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APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY,JULY 14, 2003, 7:30 PM , ROOM 111 Present: D Brown, P Hamburger, R Pawliczek, S Spector, K Dooks, E Michelson, R Eurich, A Levine, and J Ryan • General discussion of the Articles on the upcoming STM on July 28, 2003. • Discussed the time frame for accumulating all the information that will be required in order to deal with balancing the Fiscal 2004 appropriations. Local receipts and snow deficit will be finalized in late July or early August. A Fiscal 2004 Cherry Sheet is due currently. The Fiscal 2004 "growth" amount is usually finalized in November but the Assessor is being pushed to have that figure in late October. These issues must be rectified prior to setting a Fiscal 2004 tax rate, which is scheduled for December 1, 2003. • D Brown raised a question on the use of NESWC funds in FY 2004 to help balance the state aid shortfall. Is the use of these funds a double counting of the funds used to close the state aid reduction to meet the governor's proposed budget in April 2003? • AC discussed the need to take care of the Fiscal 2003 Snow & Ice deficit, the anticipated sate aid reductions for Fiscal 2004 and the estimated local receipts issues prior to entertaining and other adjustments to the Fiscal 2004 operating budget. • Discussed the $ 710,142 proposal put forth by the Town Manager to deal with the final version of state aid cuts (see memo to BOS dated July 7, 2003). A Levine stressed the need that any cuts to deal with the Fiscal 2004 shortfall should be recurring cuts, savings or additional revenues. We should not be cutting something that will be back in the Fiscal 2005 requests. • Discussed the possible loss of METCO and school transportation state aid. School transportation loss will have an impact on both Fiscal 2003 and 2004. Superintendent Benton will attempt to absorb both of those cuts. The loss of school transportation will require a town meeting vote to reduce the Fiscal 2004 School Department appropriation. • E Michel son indicated that the revised MMRVHS assessment would be approximately$901,000. We will be required to appropriate an additional $60,000 in order to fund the Fiscal 2004 assessment. • General discussion of the articles appearing on the STM Warrant • Motion: In light of the pending Fiscal 2004 revenue shortfall in revenue the Appropriation Committee does not support Article 5, Public Safety. Unanimous. • Motion: In light of the pending Fiscal 2004 revenue shortfall in revenue the Appropriation Committee does not support Article 4, Transportation Services. Seven (7) in favor , 1 abstention • Motion: In light of the pending Fiscal 2004 revenue shortfall in revenue the Appropriation Committee does not support Article 3, Operating Budget. Unanimous