HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-11-21-AC-MIN.pdf APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1996
COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, 7:30 PM
PRESENT: R. Borghesani, S. Coit, P. Lapointe, R. Leone, M. Miley, I. Mroczkowski,
R. Pawliczek
ABSENT: R. Colwell, L. Peck, J. Ryan
Activities Before the Meeting The committee's photo was taken for the annual town report. M.
Miley agreed to draft the committee's report. P. Lapointe and R. Borghesani distributed copies of the
new edition of the Association of Town Finance Committees (ATFC) Finance Committee Handbook,
which the ATFC had distributed at its annual meeting on November 16.
Discussion of the Budget Process P. Lapointe expressed the need for greater movement in the budget
process. Despite apparent shared interest in improving the process, he saw little progress on the three
priorities: capital budget planning, the operating budget, and financial reserves. Discussion followed
on the committee's role. Should the committee continue to react, as the bylaw suggests, or be
proactive and attempt to move the process along? To be proactive, what specific steps could we take?
Financial Guidelines Committee discussed setting guidelines for sound, long-term financial
management and how to promote their impact on FY 1997-98 budgets. Committee identified the
following possible guidelines: debt policy, including the amortization period; capital and operating
expense ratios; stabilization funds; and revenue models.
Since the town meeting warrant will close on December 27, it was agreed that proposing one or more
financial guidelines in the warrant would assure early discussion of such guidelines. The committee
agreed to consider the following issues for warrant articles: capital budget expenses as a percentage of
total spending; stabilization fund; debt amortization schedules; and the budget process. After
discussion of the merits of proposing only one versus a few warrant articles, the committee agreed to
focus on a single warrant article: a guideline for capital spending as a ratio of either the tax levy or
spending, exclusive of enterprise funds.
Warrant Article Workplan The committee agreed to the following workplan:
1. Draft wording of the article (P. Lapointe)
2. Contact Marge Battin, Norm Cohen, Karen Dooks, and J. Ryan (P. Lapointe)
3. Analyze historical capital spending patterns relative to tax levy, other revenues (R.
Borghesani
4. Review and critique models for future levels of capital spending (R. Leone)
Subcommittee Reports P. Lapointe reported on a willingness to review fund balance policy questions
at the November 19 Minuteman Regional School Committee meeting. R. Borghesani reported on the
school team's tracking of the Lexington School Committee's capital budget proposal
Next Meeting Dates December 12 and 19 at 7:30 PM in the comptroller's office.
Note In the secretary's absence, S. Coit took meeting notes, and P. Lapointe prepared these minutes.