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Selectmen's Meeting
<br />-7-
<br />January 9, 1984
<br />of essential services will be provided, as well as a commitment to re-
<br />solution of infrastructure problems such as sewer, water and road. construc-
<br />tion. Monies have been provided for upgrading the Town's data processing
<br />capacity, particularly relating to the f inancial.system. A report from
<br />the Data Processing Committee with its recommendations for alternates is
<br />expected shortly.
<br />Monies were not provided for collective bargaining settlements with
<br />the Lexington Education Associatio -n, Public works Union and the Fire Union
<br />as contract negotiations are in 'progress with those groups, with a contract_
<br />not yet concluded, for the current fiscal year with the Fire Union. The
<br />demand on Free Cash has been lessened in order to , provide for potential
<br />support for these agreements.
<br />The manager noted that the current budget is $38,803.778 including.
<br />State and County charges and is supported by $10.8 million'in non - property
<br />tax revenue and $28,022,798 property taxes. A levy limit growth of approx-
<br />imately $1.. 5..million based 2 1J2% of the current levy of $700, -
<br />has been assumed, plus $375,000 from anticipated new construction as well
<br />as an additional $400,000 made available because.of not taxing to $200,000
<br />in MDC sewer and water charges, pension cost increases of $158,278 and
<br />health care increases of $293,,000 for a - total of $645,278. This figure
<br />did not include anticipated increases in the.school.and.Town payrolls.
<br />He recommended an amount of $1,674,000 in response to Article and Capital
<br />requests received, which had totalled over $3.1 million,
<br />A summary-of requests submitted and the Town Manager-'s recommendations
<br />were briefly reviewed: F'Y85 requests including Town and education,
<br />totalling $37,065,628 with a recommendation by the Manager for a total of
<br />�. $35,619,078, plus State /County Assessment, Offsets and Assessments and
<br />Overlay and Judgments for a gross total to be raised by taxes of $41,215,628.
<br />Under the Town Manager's recommendations, the gross amount to be. raised
<br />was $39,769,078. After subtracting estimated Cherry 'sheet and local
<br />receipts and-use of availabe funds, the net amount to be rais -ed by taxes
<br />was $30,950,246 or under the Manager's recommendations $29,493,696.
<br />Mr. Hutchinson noted a 2.5% increase over last year's budget, ex-
<br />clusive of unsettle wage agreements, and a 5.2% increase over last year's
<br />levy .
<br />Municipal spending for Town and School, including Minuteman Vocational,
<br />would be increased by 2.7% exclusinve of contract
<br />The Manager reported that the School Department budget shows and in-
<br />crease of .4%, exclusive of some contract settlements. He noted that
<br />, although no schools are proposed for closing this.:year, because of a pro-
<br />jected decrease in student population in the next five years, it appears
<br />thatthere will be the opportunity for additional school closings now or
<br />in the future.
<br />He also reported -that there was a. decrease in students being served
<br />at the Minuteman Vocational school., and that the assessment anticipated
<br />is $348,183 for.93 Students or $3,744 per student.
<br />Regarding the tax rate, he projected the residential rate at $20.36
<br />and the commercial rate at $29.75 to support the budget.
<br />In addition to new construction growth,.Mr. Hutchinson assumed
<br />additional State Aid of $147,000 as well as $400,000 growth in the levy
<br />mom because of not taxing to the full 2 1 last year. Federal Revenue
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