HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-23-AC-min 03/23/15 AC Minutes
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC)
March 23,2015
Place and time- Lexington High School, Room 221, 7 00 p.m
Members present Glenn Parker, Chair, John Bartenstem, Vice Chair and Secretary; Alan Levine,
Beth Masterman, Susan McLeish, Eric Michelson, Richard Neumeier, Andrei Radulescu-Banu
Members Absent Mollie Garberg
Other attendees None
The meeting was called to order at 7 01 p.m.
1 Announcements. Mr Parker asked that each member sign the punted AC reports to Town
Meeting. He also reviewed the procedure for Committee members wishing to speak on behalf of this
Committee during Town Meeting deliberations
2. Articles from the Warrant for the March 2015 Annual Town Meeting. There was
discussion about Article 34 Accept MGL Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 54 and Set Personal
Property Minimum Tax Mr Michelson reported that the Selectmen had voted earlier in the evening
to again change the proposed threshold for assessing a personal property tax on resident businesses
Ongmally proposed at $1,000, then changed to $2,000, the Selectmen's latest vote was to set the
threshold at $1,200 The change was made after clarification that $1,200 is the lowest level at which
the tax collected exceeds the costs of assessment.
3 School Capital Projects, Tax Impact: There was discussion about the potential impact on
the tax levy of debt exclusions that will be required for new and/or expanded schools and public
safety facilities, and how to evaluate Lexington's recent history of tax growth compared with other
communities A proposal was made to undertake an analysis after the conclusion of the Annual
Town Meeting, and to prepare material to help taxpayers understand the past and future impact of
excluded debt on the property tax for the average home
The meeting was adjourned at 7.23 p.m
The documents used at the meeting are listed below
Respectfully submitted,
Sara Arnold
Recording Secretary
Approved March 30, 2015
Exhibits
1 Agenda, posted by Glenn Parker