HomeMy WebLinkAboutAd-Hoc Budget Schedule Committee 2007-12-11-BSAH-rpt LEXINGTON , MASSACHUSETTS
REPORT OF AD - HOC
BUDGET SCHEDULE
COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 11 , 2007
Supersedes report dated November 14, 2007.
Revised to address comments from stakeholders
Contents
Introduction 3
Summary Findings 4
Optimal Budget Schedule 5
Appendix 1: Override elections in Lexington 9
Appendix 2: Example of an Optimal Schedule 10
Appendix 3: Overrides in Towns with Representative Town Meetings 12
INTRODUCTION
The Ad Hoc Budget Schedule Committee was appointed by the Lexington Board of Selectmen
in August 2007. Members are chair Tom Diaz (School Committee), Helen Cohen (School
Committee), Bonnie Brodner (Town Meeting Member, Precinct 3), Mary Ann Stewart (Town
Meeting Member, Precinct 1), Norm Cohen (Board of Selectmen), George Burnell (Board of
Selectmen), and Andy Friedlich (Town Meeting Member, Precinct 5). Nonvoting liaisons: Susan
McLeish (Appropriation Committee), David Kanter (Capital Expenditures Committee), and Pam
Hoffman (Appropriation Committee).
The committee was asked to "study and recommend a budget schedule to accommodate
operating overrides,when necessary, earlier than the first week of June."1
Lexington's history features a town budget prepared between the fall and the following February,
town elections on the first Monday in March,2 and the Annual Town Meeting in late March—usually
about three weeks following the elections—which includes approval of a town budget. Operating
override elections, if needed, have been scheduled by the Board of Selectmen following Town
Meeting's approval of a contingent budget. (As with any election, an override election requires 35
days of preparation following the Selectmen's vote to hold the election.) Beginning in 1988,3
Lexington has had twelve override elections. In three elections, questions were defeated. In 2006,
two of the four operating override questions were defeated. In 2003, the single operating override
question was defeated, and in 1997 the single debt exclusion question was defeated. Operating
overrides have been in early to mid June. (See Appendix 1: Override elections in Lexington.)
In two years, 2003 and 2006, significant numbers of town employees were laid off as a result of
override failures school, library, and municipal employees in 2003, and school employees in 2006.
Even in years in which overrides pass, town employees and hiring managers face an uncertain
situation until the override election is over. The schools hire significant numbers of people every
year about 100 in 2007 and are especially affected in their efforts to recruit new teachers, to
compete for teachers with specialized skills, and to diversify their workforce. The Town has an
interest in making this period of uncertainty shorter,by making operating override elections earlier.4
1 From charge to this committee,adopted by the Lexington Board of Selectmen,July 31,2007.
2 In past years of presidential primaries,town elections were held on the first Tuesday in March instead—the same day as
the primary. For 2008, the state moved the presidential primary to February 5th [Senate Bill No. 2414, signed by the
Governor,November 26,2007;becoming Chapter 179 of the Acts of 2007],and so the town election will be on March 3rd.
3 Proposition 21/2 was passed in a state referendum in 1980 and became effective in 1982.
4 Debt exclusion overrides,which can occur at any time on the calendar,are not germane to this committee's work,since
the committee is mainly concerned with effects of overrides on hiring.
SUMMARY FINDINGS
The committee studied and discussed several alternatives:
1. Hold town elections in November, allowing Town Meeting to convene much earlier.
This attracted interest but is contravened by state law, which requires our annual town
elections to be held in February-May. (MGL Ch. 39, 9A) A change of election date
would also require a change of town bylaws.
2. Schedule override elections on the first Monday in March, on the same day as town
elections that is,before Town Meeting convenes.
3. Collapse the schedules for both the budget and Town Meeting as much as possible, to
make an override election as early as possible. The result is called an "optimal schedule"
in this report.
The committee recommends the third course of action option 3-and it will be discussed in
more detail later in this report.
Option 2 was researched and discussed. There are towns that conduct overrides before their
annual town meetings actually vote on the budget. However, there are few doing so that also have
representative town meetings. In Lexington's political culture, the committee believes this option
would require the budget to be completed extremely early (including approval by the elected boards),
because voters and campaigners would expect the usual level of budget detail in the Yes and No
override campaigns. A budget might have to be completed in December if it were to be the subject
of a March 1 override, and yet, for reasons explained later, budgets are not likely to be fully approved
before February. There was also a consensus in the committee that members of our representative
town meeting would feel disenfranchised by an override campaign and election that prejudged the
budget to be presented to the annual Town Meeting.
Option 3 would allow overrides to be scheduled as early as the second half of April, if the
department heads and their governing boards, seeing the necessity of an override, were to make an
early override a very high priority. The Superintendent comments5 that a mid-April override would
be enormously advantageous compared with our current situation, in which a great deal of hiring is
delayed until the summer,but that any advance over a June override would be very helpful.
5 Private communications between Superintendent P.Ash and T.Diaz,Q4 2007.
OPTIMAL BUDGET SCHEDULE
An optimal budget provides an override election at the earliest practical date while meeting the
constraints of the laws and bylaws governing the budget process,informing and satisfying the general
public, and without changing the circumstances in which Town Meeting votes the budget.
The constraints imposed by the law are summarized first.
LAG FROM BUDGET TO TOWN MEETING
The Selectmen are legally required to submit a budget four weeks before it is taken up by Town
Meeting.
Section 90-13. Submission of budget to Town Meeting. [Added 4-5-1989 ATM by Art. 48;
amended 4-10-2000 ATM by Art. 231
The Selectmen shall submit a budget at the Annual Town Meeting. The Selectmen's proposed
budget shall be distributed to the Appropriation Committee, Capital Expenditures Committee and
to each Town Meeting member at least four weeks prior to the date when the Annual Town
Meeting is scheduled to consider it.
REVIEW BY APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE
Section 118-12.Motions and order of business.
D. No motion carving an expenditure or appropriation of money, except where such expenditure is
required by law, shall be acted upon at any town meeting until some report thereon has been made
by the Appropriation Committee.
:: ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .:..
The law does not specify the lag time between the Appropriation Committee's report and
deliberation by Town Meeting. In Lexington, the Appropriation Committee has tried to provide its
report a week before consideration in Town Meeting.
TIMING OF TOWN ELECTIONS AND TOWN MEETING
The annual Town Meeting,by state law,must convene in February,March,April, or May.
Lexington town elections, as per town bylaws, take place on "the first Monday in March in each
year, provided, however, if it shall fail to be so called in consequence of any defect in the warrant or
other irregularity, it shall be called for a date as soon thereafter as may be practicable." (Historically,
in presidential primary years, the town elections have taken place the same day as the primaries: the
first Tuesday in March.6)
There is no legally mandated lag between town elections and the convening of Town Meeting. In
practice, the intervening time (typically about three weeks) is used by the Moderator and the Town
Meeting Members Association to provide information to new Town Meeting members. All
members need time to study the budget, and new members need to be introduced to the procedures
of the representative Town Meeting.
The first meeting of the annual Town Meeting is often taken up by committee reports, award
presentations, and the like. The information tables at that first meeting, as with all meetings, are the
place to provide handouts for articles to be taken up at the next meeting.
OTHER DEPENDENCIES
The budget schedule is constrained not only by law but by external events not completely in the
control of local officials.
State aid
For example, state aid to municipalities is a significant contributor to Lexington's budget: $9
million in fiscal 2008. However, the exact amount of this aid is not known at a convenient time for a
town's budget; 2007 was the first time in many years that the governor's bill, presented in late
February,included a state aid figure that was a good approximation of the final number. The Town
Manager will estimate state aid conservatively. The sooner the budget process is concluded, the
more uncertainty there will be in the estimated aid revenue.
Revenue split
Lexington's Town Manager prepares new revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year near the
beginning of the budget process. By consensus among elected officials,revenues are first set aside to
pay for "shared expenses." These are expenses shared across all town departments, such as health
care benefits for employees and facilities expenses. (New revenue is mainly the sum of new growth,
2.5%of the past year's tax levy, and any increases in local receipts.)
From the Town Manager:7
There is a two-step process for developing the revenue split:
.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
6 See footnote 2 on page 3 regarding the dates for 2008.
7 Email from Town Manager Carl Valente to Selectman Jeanne Krieger,October 23,2007.
1. Staff develops revenue projections for the coming year and brings this to the BOS8 and the
Summits for concurrence. This happens in mid-November and provides a general picture of
anticipated revenue growth for the year. We may be slightly delayed this year because it is a
revaluation year which may delay our new growth figure.
2. Once we have our revenue projections for FY09, we need to first subtract Town and School
Shared Expenses to determine the remaining revenue available to split. This year will be a bit
more complicated because we will need to include as part of Shared Expenses the budget for the
Department of Public Facilities. Per the Selectmen's agreement with the School Committee, the
school department portion of this budget will first be submitted to the SC° before it is forwarded to
the Town Manager. So while we are working on budget estimates for all Shared Expenses
(liability insurance, health insurance, debt service, etc.) the SC needs to be reviewing its portion of
the Facilities budget. All of this work generally takes place during December and we present the
revenue split figures to the Summit in early Januay usually right after the Superintendent and
Town Manager present their budgets so that any budget shortfall can also be presented).
:: ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... :....
After revenue is set aside for shared expenses, the remaining new revenue (if any) is apportioned
between the school department (School Committee) on the one hand and the municipal departments
(Selectmen) on the other hand. In recent years, by consensus, the actual spending of the past fiscal
year is used as a guideline for the percentage that each major unit (e.g., the schools) receives.
For a number of reasons, including the points made by the Town Manager, above, the revenue
split does not occur before early January.
ELEMENTS OF AN OPTIMAL SCHEDULE
Option 3 suggests an optimal schedule by means of the following steps each being dependent
upon the successful completion of a prior step:
1. Complete the town budget as early as possible no later than mid February. Completed
means voted by the governing boards and serving as the basis for the Appropriation
Committee's final report and for printing for Town Meeting members.
2. Convene Town Meeting the third Wednesday following the town election. Use the first
session of Town Meeting only for committee reports and other nonfinancial matters. At
this first session, the Appropriation Committee report would be on the table for Town
Meeting members if it had not already been provided to them. For example, if the
election is on March 3,2008,Town Meeting would convene March 19,2008.
3. Take up the Town operating budget at the second meeting of Town Meeting, on the
Monday following the first meeting the fourth Monday in March.
8 Board of Selectmen.
9 A Summit is a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Appropriation Committee, and Capital
Expenditures Committee.
10 School Committee.
4. If the operating budget is approved by Town Meeting, the Selectmen vote the question
the same night, as was done in 2007.11 The override election can then be five weeks (35
days) later. The fourth Monday in April is therefore the earliest possible date in most
years.12 However in 2008, the fourth Monday in April is also the first day following the
schools' spring"Patriot's Day vacation." Therefore, the earliest election date for 2008 is
one week later, the first Monday in May.13
11 This committee acknowledges that debate and voting on the operating budget may take more than one session of Town
Meeting. Although legally the Selectmen can call an election at any time based on any criteria they choose, our
recommendation is that they vote the night Town Meeting approves the operating budget, and not before, and that the
election will be 35 or more days from the date of their vote.
12 If Town Meeting remains in session after approval of the budget, reconsideration of the budget is possible. The
committee discussed the idea of having a second Town Meeting to take up nonfinancial matters, and dissolving the first
Town Meeting as soon as the budget is approved. However,no recommendation is made either way. Note that in 2007,
the Selectmen voted to put override questions on the ballot well before Town Meeting was dissolved,simply resting on the
assumption that there would be no reconsideration.
13 Override elections have been held on both Mondays and Tuesdays in the past and may be in the future;the Selectmen
decide on the date.
APPENDIX 1: OVERRIDE ELECTIONS IN LEXINGTON
11111111112111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111110
Jun-07 2008 Schools $3,981,589 Approved 6/5/2007
Jun-07 2008 DPW debt exclusion $27,500,000 Approved 6/5/2007
Jun-06 2007 Override
Schools#1 2,614,509 Not Appr. 6/5/2006
Schools#2 $551,607 Not Appr. 6/5/2006
Maintenance-Schools $1,059,100 Approved 6/5/2006
&Municipal
Municipal $799,335 Approved 6/5/2006
2006 total $5,024,551 6/5/2006
Jun-04 2005 1 (schools) $3,271,485 Approved 6/8/2004
Jun-04 2005 2(Lexpress) $213,028 Approved 6/8/2004
Jun-04 2005 3(DPW) $194,693 Approved 6/8/2004
Jun-04 2005 4(library) $191,730 Approved 6/8/2004
Jun-04 2005 5(social serv,support) $179,961 Approved 6/8/2004
Jun-04 2005 6(public safety) $173,443 Approved 6/8/2004
2004 total $4,224,340 Approved 6/8/2004
Jun-03 2004 Override $4,957,000 Not Appr. 6/2/2003
Jun-02 2003 Q1:Streets(debt excl.) Approved 5/20/2002
Jun-02 2003 Q2: Fields(debt excl.) Approved 5/20/2002
Jun-02 2003 Q3: Harrington&Fiske Approved 5/20/2002
(debt exclusion)
Jun-02 2003 2002 total $42,550,000 Approved
May/June 2001 Override—Town/School $3,440,829 Approved 5/22/2000
2000 Services and Roads
Dec-98 2000 Debt Exclusion— $52,235,000 Approved 12/7/1998
School Building Project
Dec-97 - Debt Exclusion— $68,200,000 Not Appr. 12/8/1997
School Building Project
Jun-95 1996 Override—Town/School Services
Schools $1,172,152 Approved 6/12/1995
Open Space $29,000 Approved 6/12/1995
Police $102,000 Approved 6/12/1995
Fire $196,848 Approved 6/12/1995
1995 total $1,500,000 6/12/1995
Jun-92 1993 Override—Trash $2,718,092 Approved 6/15/1992
Collection
Jun-90 1991 Override—Town/School $1,097,829 Approved 6/11/1990
Services
Aug-88 1989 Debt Exclusion—Pine $11,000,000 Approved 8/17/1988
Meadows Golf Course
APPENDIX 2: EXAMPLE OF AN OPTIMAL SCHEDULE
The diagram on the following pages simulates an optimal schedule by taking the Town
Manager's proposed schedule for Fiscal Year 2009, assuming that an override is part of the picture,
and overlaying this committee's suggestions for an optimal schedule. The override would be on May
5,2008, the first Monday in May.
ID Name 1p 10 '07 I Oct 8„..'07 I Nov 5 '07 I Dec 3 '07 Dec 31 '07 !Jan 28 '08 I Feb 25,'08 I Mar 24 '08 A r 21 '08 :May 19,'08
S i W I S i T i M i F I T I S IW I S 1 T I M i F i T 1 S ! WI S I T 1 M 1 F I T I S I W I S I T
1 Summit I Financial indicators and projectionsl9/26 0 Summit I:Financial indicators and projections
Special Town Meeting] 10/10 Special Town Meeting
3 Summit II:Revenue model and projections, 11/13 p Summit II:Revenue model and projections
4 I Muni budget workshops with Selectmen] 12/3 * Muni budget workshops with Selectmen
5 1 Municipal budget proposed by Town Manager] 1/7 :: al budget proposed by Town Manager
6 Summit III:Revenue split,expense review,gap defining] 1/16 =€: mmit Ill:Revenue split,expense review,gap defining
7 BOS hearings on budget) 1/2 'S hearings on budget
'. p gby p budgetby
8 Municipal budget voted Selectmen; 0 Municipal al voted Selectmen
9 1 School budget proposed by Superintendent; 12/18 --•-- ----• proposed by Superintendent
10 I SC hearings on budget! 1/16 h - hearings on budget
11-1 School Budget voted by School Committee) 1 2/11 p School Budget voted by School Committee
12
Summit IV:Agreement of boards on Town budget] 2/13 Summit IV:Agreement of boards on Town budget
13 j Budget to printer&available electronically! 2/15 get to printer&available electronically
14 Budget printed and submitted to TM 2/29 Budget printed and submitted to TM
15 I Town elections(for Town Meeting members); 3/3 • Town lections(for Town Meeting members)
16 Printed Approp.Comm.Report available, 3/17 Printed Approp.Comm.Report available
17Annual Town Meeting convenes! 3/19 nnual Town Meeting convenes:
Town Meeting approves operating budget; 3/24 Town Meeting approves operating budget
19 ,'' Selectmen vote on election warrant; 3/24 ction warrant
20 Override election; 5/5 p Override election
-------------------------•L---------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------•------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Page 11
APPENDIX 3: OVERRIDES IN TOWNS WITH REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETINGS
After the first meeting of the Budget Schedule Committee, members wanted to review the
history of other towns with representative Town Meetings, to see when these towns held override
elections. Among the questions were whether towns had successful overrides when the override
election preceded Town Meeting. The committee did not find the data conclusive, but the data are
presented here for future reference.
Fiscal Years 1990-2008 Override History for Cummunities with
Representative Town Meetings (operating overrides only)
Data per: Mass.Municipal Assoc.&
Massachusetts Department of Revenue Communities with Town Meeting before election: Date
Division of Local Services Override may have preceded Town Meeting:
Municipal Databank/Local Aid Section (dep.on date of TM for that year)
Municipality Election Annual TM Description Date FY Yes No /Loss Amount
ADAMS 7-May-07 6/18/2007 fund towns share of reg.school assess. 6-May-91 1992 516 1,585 LOSS 275,000
AMHERST 27-Mar-07 7-May-07 "cap and oper budgets for Lib,Schs,Town" 1-May-90 1991 1,725 2,005 LOSS 557,698
AMHERST "police position,Human Resource budget" 1-May-91 1992 2,467 2,761 LOSS 26,290
AMHERST street lights 1-May-91 1992 2,442 2,775 LOSS 34,240
AMHERST clerical position Conservation Dept 1-May-91 1992 2,387 2,837 LOSS 3,300
AMHERST Amherst-Pelham RSD Assessment 1-May-91 1992 3,192 1,999 WIN 300,000
AMHERST "firefighter/EMT,Human Resources budget" 1-May-91 1992 3,226 2,009 WIN 138,010
AMHERST Amherst Elementary schools 1-May-91 1992 3,101 2,089 WIN 299,444
AMHERST Amherst-Pelham RSD Assessment 1-May-91 1992 2,868 2,345 WIN 547,955
AMHERST Amherst Elementary school's budget 1-May-91 1992 2,795 2,415 WIN 409,884
AMHERST "Jones,North Amherst,Munson Libraries" 1-May-91 1992 2,792 2,468 WIN 11,097
AMHERST regional school assessment 14-Jun-94 1995 1,867 2,031 LOSS 297,558
AMHERST GENERAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES 30-Mar-04 2005 2,258 2,169 WIN 2,000,000
AMHERST general operating and school expenditures 01-May-07 2008 2,383 2,650 LOSS 2,500,000
ARLINGTON 7-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 Operating expenses of town and schools 1-Jun-89 1990 5,805 6,078 LOSS 2,269,528
ARLINGTON General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 8,828 7,731 WIN 2,520,000
ARLINGTON FUND TOWN AND SCHOOL BUDGETS 11-Jun-05 2006 7,126 6,570 WIN 6,000,000
AUBURN 17-May-07 3-May-07 school transformation 19-May-94 1995 953 1,719 LOSS 243,000
1 LIEUTENANT POSITION,5 POLICE OFFICER
POSITIONS,1 CLERICAL POSITION,SAFETY
AUBURN EQUIPMENT 15-May-03 2004 1,512 1,741 LOSS 733,178
AUBURN CLERICAL POSITION FOR ASSESSORS OFFICE 15-May-03 2004 886 2,324 LOSS 27,751
6 FULL TIME FIREFIGHTERS/EMT POSITIONS-3
AUBURN PART TIME FIREFIGHTER/EMT POSITIONS 15-May-03 2004 1,855 1,393 WIN 713,584
AUBURN CLERICAL POSITION IN ASSESSORS OFFICE 15-May-03 2007 886 2,324 LOSS 27,751
LIEUTENANT POSITION,5 POLICE OFFICER
AUBURN POSITIONS,ONE CLERICAL POSITION,ETC. 15-May-03 2007 1,512 1,741 LOSS 733,178
ROAD REPAIRS FOR THE HIGHWAY
AUBURN DEPARTMENT 18-May-06 2007 921 1,554 LOSS 500,000
AUBURN GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 20-Jun-06 2007 2,480 2,079 WIN 1,300,000
BELMONT 2-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 Fund Solid Waste Collection&Disposal 1'-Apr-90 1991 3,027 2,558 WIN 2,094,946'
BELMONT provide municipal and school programs 6-Dec-93 1994 1,758 3,919 LOSS 1,116,111
BELMONT SCHOOL OPERATING EXPENSES 22-May-01 2002 3,084 1,965 WIN 3,000,000
BELMONT MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL OPERATING EXPENSES 01-Apr-02 2003 2,938 2,728 WIN 2,400,000
BILLERICA 14-Apr-07 1-May-07 provide funds for hazardous waste collec. 19'-Mar-91 1992 2,110 5,394 LOSS 18,000
BILLERICA salaries for council on aging 19-Mar-91 1992 1,400 6,086 LOSS 7,484
BILLERICA public works salaries&utilities 19-Mar-91 1992 815 6,675 LOSS 112,983
BILLERICA "for school's teachers,music,books" 19-Oct-91 1992 2,978 4,610 LOSS 866,000
BILLERICA funds to surface&resurface town street 19-Oct-91 1992 1,637 5,815 LOSS 225,000
BILLERICA police cruiser&equip.for police dept 19-Oct-91 1992 1,596 5,836 LOSS 143,000
BILLERICA fire dept.o.t.to reopen west fire stat. 19-Oct-91 1992 1,654 5,872 LOSS 300,000
BILLERICA restoring street lights 19-Oct-91 1992 1,166 6,333 LOSS 52,000
BILLERICA police department overtime 19-Oct-91 1992 980 6,510 LOSS 105,000
BILLERICA funding salary of local inspector 19-Oct-91 1992 790 6,695 LOSS 28,741
BILLERICA replacing dasher boards on skating rink 19-Oct-91 1992 727 6,765 LOSS 80,000
BILLERICA cross connection salaries&expenses 19-Oct-91 1992 590 6,811 LOSS 8,550
BILLERICA professional and secretarial positions 19-Oct-91 1992 619 6,863 LOSS 144,500
BILLERICA sewer lateral expansion program 4-Apr-92 1993 1,499 3,819 LOSS 1,300,000
BRAINTREE 3-Apr-07 7-May-07 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT EXPENSES 10-Jun-97 1998 2,291 5,453 LOSS 2,926,508
BRAINTREE GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 13-May-03 2007 5,023 6,064 LOSS 2,000,000
BROOKLINE 8-May-07 29-May-07general expenditures 3-May-94 1995 5,958 5,072 WIN 2,960,000'
CHELMSFORD 3-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 General Oper.Budget 1-May-90 1991 5,085 5,477 LOSS 1,400,000
CHELMSFORD Funding Solid Waste Collection Operations 1-May-90 1991 4,864 5,683 LOSS 1,800,000
CHELMSFORD library salaries and expenses 1-Jun-91 1992 5,168 5,356 LOSS 96,665
CHELMSFORD fire department 1-Jun-91 1992 4,744 5,749 LOSS 307,000
CHELMSFORD police department 1-Jun-91 1992 4,663 5,840 LOSS 150,000
CHELMSFORD funds for recycling services 1-Jun-91 1992 4,622 5,867 LOSS 203,500
CHELMSFORD school budget 1-Jun-91 1992 6,008 4,549 WIN 950,000
CHELMSFORD fund mun household solid waste recycling 27-May-92 1993 3,640 1,454 WIN 1,655,000
DARTMOUTH 2-Apr-07 5-Jun-07 OPERATING COSTS OF NEW LIBRARY 04-Apr-05 2007 2,082 3,159 LOSS 400,000
DARTMOUTH 16-Oct-07 funding operating budgets of the town and school 31-Jul-07 2008 5,471 5,696 LOSS 8,459,000
FAIRHAVEN 2-Apr-07 5-May-07 Fund Sch.Dept.Salaries/Special needs 1-Apr-90 1991 431 1,278 LOSS 741,000
FALMOUTH 17-May-07 2-Apr-07 "rep sch,rds,fuel carrier,haz waste coil" 1-May-90 1991 3,417 4,228 LOSS 1,685,885
Massachusetts Department of Revenue Communities with Town Meeting before election: Date
Division of Local Services Override may have preceded Town Meeting:
Municipal Databank/Local Aid Section (dep.on date of TM for that year)
Municipality Election Annual TM Description Date FY Yes No /Loss Amount
FALMOUTH school positions and expenditures 20-May-97 1998 4,432 3,171 WIN 980,000
FRAMINGHAM 3-Apr-07 24-Apr-07 Fund Parks&Recr.Dept.Budget 1'-Apr-90 1991 5,295 6,826 LOSS 50,000'
FRAMINGHAM Fund portion of Police Dept.Budget 1'-Apr-90 1991 5,387 6,860 LOSS 100,000
FRAMINGHAM Fund Youth Commission Oper.Budget 1'-Apr-90 1991 5,115 7,028 LOSS 100,000'
FRAMINGHAM Fund School operating budget 1'-Apr-90 1991 5,280 7,118 LOSS 1,200,000'
FRAMINGHAM Fund Council on Aging Budget 1'-Apr-90 1991 6,396 6,002 WIN 80,000'
FRAMINGHAM Fund portion of Library Oper.Budget 1'-Apr-90 1991 6,253 6,072 WIN 50,000
FRAMINGHAM funding portion of fire dept.budget 1'-Apr-91 1992 4,554 5,266 LOSS 700,000
FRAMINGHAM funding portion of police dept.budget 1'-Apr-91 1992 4,369 5,426 LOSS 300,000
FRAMINGHAM Fund Gen.Operating Budget 1-Jun-91 1992 6,932 6,594 WIN 4,347,699
FRAMINGHAM FUNDING GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES 11-Jun-02 2003 6,877 6,536 WIN 7,173,239
HOLBROOK 3-Apr-07 29-May-07 school 1-Oct-89 1990 676 1,182 LOSS 370,000
HOLBROOK general government 1-Oct-89 1990 562 1,301 LOSS 150,000
HOLBROOK Fund Cleanup Expenses re:oil leak/School 1-Jun-90 1991 994 1,678 LOSS 132,000
HOLBROOK General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 679 1,946 LOSS 350,000
HOLBROOK General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 638 2,017 LOSS 500,000
HOLBROOK General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 400 2,193 LOSS 745,000
HOLBROOK cost of rubbish disposal collection 4-Apr-95 1996 1,067 955 WIN 750,000
FUNDING DEPARTMENTAL EXPENSES(SCHOOL,
HOLBROOK POLICE,FIRE,&LIBRARY) 16-Jul-02 2003 1,078 1,057 WIN 382,000
LEE 14-May-07 10-May-07 general operating budget 13-May-91 1992 225 729 LOSS 255,000
LEE school operating budget 15-May-95 1996 373 732 LOSS 75,355
LEE police department expenditures 13-May-96 1997 811 830 LOSS 17,427
LEE gen.govt.program costs assos.with staff 13-May-96 1997 564 1,046 LOSS 9,600
LEE school department operating budget 13-May-96 1997 970 733 WIN 228,683
LEXINGTON 5-Mar-07 26-Mar-07 General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 6,584 5,721 WIN 1,097,829
LEXINGTON 10-Oct-07 additional taxes for trash disposal 15-Jun-92 1993 6,247 3,654 WIN 2,718,092
LEXINGTON fire salaries 12-Jun-95 1996 5,434 3,485 WIN 196,848
LEXINGTON police salaries 12-Jun-95 1996 4,915 4,033 WIN 102,000
LEXINGTON maintaining public open space 12-Jun-95 1996 4,725 4,217 WIN 29,000
LEXINGTON maintain level of school services 12-Jun-95 1996 4,539 4,338 WIN 1,172,152
LEXINGTON general operating expenses 22-May-00 2001 5,402 3,058 WIN 3,440,829
LEXINGTON GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES 02-Jun-03 2004 5,634 6,019 LOSS 4,957,000
LEXINGTON PURPOSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY 08-Jun-04 2005 8,016 4,789 WIN 173,443
DPW,INCLUDING RESTORING CURB SIDE YARD
WASTE PICKUP,CLEANING STREET LIGHT AND
LEXINGTON OTHER MAINTENANCE 08-Jun-04 2005 7,907 4,871 WIN 194,693
RESTORING LIBRARY SERVICES INCLUDING
PERSONNEL AND SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
LEXINGTON HOURS OF OPERATION 08-Jun-04 2005 7,520 5,287 WIN 191,730
RESTORING AND PRESERVING SCHOOL
LEXINGTON SERVICES TO MEED EDUCATIONAL GOALS 08-Jun-04 2005 7,343 5,492 WIN 3,271,485
OPERATION OF A SIX ROUTE LEXPRESS
LEXINGTON TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 08-Jun-04 2005 6,870 5,926 WIN 213,028
SOCIAL SERVICES AND TOWN SUPPORT
LEXINGTON SERVICES 08-Jun-04 2005 6,791 5,968 WIN 179,961
LEXINGTON MEETING EDUCATIONAL GOALS 05-Jun-06 2007 4,975 5,537 LOSS 551,607
LEXINGTON PURPOSE OF MEETING EDUCATIONAL GOALS 05-Jun-06 2007 5,146 5,370 LOSS 2,614,509
RESTORING AND PRESERVING MUNICIPAL
LEXINGTON SERVICES 05-Jun-06 2007 5,327 5,192 WIN 799,335
FUNDING NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE
MAINTENANCE OF MUNICIPAL SCHOOL
LEXINGTON BUILDINGS 05-Jun-06 2007 5,494 5,013 WIN 1,059,100
LEXINGTON operating budget of the public schools 05-Jun-07 2008 6,391 5,400 WIN 3,981,589
MILFORD 2-Apr-07 21-May-07 Super Tuesday Vote/Resolution Aid Recover 1-Sep-91 1992 1,141 3,174 LOSS 650,000
MILTON 24-Apr-07 7-May-07 General operating budget 1'-Apr-89 1990 4,415 3,024 WIN 596,228'
MILTON General operating budget 1'-Apr-90 1991 4,112 3,836 WIN 1,977,140
MILTON hiring and promoting new fire fighters 12-Jun-95 1996 3,343 2,852 WIN 260,000
MILTON addit.teachers-books-educ.services 12-Jun-95 1996 3,152 3,030 WIN 1,131,219
MILTON GENERAL OPERATING BUDGETS 26-Jun-01 2002 5,119 2,882 WIN 721,019
MILTON GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET 26-Jun-01 2002 4,237 3,002 WIN 1,423,191
MILTON GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 13-Jun-06 2007 4,768 3,712 WIN 2,411,083
MONTAGUE 21-May-07 5-May-07 trash disposal 29-Jun-93 1994 524 230 WIN 76,190
APPROPRIATION FOR GILL-MONTAGUE
MONTAGUE REGIONAL SCHOOL ASSESSMENT 04-Aug-03 2004 557 99,910 LOSS 326,058
APPROPRIATION FOR GILL-MONTAGUE REG.
MONTAGUE SCH.SYSTEM ASSESSMENT 06-Jun-06 2007 576 812 LOSS 600,000
NATICK 27-Mar-07 10-Apr-07 General operating budget/school budget 1-May-90 1991 2,320 2,965 LOSS 800,000
NATICK General operating budget/school budget 1-May-90 1992 2,274 2,998 LOSS 1,000,000
NATICK implementing second ambulance 07-Nov-00 2001 9,410 7,146 WIN 427,000
NEEDHAM 10-Apr-07 7-May-07 education,police,fire,public works,svcs." 1-Oct-88 1990 3,458 3,582 LOSS 1,595,000
Massachusetts Department of Revenue Communities with Town Meeting before election: Date
Division of Local Services Override may have preceded Town Meeting:
Municipal Databank/Local Aid Section (dep.on date of TM for that year)
Municipality Election Annual TM Description Date FY Yes No /Loss Amount
NEEDHAM general budget 1-May-90 1991 4,861 4,903 LOSS 2,025,484
NEEDHAM Fund Library Operating budget 1-Apr-91 1992 8,196 2,819 WIN 467,000
NEEDHAM Fund Fire Dept.&Ambulance Service Budget 1-Apr-91 1992 7,322 3,628 WIN 198,115
NEEDHAM Fund Council on Aging Budget 1-Apr-91 1992 7,058 3,757 WIN 69,985
NEEDHAM Fund School department budget 1-Apr-91 1992 7,208 3,760 WIN 978,000
NEEDHAM Fund Police Department budget 1'-Apr-91 1992 6,886 3,994 WIN 152,113
NEEDHAM Fund Park&Recreation Department budget 1-Apr-91 1992 6,042 4,660 WIN 52,000
NEEDHAM Fund Youth Commission Department budget 1-Apr-91 1992 5,991 4,704 WIN 26,872
NEEDHAM operations of police department 8-Apr-96 1997 3,883 3,947 LOSS 97,651
NEEDHAM operations of the Board of Health 8-Apr-96 1997 3,894 3,955 LOSS 57,831
NEEDHAM operations of school department 8-Apr-96 1997 3,908 3,969 LOSS 1,489,811
NEEDHAM maintainance of municipal maint.dept. 8-Apr-96 1997 3,364 4,366 LOSS 45,000
NEEDHAM operations of public works dept. 8-Apr-96 1997 3,359 4,373 LOSS 105,605
NEEDHAM operatons of the library 8-Apr-96 1997 5,692 2,304 WIN 295,000
NEEDHAM operations of council on aging 8-Apr-96 1997 4,393 3,481 WIN 40,000
NEEDHAM operations of youth commission 8-Apr-96 1997 4,267 3,596 WIN 66,431
NEEDHAM operations of fire department 8-Apr-96 1997 4,139 3,679 WIN 107,000
NEEDHAM operations of parks and recreation dept. 8-Apr-96 1997 4,098 3,755 WIN 40,500
NEEDHAM SCHOOL DEPT.OPERATIONS 3-May-97 1998 4,019 4,069 LOSS 1,500,000
FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE
NEEDHAM PROGRAMS 05-Nov-02 2003 6,567 7,330 LOSS 4,650,000
FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE
NEEDHAM PROGRAMS 05-Nov-02 2003 5,182 8,544 LOSS 5,656,000
FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE
NEEDHAM PROGRAMS 05-Nov-02 2003 4,579 9,186 LOSS 6,970,000
NEEDHAM DEFRAYING SCHOOL OPERATING EXPENSES 14-Apr-03 2004 5,782 3,977 WIN 2,009,318
NEEDHAM PUBLIC SAFETY IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS 14-Apr-03 2004 5,782 3,977 WIN 300,000
NEEDHAM ROAD MAINTENANCE 23-Apr-03 2004 6,602 3,133 WIN 150,000
NEEDHAM SCHOOL DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES 11-Apr-06 2007 3,671 4,115 LOSS 1,476,017
NEEDHAM GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 11-Apr-06 2007 4,054 3,726 WIN 597,370
NEEDHAM defray school operating expenses 10-Apr-07 2008 4,681 3,376 WIN 1,128,670
PLYMOUTH 12-May-07 7-Apr-07 operating-funding new middle school 8-Nov-94 1996 4,127 10,959 LOSS 4,000,000
OPERATING THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND
RANDOLPH 3-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 PUBLIC SCHOOLS 13-May-03 2007 1,308 4,362 LOSS 5,200,000
OPERATING THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND
RANDOLPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS 13-May-03 2007 1,479 4,207 LOSS 4,500,000
FULLY FUNDING REFUSE COLLECTION AND
RANDOLPH DISPOSAL CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 13-May-03 2007 1,506 4,221 LOSS 2,500,000
OPERATING THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND
RANDOLPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS 13-May-03 2007 1,741 3,974 LOSS 3,800,000
OPERATING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND
RANDOLPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS 13-May-03 2007 2,213 3,590 LOSS 2,500,000
RANDOLPH GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES 13-Jun-06 2007 1,909 2,540 LOSS 3,300,000
READING 3-Apr-07 23-Apr-07 Gen.Oper.Budget 1-Mar-90 1991 3,025 4,683 LOSS 1,553,000
READING general operating expenses 23-Mar-93 1994 3,900 3,538 WIN 2,410,512
READING SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION 25-Feb-03 2005 2,742 4,869 LOSS 250,000
READING FUND 2004 OPERATING BUDGET 08-Apr-03 2004 4,249 3,190 WIN 4,500,000
SAUGUS 6-Nov-07 7-May-07 GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 24-Apr-07 2008 2,180 4,572 LOSS 5,200,000
SHREWSBURY 1-May-07 21-May-07 school dept bus transportation expenses 4-May-92 1993 1,535 2,882 LOSS 200,000
SHREWSBURY FUNDING SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 03-May-04 2006 2,301 4,291 LOSS 1,200,000
OPERATING BUDGET FOR SEVERAL
SHREWSBURY DEPARTMENTS 06-Jun-05 2006 2,451 4,797 LOSS 1,500,000
SHREWSBURY FUNDING TOWN AND SCHOOL BUDGETS 01-May-07 2008 5,166 5,577 LOSS 5,000,000
SOUTH HADLEY 2-Apr-07 12-May-07 making repairs to town facilities 4-Apr-94 1995 1,696 3,294 LOSS 295,000
SOUTH HADLEY replacing equipment for different depts. 4-Apr-94 1995 1,592 3,370 LOSS 270,000
SOUTH HADLEY replacing street lights 4-Apr-94 1995 1,524 3,466 LOSS 35,000
SOUTH HADLEY reconst.and repair storm drainage system 4-Apr-94 1995 1,319 3,634 LOSS 230,000
SOUTH HADLEY pay raises for town employees 4-Apr-94 1995 1,260 3,688 LOSS 345,000
SOUTH HADLEY support and maintenance of school system 12-Jun-95 1996 2,407 2,464 LOSS 1,065,069
FUNDING OPERATING BUDGETS OF TOWN AND
STOUGHTON 10-Apr-07 7-May-07 PUBLIC SCHOOLS 30-Apr-02 2004 1,648 4,161 LOSS 2,700,000
SWAMPSCOTT 24-Apr-07 21-May-07 General operating budget 1-Jun-90 1991 2,584 2,401 WIN 1,837,000
SWAMPSCOTT supplementing budget 19-Jun-01 2002 2,076 1,888 WIN 2,469,790
OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE SCHOOL
SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 2,078 2,819 LOSS 2,750,000
OPERATING EXPENSES FOR BUILDING
SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 1,673 3,097 LOSS 8,500
SWAMPSCOTT FUNDING STABILIZATION FUND 14-Jun-05 2006 1,650 3,103 LOSS 28,000
OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE PERSONNELL
SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 1,588 3,187 LOSS 15,000
SWAMPSCOTT LAW DEPARTMENT EXPENSES 14-Jun-05 2006 1,515 3,259 LOSS 10,000
Massachusetts Department of Revenue Communities with Town Meeting before election: Date
Division of Local Services Override may have preceded Town Meeting:
Municipal Databank/Local Aid Section (dep.on date of TM for that year)
Municipality Election Annual TM Description Date FY Yes No /Loss Amount
SWAMPSCOTT TREASURER,COLLECTOR-POSTAGE 14-Jun-05 2006 1,506 3,271 LOSS 7,500
OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE POLICE
SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 3,073 1,816 WIN 180,000
OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE FIRE
SWAMPSCOTT DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 3,038 1,840 WIN 265,000
SWAMPSCOTT OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE LIBRARY 14-Jun-05 2006 2,765 2,084 WIN 30,000
OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE COUNCIL ON
SWAMPSCOTT AGING 14-Jun-05 2006 2,548 2,262 WIN 6,000
FUNDING OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE
SWAMPSCOTT SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 14-Jun-05 2006 2,573 2,327 WIN 1,750,000
WALPOLE 2-Jun-07 7-May-07 General Operating expenses 1-May-90 1991 2,259 3,095 LOSS 452,000
WALPOLE Fund Solid/Hazardous Waste Budget 1-Jun-91 1992 1,301 2,137 LOSS 816,521
WALPOLE GENREAL OPERATING EXPENSES 11-Sep-01 2002 5,259 4,975 WIN 3,709,259
WELLESLEY 6-Mar-07 26-Mar-07 Asbestos removal in schools 1-Mar-89 1990 3,202 3,309 LOSS 240,000
WELLESLEY "General government,public works,educ,libr" 1-Mar-89 1990 2,643 3,846 LOSS 922,000
WELLESLEY capital outlay and maintenance of program 1-Mar-89 1990 2,458 4,050 LOSS 700,000
WELLESLEY Police and Fire department 1-Mar-89 1990 1,965 4,478 LOSS 204,000
WELLESLEY Fund Board of Health Oper.Budget 1-May-90 1991 3,410 4,273 LOSS 15,000
WELLESLEY Fund Youth Commission Operations 1-May-90 1991 2,623 5,052 LOSS 15,389
WELLESLEY Fund Personnel Board Operations 1-May-90 1991 2,325 5,297 LOSS 6,900
WELLESLEY Fund Sch./Education Budget 1-May-90 1991 5,420 2,359 WIN 270,600
WELLESLEY Fund DPW Recycling Disposal Facility 1-May-90 1991 4,038 3,678 WIN 347,300
WELLESLEY Fund Public Education Department 1-May-91 1992 3,935 2,103 WIN 246,800
WELLESLEY Fund Library Department operations 1-May-91 1992 3,519 2,519 WIN 78,200
WELLESLEY public education 02-May-00 2001 3,120 957 WIN 750,000
WELLESLEY PUBLIC EDUCATION 01-May-01 2002 3,031 1,582 WIN 1,967,821
FULLY FUND GENERAL FUND OPERATING
WELLESLEY BUDGET 07-May-02 2003 2,814 1,265 WIN 2,539,201
WELLESLEY GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET 13-May-03 2004 4,345 3,804 WIN 2,895,436
GROUP INSURANCE LIBABILITY TRUST FUND TO
REDUCE UNFUNDED POST RETIREMENT
WELLESLEY BENEFIT 02-Nov-04 2005 3,123 9,777 LOSS 2,500,000
WELLESLEY GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET 10-May-05 2006 4,101 4,118 LOSS 3,552,392
WELLESLEY GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET 10-May-05 2006 4,465 3,750 WIN 2,596,851
SUNDAY OPENINGS OF THE TOWNS RECYCLING
WELLESLEY AND DISPOSAL FACILITY 16-May-06 2007 4,325 5,126 LOSS 45,043
FUNDING BUDGET FOR HILLS BRANCH AND
WELLESLEY FELLS BRANCH OF THE FREE LIBRARY 16-May-06 2007 4,512 4,927 LOSS 75,603
WELLESLEY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND GENERAL OPERATING 16-May-06 2007 5,607 3,862 WIN 3,158,618
FUNDING TOWNS GROUP INSURANCE LIABILITY
WELLESLEY FUND 15-May-07 2008 3,343 1,586 WIN 1,800,000
WINCHESTER 27-Mar-07 23-Apr-07 funding for library book account 26-Mar-91 1992 2,599 3,127 LOSS 27,000
WINCHESTER fund school department budget 26-Mar-91 1992 2,421 3,306 LOSS 644,000
WINCHESTER funding public works grounds div.budget 26-Mar-91 1992 2,395 3,310 LOSS 200,000
WINCHESTER funding for health dept.inspector 26-Mar-91 1992 1,935 3,635 LOSS 41,000
WINCHESTER funding rent on council on aging 26-Mar-91 1992 1,892 3,679 LOSS 12,000
WINCHESTER GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET 16-Apr-02 2003 4,465 3,390 WIN 4,550,000
WINCHESTER GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 07-Dec-04 2006 3,518 4,543 LOSS 3,933,000
operating budget for police,fire,library,school,public
WINCHESTER works and other municipal personnel 13-Mar-07 2008 4,252 2,297 WIN 1,347,000
(Compiled by Andy Friedlich-Ad Hoc Budget Schedule Committee)