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<br />January 27, 2005 <br />Lexington Appropriation Committee <br />Minutes of the Meeting January 27, 2005 <br /> <br />Location: Civil Room, Cary Hall, Lexington MA <br />Members present: Paul Hamburger (Acting Chair), Rick Eurich, David Kanter, Rod <br />Cole, John Bartenstein, Eric Michelson, Al Levine, & Ron Pawliczek <br />Also present: Richard Pagett & George Burnell <br /> <br />Paul Hamburger called the meeting to order at 7:45 . <br />PM <br /> <br />1. Minutes of the January 13, 2005 meeting were accepted unanimously. <br /> <br />2. Minutes of the January 20, 2005 meeting were accepted unanimously (Al Levine <br />abstaining). <br /> <br />3. Discussion of the Budget Collaboration Meeting (BCM) of January 26, 2005 with <br />consideration of the position of the Appropriation Committee (AC) on gap closing. At <br />the BCM it was reported that the gap was $1,800K. Eric Michelson reported that the gap <br />will be approximately $33K higher in that Lexington's share of the Minuteman Tech <br />budget is higher than what is currently in the Town Manager's Budget. <br /> <br />At the BCM, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) voted 4 to 1 to apply a total of $425K from <br />the Overlay Accounts for FYs 2000 and 2002 to reduce the gap to $1,375K. It was stated <br />that at the end of FY04, $285K from the FY 1999 Overlay Account had been transferred <br />to Free Cash. Some members questioned whether this current, excess, overlay amount <br />should be treated the same way in that this type of procedure increases Free Cash and <br />as a consequence increases the town's reserve balance. Other members felt that, most <br />likely, this year there will not be an override for FY06 and the use of this $425K is <br />essential for the maintenance of services approved by the voters last spring. It was <br />decided that at this time the AC would not take a position. Rather the members will <br />wait and see the proposed cuts to be recommended at the next BCM before taking an <br />AC position. <br /> <br />It was also decided to take a wait-and-see position on: <br /> <br />a. The use of Free Cash to close the gap, <br /> <br />b. The use of BANs instead of cash for the purchase of computers ($350K) by the <br />School Department and an ambulance ($165K) by the Town, <br /> <br />c. Transfer of the $500K from the NESWC Fund into the Stabilization Fund, and <br /> <br />d. An override for FY06. <br />Page 1 of 1 <br /> <br />