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APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2003, ROOM 105, 7:30 PM Present: D Brown, S Spector, K Dooks, A Levine, R Pawliczek, A Nedzel, E Michelson, R Eurich, J Ryan Also Present: R Pagett • M Young distributed the Fiscal 2004 Budget as adopted. • The article appearing in the Minuteman on classification needs to be corrected. P Hamburger is aware of the error. • Legislation is pending that will allow communities to classify the CIP rate at 2.0 vs. the current maximum of 1.75. The BOS have decided to look at this issue and will issue a third quarter estimated tax bill. • The Summit Meeting will,be held at 6:30 pm in the Library Media Room at the High School on Thursday, December 18, 2003. • D Brown discussed the Gang of 8 Meeting that took place today. The incremental revenue for Fiscal 2005 is $1.5 million. Town Manager proposal, for planning purposes only, would distribute that revenue 60% schools and 40%town. • Pension holiday taken in Fiscal 2004 needs to be addressed in planning for Fiscal 2005. If the pension holiday is not taken in Fiscal 2005, the increase in pension costs will need the full allocation of new revenue in Fiscal 2005. • School Department has prepared a budget for Fiscal 2005 that reflects a 2.5% increase over Fiscal 2004. The School Committee does not wish to do the budget over again under another scenario. The Town Manager will present a municipal budget reflecting a 2.5% increase also. • General discussion of the use of the pension holiday in Fiscal 2005. Sense appears that it will be utilized again if there were to either be no operating override or if the override were to fail. • Discussion and concerns over the possibility of an override being presented to the Town and the ultimate outcome of the vote. • Update on the Liberty Ride Program. Fiscal 2004 currently shows a deficit of approximately$25,000, less than the $45,000 originally projected. The Tourism Committee feels confident that they will be able to offset the shortfall. • A Levine discussed the pending zoning issue to be presented by Avalon Bay for the development of the Met State property. There could be a significant impact on the school population with 400+rental units. Another issue will be the traffic on Concord Avenue. • Discussed the Appropriation Committee task list and preparation for the Town Meeting that has been scheduled to commence on March 29, 2004. • Schedule meetings for every Thursday during January, February and March. • Motion to adjourn. Ac.12.11.2003