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05/15/2017 AC Minutes <br />consistent with other towns that have good school systems and are reasonably accessible to Boston. <br />While considerable data is being collected and tracked, specific cause and effect factors for the <br />continued growth have not yet been definitively identified. There are indications that the Housing <br />Demographic Model may be overestimating future elementary school growth, and this is being <br />carefully monitored. Ms. Colburn reported that the School Committee is looking at how the <br />increases will impact the middle schools and the high school going forward. The capacities at all <br />levels are being analyzed. <br />It was noted that the debt exclusion vote scheduled for the fall will include a number of school - <br />related projects, and it will be important to have data that demonstrates the needs. The current <br />projection for the total debt exclusion request is approximately $104 million. <br />Mr. Bartenstein distributed a memo discussing the possibility of using some or all of the $28 million <br />currently in the Capital Stabilization Fund (CSF) to reduce the debt exclusion request. Because the <br />interest payable on long-term bonds (currently about 3%) is higher than the interest earned on funds <br />in the CSF (currently about 1%), this would result in a net saving of interest costs; however, it <br />might reduce the ability to level peaks of excluded debt service cost that would hit taxpayers in the <br />immediate future. <br />A motion was made and seconded to request staff to model the taxpayer impacts of two scenarios: <br />(1) using approximately $12 million of the CSF to cover the acquisitions costs of the 20 Pelham <br />Road and 171-173 Bedford Street properties in lieu of placing those items on a debt exclusion <br />referendum; or (2) using the entire amount of the CSF not earmarked for within -levy debt service to <br />lower the amount of the debt exclusion request. The motion passed. VOTE: 8-0 <br />3. Minutes <br />A motion was made and seconded to approve minutes for April 3, April 5, April 12, and <br />April 24, 2017, including minor edits for the April 3 minutes. The motion passed. VOTE: 8-0 <br />4. Adjourn <br />The Committee adjourned at 9:40 p.m. <br />The documents used at the meeting are listed below. <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary <br />Approved: June 1, 2017 <br />Exhibits <br />• Agenda, posted by John Bartenstein, Chair <br />• Enrollment Trends, Appropriation Committee Presentation, Joe Pato, Enrollment <br />Advisory Group, May 15, 2017, <br />• Lexington Public Schools, Enrollment Analysis and Five -Year Projections, FY 17, <br />presented by Ms. Kavanaugh <br />• Alternative Proposal for Debt Exclusion Referendum, Use of Capital Stabilization <br />Fund, prepared by John Bartenstein, May 15, 2017 <br />2 <br />