I~ O ° U ~Q L 'I V '' ~ Q I~ ~ ~ I~ ~ I~ ~ ° I ~ ~ ~ ~ ° ~ 7 C ~ I ~ I ~ ~~~ I ~ ~ C IG ~~ 'I~ ~ 'r/ 'I~~ Iv, I~ 'I ~ I~ I C I ~ I ° I r /~ c ~// ~ O N ° My~ I ~ ~ ° I r 'I 'I ~ . ~ ~ ° ~ '' ''' ~ ° ~ ~I ~ ;W I~ Q I '~~I V, I ~ I ~ 'I ~ I ° I ° I ~ ~ ;~ '~ ~~ ~~ QI 'I~ I+~+ '~ I~ '~ I~ l O l ~- . I~ l O ~ O l o l~ L j O I~ I ~ 'I ~~ I N I j ' Q j ~ 'I~ 'I~ N~ I ~ I ILLLL ~ ~ ~++ I I' ~ I I N I UJ j ~L ~''I N~ (n ~ I ~ '' ~ I U I N ' ~ ~'~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ U 'I ~ ~ ~-. .~ ~~ N ~ I~ j~ ' ~ ; 'I I F I ~ I ° 'I~ I ° ~ 'I ~ I ~ I ~ }i ~ N ~ ~ ^'' ^ M~ CC // ~ W L i„1 W (~ ~ C V J ~~ ~ °o ~= ~~ ~a~ °~ L 3 . ~ ~ ~'II Icn 'cN ~ > ~ c ~ ~, I'I (n~m'I ~ ~I' I ~~ ~ I'I ` ~ , ~ II ~ I _ ~ II II ~ II . ~~, . ~ it ''N M ~ N ''itD f~ 00 ~ ''ice i~ N iM ''ice i~ ~ i~ ''ice ~ ~ APPENDIX 3: OVERRIDES IN TOWNS WITH REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETINGS After the first meeting of the Budget Schedule Committee, members wanted to review the history of other towns with representative Town Meetings, to see when these towns held override elections. Among the questions were whether towns had successful overrides when the override election preceded Town Meeting. The committee did not find the data conclusive, but the data are presented here for future reference. Fiscal Years 1990 - 2008 Override History for Cummunities with Representative Town Meetings (operating overrides only) Data per: Mass. Municipal Assoc. & Massachusetts Department of Revenue Communities with Town Meeting before election: ~. - Division of Local Services Override may have preceded Town Meeting: Municipal DatabanklLocal Aid Section (dep. on date of TM for that year) Munici ali Election Annual TM Description Date FY Yes No (Loss Amount ADAMS 7-May-07 611812007 fund towns share of reg.school assess. 6-May-91 1992 516 1,585 LOSS 275,000 AMHERST 27-Mar-07 7-May-07 "cap and oper budgets for Lib, Schs, Town" 1-May-90 1991 1,725 2,005 LOSS 557,698 AMHERST "police position, Human Resource budget" 1-May-91 1992 2,467 2,761 LOSS 26,290 AMHERST street lights 1-May-91 1992 2,442 2,775 LOSS 34,240 AMHERST clerical position Conservation Dept 1-May-91 1992 2,387 2,837 LOSS 3,300 AMHERST Amherst-Pelham RSD Assessment 1-May-91 1992 3,192 1,999 WIN 300,000 AMHERST "firefighterlEMT, Human Resources budget" 1-May-91 1992 3,226 2,009 WIN 138,010 AMHERST Amherst Elementary schools 1-May-91 1992 3,101 2,089 WIN 299,444 AMHERST Amherst-Pelham RSD Assessment 1-May-91 1992 2,868 2,345 WIN 547,955 AMHERST Amherst Elementary school's budget 1-May-91 1992 2,795 2,415 WIN 409,884 AMHERST "Jones,North Amherst,Munson Libraries" 1-May-91 1992 2,792 2,468 WIN 11,097 AMHERST regional school assessment 14-Jun-94 1995 1,867 2,031 LOSS 297,558 AMHERST GENERAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES 30-Mar-04 2005 2,258 2,169 WIN 2,000,000 AMHERST general operating and school expenditures 01-May-07 2008 2,383 2,650 LOSS 2,500,000 ARLINGTON 7-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 Operating expenses of town and schools 1-Jun-89 1990 5,805 6,078 LOSS 2,269,528 ARLINGTON General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 8,828 7,731 WIN 2,520,000 ARLINGTON FUND TOWN AND SCHOOL BUDGETS 11-Jun-05 2006 7,126 6,570 WIN 6,000,000 AUBURN ~ ~ school transformation 19-May-94 1995 953 1,719 LOSS 243,000 1 LIEUTENANT POSITION, 5 POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS, 1 CLERICAL POSITION, SAFETY AUBURN EQUIPMENT 15-May-03 2004 1,512 1,741 LOSS 733,178 AUBURN CLERICAL POSITION FOR ASSESSORS OFFICE 15-May-03 2004 886 2,324 LOSS 27,751 6 FULL TIME FIREFIGHTERSIEMT POSITIONS-3 AUBURN PART TIME FIREFIGHTER/EMT POSITIONS 15-May-03 2004 1,855 1,393 WIN 713,584 AUBURN CLERICAL POSITION IN ASSESSORS OFFICE 15-May-03 2007 886 2,324 LOSS 27,751 LIEUTENANT POSITION, 5 POLICE OFFICER AUBURN POSITIONS, ONE CLERICAL POSITION, ETC. 15-May-03 2007 1,512 1,741 LOSS 733,178 ROAD REPAIRS FOR THE HIGHWAY AUBURN DEPARTMENT 18-May-06 2007 921 1,554 LOSS 500,000 AUBURN GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 20-Jun-06 2007 2,480 2,079 WIN 1,300,000 BELMONT 2-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 Fund Solid Waste Collection & Disposal 1-Apr-90 1991 3,027 2,558 WIN 2,094,946 BELMONT provide municipal and school programs 6-Dec-93 1994 1,758 3,919 LOSS 1,116,111 BELMONT SCHOOL OPERATING EXPENSES 22-May-01 2002 3,084 1,965 WIN 3,000,000 BELMONT MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL OPERATING EXPENSES 01-Apr-02 2003 2,938 2,728 WIN 2,400,000 BILLERICA 14-Apr-07 1-May-07 provide funds for hazardous waste collec. 19-Mar-91 1992 2,110 5,394 LOSS 18,000 BILLERICA salaries for council on aging 19-Mar-91 1992 1,400 6,086 LOSS 7,484 BILLERICA public works salaries & utilities 19-Mar-91 1992 815 6,675 LOSS 112,983 BILLERICA "for school's teachers, music, books" 19-Oct-91 1992 2,978 4,610 LOSS 866,000 BILLERICA funds to surface & resurface town street 19-Oct-91 1992 1,637 5,815 LOSS 225,000 BILLERICA police cruiser & equip. for police dept 19-Oct-91 1992 1,596 5,836 LOSS 143,000 BILLERICA fire dept.o.t.to reopen west fire stat. 19-Oct-91 1992 1,654 5,872 LOSS 300,000 BILLERICA restoring street lights 19-Oct-91 1992 1,166 6,333 LOSS 52,000 BILLERICA police department overtime 19-Oct-91 1992 980 6,510 LOSS 105,000 BILLERICA funding salary of local inspector 19-Oct-91 1992 790 6,695 LOSS 28,741 BILLERICA replacing dasher boards on skating rink 19-Oct-91 1992 727 6,765 LOSS 80,000 BILLERICA cross connection salaries & expenses 19-Oct-91 1992 590 6,811 LOSS 8,550 BILLERICA professional and secretarial positions 19-Oct-91 1992 619 6,863 LOSS 144,500 BILLERICA sewer lateral expansion program 4-Apr-92 1993 1,499 3,819 LOSS 1,300,000 BRAINTREE 3-Apr-07 7-May-07 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT EXPENSES 10-Jun-97 1998 2,291 5,453 LOSS 2,926,508 BRAINTREE GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 13-May-03 2007 5,023 6,064 LOSS 2,000,000 BROOKLINE 8-May-07 29-May-07 general expenditures 3-May-94 1995 5,958 5,072 WIN 2,960,000 CHELMSFORD 3-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 General Oper. Budget 1-May-90 1991 5,085 5,477 LOSS 1,400,000 CHELMSFORD Funding Solid Waste Collection Operations 1-May-90 1991 4,864 5,683 LOSS 1,800,000 CHELMSFORD library salaries and expenses 1-Jun-91 1992 5,168 5,356 LOSS 96,665 CHELMSFORD fire department 1-Jun-91 1992 4,744 5,749 LOSS 307,000 CHELMSFORD police department 1-Jun-91 1992 4,663 5,840 LOSS 150,000 CHELMSFORD funds for recycling services 1-Jun-91 1992 4,622 5,867 LOSS 203,500 CHELMSFORD school budget 1-Jun-91 1992 6,008 4,549 WIN 950,000 CHELMSFORD fund mun household solid waste recycling 27-May-92 1993 3,640 1,454 WIN 1,655,000 DARTMOUTH 2-Apr-07 5-Jun-07 OPERATING COSTS OF NEW LIBRARY 04-Apr-05 2007 2,082 3,159 LOSS 400,000 DARTMOUTH 16-Oct-07 funding operating budgets of the town and school 31-Jul-07 2008 5,471 5,696 LOSS 8,459,000 FAIRHAVEN 2-Apr-07 5-May-07 Fund Sch. Dept. Salaries/Special needs 1-Apr-90 1991 431 1,278 LOSS 741,000 FALMOUTH ~ ~ ~ ~ "rep sch,rds,fuel carrier,haz waste colt" 1-May-90 1991 3,417 4,228 LOSS 1,685,885 Massachusetts Department of Revenue Communities with Town Meeting before election: ~. - Division of Local Services Override may have preceded Town Meeting: Municipal DatabanklLocal Aid Section (dep. on date of TM for that year) Munici ali Election Annual TM Description Date FY Yes No (Loss Amount FALMOUTH school positions and expenditures 20-May-97 1998 4,432 3,171 WIN 980,000 FRAMINGHAM 3-Apr-07 24-Apr-07 Fund Parks & Recr.Dept. Budget 1-Apr-90 1991 5,295 6,826 LOSS 50,000 FRAMINGHAM Fund portion of Police Dept. Budget 1-Apr-90 1991 5,387 6,860 LOSS 100,000 FRAMINGHAM Fund Youth Commission Oper. Budget 1-Apr-90 1991 5,115 7,028 LOSS 100,000 FRAMINGHAM Fund School operating budget 1-Apr-90 1991 5,280 7,118 LOSS 1,200,000 FRAMINGHAM Fund Council on Aging Budget 1-Apr-90 1991 6,396 6,002 WIN 80,000 FRAMINGHAM Fund portion of Library Oper. Budget 1-Apr-90 1991 6,253 6,072 WIN 50,000 FRAMINGHAM funding portion of fire dept. budget 1-Apr-91 1992 4,554 5,266 LOSS 700,000 FRAMINGHAM funding portion of police dept. budget 1-Apr-91 1992 4,369 5,426 LOSS 300,000 FRAMINGHAM Fund Gen. Operating Budget 1-Jun-91 1992 6,932 6,594 WIN 4,347,699 FRAMINGHAM FUNDING GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES 11-Jun-02 2003 6,877 6,536 WIN 7,173,239 HOLBROOK 3-Apr-07 29-May-07 school 1-Oct-89 1990 676 1,182 LOSS 370,000 HOLBROOK general government 1-Oct-89 1990 562 1,301 LOSS 150,000 HOLBROOK Fund Cleanup Expenses re: oil leak/School 1-Jun-90 1991 994 1,678 LOSS 132,000 HOLBROOK General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 679 1,946 LOSS 350,000 HOLBROOK General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 638 2,017 LOSS 500,000 HOLBROOK General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 400 2,193 LOSS 745,000 HOLBROOK cost of rubbish disposal collection 4-Apr-95 1996 1,067 955 WIN 750,000 FUNDING DEPARTMENTAL EXPENSES (SCHOOL, HOLBROOK POLICE, FIRE, & LIBRARY) 16-Jul-02 2003 1,078 1,057 WIN 382,000 LEE ~ ~ ~ ~ general operating budget 13-May-91 1992 225 729 LOSS 255,000 LEE school operating budget 15-May-95 1996 373 732 LOSS 75,355 LEE police department expenditures 13-May-96 1997 811 830 LOSS 17,427 LEE gen.govt.programrnsts assos.with staff 13-May-96 1997 564 1,046 LOSS 9,600 LEE school department operating budget 13-May-96 1997 970 733 WIN 228,683 LEXINGTON 5-Mar-07 26-Mar-07 General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 6,584 5,721 WIN 1,097,829 LEXINGTON 10-Oct-07 additional taxes for trash disposal 15-Jun-92 1993 6,247 3,654 WIN 2,718,092 LEXINGTON fire salaries 12-Jun-95 1996 5,434 3,485 WIN 196,848 LEXINGTON police salaries 12-Jun-95 1996 4,915 4,033 WIN 102,000 LEXINGTON maintaining public open space 12-Jun-95 1996 4,725 4,217 WIN 29,000 LEXINGTON maintain level of school services 12-Jun-95 1996 4,539 4,338 WIN 1,172,152 LEXINGTON general operating expenses 22-May-00 2001 5,402 3,058 WIN 3,440,829 LEXINGTON GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES 02-Jun-03 2004 5,634 6,019 LOSS 4,957,000 LEXINGTON PURPOSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY 08-Jun-04 2005 8,016 4,789 WIN 173,443 DPW, INCLUDING RESTORING CURB SIDE YARD WASTE PICKUP, CLEANING STREET LIGHT AND LEXINGTON OTHER MAINTENANCE 08-Jun-04 2005 7,907 4,871 WIN 194,693 RESTORING LIBRARY SERVICES INCLUDING PERSONNEL AND SATURDAY AND SUNDAY LEXINGTON HOURS OF OPERATION 08-Jun-04 2005 7,520 5,287 WIN 191,730 RESTORING AND PRESERVING SCHOOL LEXINGTON SERVICES TO MEED EDUCATIONAL GOALS 08-Jun-04 2005 7,343 5,492 WIN 3,271,485 OPERATION OF A SIX ROUTE LEXPRESS LEXINGTON TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 08-Jun-04 2005 6,870 5,926 WIN 213,028 SOCIAL SERVICES AND TOWN SUPPORT LEXINGTON SERVICES 08-Jun-04 2005 6,791 5,968 WIN 179,961 LEXINGTON MEETING EDUCATIONAL GOALS 05-Jun-06 2007 4,975 5,537 LOSS 551,607 LEXINGTON PURPOSE OF MEETING EDUCATIONAL GOALS 05-Jun-06 2007 5,146 5,370 LOSS 2,614,509 RESTORING AND PRESERVING MUNICIPAL LEXINGTON SERVICES 05-Jun-06 2007 5,327 5,192 WIN 799,335 FUNDING NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE OF MUNICIPAL SCHOOL LEXINGTON BUILDINGS 05-Jun-06 2007 5,494 5,013 WIN 1,059,100 LEXINGTON operating budget of the public schools 05-Jun-07 2008 6,391 5,400 WIN 3,981,589 MILFORD 2-Apr-07 21-May-07 Super Tuesday VotelResolution Aid Recover 1-Sep-91 1992 1,141 3,174 LOSS 650,000 MILTON 24-Apr-07 7-May-07 General operating budget 1-Apr-89 1990 4,415 3,024 WIN 596,228 MILTON General operating budget 1-Apr-90 1991 4,112 3,836 WIN 1,977,140 MILTON hiring and promoting new fire fighters 12-Jun-95 1996 3,343 2,852 WIN 260,000 MILTON addit. teachers-books-educ. services 12-Jun-95 1996 3,152 3,030 WIN 1,131,219 MILTON GENERAL OPERATING BUDGETS 26-Jun-01 2002 5,119 2,882 WIN 721,019 MILTON GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET 26-Jun-01 2002 4,237 3,002 WIN 1,423,191 MILTON GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 13-Jun-06 2007 4,768 3,712 WIN 2,411,083 MONTAGUE ~ ~ trash disposal 29-Jun-93 1994 524 230 WIN 76,190 APPROPRIATION FOR GILL-MONTAGUE MONTAGUE REGIONAL SCHOOL ASSESSMENT 04-Aug-03 2004 557 99,910 LOSS 326,058 APPROPRIATION FOR GILL-MONTAGUE REG. MONTAGUE SCH. SYSTEM ASSESSMENT 06-Jun-06 2007 576 812 LOSS 600,000 NATICK 27-Mar-07 10-Apr-07 General operating budget/school budget 1-May-90 1991 2,320 2,965 LOSS 800,000 NATICK General operating budget/school budget 1-May-90 1992 2,274 2,998 LOSS 1,000,000 NATICK implementing second ambulance 07-Nov-00 2001 9,410 7,146 WIN 427,000 NEEDHAM 10-Apr-07 7-May-07 "education,police,fire,public works,svcs." 1-Oct-88 1990 3,458 3,582 LOSS 1,595,000 Massachusetts Department of Revenue Communities with Town Meeting before election: ~. - Division of Local Services Override may have preceded Town Meeting: Municipal DatabanklLocal Aid Section (dep. on date of TM for that year) Munici ali Election Annual TM Description Date FY Yes No (Loss Amount NEEDHAM general budget 1-May-90 1991 4,861 4,903 LOSS 2,025,484 NEEDHAM Fund Library Operating budget 1-Apr-91 1992 8,196 2,819 WIN 467,000 NEEDHAM Fund Fire Dept.& Ambulance Service Budget 1-Apr-91 1992 7,322 3,628 WIN 198,115 NEEDHAM Fund Council on Aging Budget 1-Apr-91 1992 7,058 3,757 WIN 69,985 NEEDHAM Fund School department budget 1-Apr-91 1992 7,208 3,760 WIN 978,000 NEEDHAM Fund Police Department budget 1-Apr-91 1992 6,886 3,994 WIN 152,113 NEEDHAM Fund Park & Recreation Department budget 1-Apr-91 1992 6,042 4,660 WIN 52,000 NEEDHAM Fund Youth Commission Department budget 1-Apr-91 1992 5,991 4,704 WIN 26,872 NEEDHAM operations of police department 8-Apr-96 1997 3,883 3,947 LOSS 97,651 NEEDHAM operations of the Board of Health 8-Apr-96 1997 3,894 3,955 LOSS 57,831 NEEDHAM operations of school department 8-Apr-96 1997 3,908 3,969 LOSS 1,489,811 NEEDHAM maintainance of municipal maint.dept. 8-Apr-96 1997 3,364 4,366 LOSS 45,000 NEEDHAM operations of public works dept. 8-Apr-96 1997 3,359 4,373 LOSS 105,605 NEEDHAM operatons of the library 8-Apr-96 1997 5,692 2,304 WIN 295,000 NEEDHAM operations of council on aging 8-Apr-96 1997 4,393 3,481 WIN 40,000 NEEDHAM operations of youth commission 8-Apr-96 1997 4,267 3,596 WIN 66,431 NEEDHAM operations of fire department 8-Apr-96 1997 4,139 3,679 WIN 107,000 NEEDHAM operations of parks and recreation dept. 8-Apr-96 1997 4,098 3,755 WIN 40,500 NEEDHAM SCHOOL DEPT. OPERATIONS 3-May-97 1998 4,019 4,069 LOSS 1,500,000 FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE NEEDHAM PROGRAMS 05-Nov-02 2003 6,567 7,330 LOSS 4,650,000 FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE NEEDHAM PROGRAMS 05-Nov-02 2003 5,182 8,544 LOSS 5,656,000 FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE NEEDHAM PROGRAMS 05-Nov-02 2003 4,579 9,186 LOSS 6,970,000 NEEDHAM DEFRAYING SCHOOL OPERATING EXPENSES 14-Apr-03 2004 5,782 3,977 WIN 2,009,318 NEEDHAM PUBLIC SAFETY IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS 14-Apr-03 2004 5,782 3,977 WIN 300,000 NEEDHAM ROAD MAINTENANCE 23-Apr-03 2004 6,602 3,133 WIN 150,000 NEEDHAM SCHOOL DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES 11-Apr-06 2007 3,671 4,115 LOSS 1,476,017 NEEDHAM GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 11-Apr-06 2007 4,054 3,726 WIN 597,370 NEEDHAM defray school operating expenses 10-Apr-07 2008 4,681 3,376 WIN 1,128,670 PLYMOUTH i ~ ~ ~ operating-funding new middle school 8-Nov-94 1996 4,127 10,959 LOSS 4,000,000 OPERATING THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND RANDOLPH 3-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 PUBLIC SCHOOLS 13-May-03 2007 1,308 4,362 LOSS 5,200,000 OPERATING THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND RANDOLPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS 13-May-03 2007 1,479 4,207 LOSS 4,500,000 FULLY FUNDING REFUSE COLLECTION AND RANDOLPH DISPOSAL CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 13-May-03 2007 1,506 4,221 LOSS 2,500,000 OPERATING THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND RANDOLPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS 13-May-03 2007 1,741 3,974 LOSS 3,800,000 OPERATING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND RANDOLPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS 13-May-03 2007 2,213 3,590 LOSS 2,500,000 RANDOLPH GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES 13-Jun-06 2007 1,909 2,540 LOSS 3,300,000 READING 3-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 Gen. Oper. Budget 1-Mar-90 1991 3,025 4,683 LOSS 1,553,000 READING general operating expenses 23-Mar-93 1994 3,900 3,538 WIN 2,410,512 READING SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION 25-Feb-03 2005 2,742 4,869 LOSS 250,000 READING FUND 2004 OPERATING BUDGET 08-Apr-03 2004 4,249 3,190 WIN 4,500,000 SAUGUS 6-Nov-O7 7-May-07 GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 24-Apr-07 2008 2,180 4,572 LOSS 5,200,000 SHREWSBURY 1-May-07 21-May-07 school dept bus transportation expenses 4-May-92 1993 1,535 2,882 LOSS 200,000 SHREWSBURY FUNDING SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 03-May-04 2006 2,301 4,291 LOSS 1,200,000 OPERATING BUDGET FOR SEVERAL SHREWSBURY DEPARTMENTS 06-Jun-05 2006 2,451 4,797 LOSS 1,500,000 SHREWSBURY FUNDING TOWN AND SCHOOL BUDGETS 01-May-07 2008 5,166 5,577 LOSS 5,000,000 SOUTH HADLEY 2-Apr-07 12-May-07 making repairs to town facilities 4-Apr-94 1995 1,696 3,294 LOSS 295,000 SOUTH HADLEY replacing equipment for different depts. 4-Apr-94 1995 1,592 3,370 LOSS 270,000 SOUTH HADLEY replacing street lights 4-Apr-94 1995 1,524 3,466 LOSS 35,000 SOUTH HADLEY reconst.and repair storm drainage system 4-Apr-94 1995 1,319 3,634 LOSS 230,000 SOUTH HADLEY pay raises for town employees 4-Apr-94 1995 1,260 3,688 LOSS 345,000 SOUTH HADLEY support and maintenance of school system 12-Jun-95 1996 2,407 2,464 LOSS 1,065,069 FUNDING OPERATING BUDGETS OF TOWN AND STOUGHTON 10-Apr-07 7-May-07 PUBLIC SCHOOLS 30-Apr-02 2004 1,648 4,161 LOSS 2,700,000 SWAMPSCOTT 24-Apr-07 21-May-07 General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 2,584 2,401 WIN 1,837,000 SWAMPSCOTT supplementing budget 19-Jun-01 2002 2,076 1,888 WIN 2,469,790 OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE SCHOOL SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 2,078 2,819 LOSS 2,750,000 OPERATING EXPENSES FOR BUILDING SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 1,673 3,097 LOSS 8,500 SWAMPSCOTT FUNDING STABILIZATION FUND 14-Jun-05 2006 1,650 3,103 LOSS 28,000 OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE PERSONNELL SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 1,588 3,187 LOSS 15,000 SWAMPSCOTT LAW DEPARTMENT EXPENSES 14-Jun-05 2006 1,515 3,259 LOSS 10,000 Massachusetts Department of Revenue Communities with Town Meeting before election: ~. - Division of Local Services Override may have preceded Town Meeting: Municipal DatabanklLocal Aid Section (dep. on date of TM for that year) Munici ali Election Annual TM Description Date FY Yes No (Loss Amount SWAMPSCOTT TREASURER, COLLECTOR-POSTAGE 14-Jun-05 2006 1,506 3,271 LOSS 7,500 OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE POLICE SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 3,073 1,816 WIN 180,000 OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE FIRE SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 3,038 1,840 WIN 265,000 SWAMPSCOTT OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE LIBRARY 14-Jun-05 2006 2,765 2,084 WIN 30,000 OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE COUNCIL ON SWAMPSCOTT AGING 14-Jun-05 2006 2,548 2,262 WIN 6,000 FUNDING OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE SWAMPSCOTT SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 2,573 2,327 WIN 1,750,000 WALPOLE ~ 7-May-07 General Operating expenses 1-May-90 1991 2,259 3,095 LOSS 452,000 WALPOLE Fund Solid/Hazardous Waste Budget 1-Jun-91 1992 1,301 2,137 LOSS 816,521 WALPOLE GENREAL OPERATING EXPENSES 11-Sep-01 2002 5,259 4,975 WIN 3,709,259 WELLESLEY 6-Mar-07 26-Mar-07 Asbestos removal in schools 1-Mar-89 1990 3,202 3,309 LOSS 240,000 WELLESLEY "General government,publicworks,educ,libr" 1-Mar-89 1990 2,643 3,846 LOSS 922,000 WELLESLEY capital outlay and maintenance of program 1-Mar-89 1990 2,458 4,050 LOSS 700,000 WELLESLEY Police and Fire department 1-Mar-89 1990 1,965 4,478 LOSS 204,000 WELLESLEY Fund Board of Health Oper.Budget 1-May-90 1991 3,410 4,273 LOSS 15,000 WELLESLEY Fund Youth Commission Operations 1-May-90 1991 2,623 5,052 LOSS 15,389 WELLESLEY Fund Personnel Board Operations 1-May-90 1991 2,325 5,297 LOSS 6,900 WELLESLEY Fund Sch.lEducation Budget 1-May-90 1991 5,420 2,359 WIN 270,600 WELLESLEY Fund DPW Recycling Disposal Facility 1-May-90 1991 4,038 3,678 WIN 347,300 WELLESLEY Fund Public Education Department 1-May-91 1992 3,935 2,103 WIN 246,800 WELLESLEY Fund Library Department operations 1-May-91 1992 3,519 2,519 WIN 78,200 WELLESLEY public education 02-May-00 2001 3,120 957 WIN 750,000 WELLESLEY PUBLIC EDUCATION 01-May-01 2002 3,031 1,582 WIN 1,967,821 FULLY FUND GENERAL FUND OPERATING WELLESLEY BUDGET 07-May-02 2003 2,814 1,265 WIN 2,539,201 WELLESLEY GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET 13-May-03 2004 4,345 3,804 WIN 2,895,436 GROUP INSURANCE LIBABILITY TRUST FUND TO REDUCE UNFUNDED POST RETIREMENT WELLESLEY BENEFIT 02-Nov-04 2005 3,123 9,777 LOSS 2,500,000 WELLESLEY GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET 10-May-05 2006 4,101 4,118 LOSS 3,552,392 WELLESLEY GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET 10-May-05 2006 4,465 3,750 WIN 2,596,851 SUNDAY OPENINGS OF THE TOWNS RECYCLING WELLESLEY AND DISPOSAL FACILITY 16-May-06 2007 4,325 5,126 LOSS 45,043 FUNDING BUDGET FOR HILLS BRANCH AND WELLESLEY FELLS BRANCH OF THE FREE LIBRARY 16-May-06 2007 4,512 4,927 LOSS 75,603 WELLESLEY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND GENERAL OPERATING 16-May-06 2007 5,607 3,862 WIN 3,158,618 FUNDING TOWNS GROUP INSURANCE LIABILITY WELLESLEY FUND 15-May-07 2008 3,343 1,586 WIN 1,800,000 WINCHESTER 27-Mar-07 23-Apr-07 funding for library book account 26-Mar-91 1992 2,599 3,127 LOSS 27,000 WINCHESTER fund school department budget 26-Mar-91 1992 2,421 3,306 LOSS 644,000 WINCHESTER funding public works grounds div.budget 26-Mar-91 1992 2,395 3,310 LOSS 200,000 WINCHESTER funding for health dept. inspector 26-Mar-91 1992 1,935 3,635 LOSS 41,000 WINCHESTER funding rent on council on aging 26-Mar-91 1992 1,892 3,679 LOSS 12,000 WINCHESTER GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET 16-Apr-02 2003 4,465 3,390 WIN 4,550,000 WINCHESTER GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 07-Dec-04 2006 3,518 4,543 LOSS 3,933,000 operating budget for police, fire, library, school, public WINCHESTER works and other municipal personnel 13-Mar-07 2008 4,252 2,297 WIN 1,347,000 (Compiled by Andy Friedlich - Ad Hoc Budget Schedule Committee)