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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-10-31-AC-MIN.pdf 7.5 Meeting of the Appropriation Committee, Mon. Oct. 31, 1966, 7:30 p.m. Present: Frank Parrish, chairman; J. Blaisdell; A. Kenney; G. Kolovson; R. Perry, comptroller; L. Zehner; R. Souza. Reserve Fund Requests Veterans Services, account # 7200 — $3,000 requested. March appropriation 410,0.-0, Reserve Fund transfer 45,0.;0. Balance in fund $32.00; bills are in hand exceeding 41,000. Voted to Transfer $3,000 from Reserve Fund Inspection Department — $200 requested Car allowance of $227 charged from April 1 to July 31 when the police cruiser became available to the department as their second car. Budget was therefore overspent by this amount. Transfer is needed for snow y—I tires, file cahinet and general office supplies. Voted to transfer $200 from Reserve Fund. Street Signs — $250 requested by John Carroll for traffic conarol signs. Needed because of 'Vandalism. All but $15,51 of budget has been spent. Voted to transfer $250 from Reserve Fund. Clerical Pool — $900 requested because of the need for temporary help to replace Hazel Murray who is out for 9 or 10 weeks on sick leave. Voted to transfer $900 from Reserve Fund. Public Facilities Building — 4750 requested to operate the builuing for the remainder of the year. some estimates were too low, e.g. electricity, estimated at $150 for the year, is $400 too low. Telephone was not included in estivate. Committee sent the request back fo_- further information. Total electric bill seems excessive. Question whether telephone bill belongs to C of C or Town. Board of Retirement — 4175 requested Additional personnel have enrolled recently, making it necessary to buy adkitional ledger tray, filing equipment and forms. No money left. Voted to transfer $175 from Reserve fund. Reserve Fund balance before above transfers $47,210.00 Total transfers 10/31/66 4,523.00 Reserve Fund balance. $42.6h3.00 Teachers Salary Advisory Committee — Frank Parrish reported that two years ago Lexington had one of the highest starting salary schedules in the state, but its middle range was lower than many. Last year many towns raised starting salaries 4300 or 4400, and .re are now several hundred dollars lower than the 10 communities we usually compare Lexington with, particularly in the midale range. Last year's scale of $5500 to $9000 has been increased to $5700 to $9400, with larger increases starting in the middle steps. (Each $50 increase costs $24,000 the first full year). Total additional cost $87,000 the first year. Kindergartens have been approved and will be put into the schedule and budget. Estimated cost of operating kindergartens is $150,000 for 16 teachers, materials, supplies and trwnspprtation. State reimbursement should return 493,000 additional to the town. This reimbursement 7:6 1 formula is based on the number of pupils in school and tales no account of the fact that some are 1/2 time. Pre—school program will be dropped from budget, decreasing that by 420,060. First year cost of kindergarten 4150,0'60 Less: pre—school program 20,030 4130,000 Second year cost of kindergarten 4150,0 0 Less: state reimbursement 93,000 Less: pre—sc:iool program 20,000 37,000 Total school expenses — may go up 4100,000 Total school budget — may go up 4850,000 Aespeuses to letters to Department tle, ds asking for major changes in budget. Lost on-1,.ets sho:, incre:Nes, but Ley -.re file usual s .lary `,nd expense incre-nes. Police Cnie-i would like 45750 to sena several men to colleige. Association of To.rn Finance Committees — Meeting attended by John Blaisdell, Dick Perry, and Prank Parrish. Doerr payment required for borrowing for maintenance and repair of buildings has been changed to 10% of the amount to be bo.•rowed. Effect of sales tax receipts on t:.x rates cannot be calculated since the law changed the formulae for distribution as well as providing additional money; sales tax money cannot be separated out of the whole. Salary Guide proposed by the committee was voted by the Selectmen without further consideration or discussion with Appropriation Committee. Committee discussed possibility of suggesting a Salary Committee which would have authority over town salaries rather than be advisory to Selectmen. Old Articles — Some progress is being made in closing out Articles with balances remaining unspent. One library Article closed out. Next Meeting — November 7th Mr. Belcastro will be in to discuss Veterans Services. Committee would like to know why budget is increased and how long this can be expected to last, what the total budget is, from Town, Sta„e and Federal governments, whether the department receives money directly from state or • federal govern;ieat, or Town is reimbursed. Net cost to Town and amo._nt of control Torn has over disbursements. Respectfully submitted, Muth P. Souza, secretary • _