HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-09-17-AC-MIN.pdf Meeting of the Appropriation Committee, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1968, 7:30 p.m.
Present: D. Grant, Chairman; J. Blaisdell; R. Blomfield; L. Burnell;
E. Furash; R. Perry, Comptroller; D. White; L. Zehner; R. Souza
Reserve Fund Requests
$400 requested for Board of Appeals, Expenses, by Mr. Nickerson. Present
balance is $94.70. $1300 was appropriated, $1775 had been requested.
Letter requesting the transfer stated that there had been greater
expenditures bedause of more hearings, more secretarial work needed,
and higher prices. The $400 would be used for secretarial services,
Minute-Man Publications and Lexington Press.
Voted totransfer $400 fror Reserve Fund to Board of Appeals - Expenses
$300 requested by Doris Barclay, Tax Collector, to be transferred to
Account #2700. Present balance is $62.99 of the $2100 appropriated.
$2,550 was the original request. The $300 is neededfor supplies which
U were aiiidx$t not heavily stocked because of the anticipated change
in Tax Collectors and, therefore, in forms.
Voted to transfer $300 from Reserve Fund to Account #2700.
$1,000 requested by Selectmen for Clerical Pool, to be used for office
help.
Voted to transfer $1,000 to Clerical Pool from Reserve Fund.
Dick Perry reported that we can anticipate a request for transfer of
funds for Engineering Dept. - expenses. The balance is low. This would
be for equipment rental, for a car for Mr. McSweeney. Four vehicles
are charged on a rental basis.
Tax Bills. Dick Perry reported that, by last Thursday, all real estate
tax bills were in the mail. As a result of telephone calls made by Mr.
Cataldo andhimself to large tax payers, some money has been received
already and more is expected. If these receipts are as great as expected,
the need for tax anticipation borrowing may be over. The Selectmen will
write letters of appreciation to the companies which have paid taxes
early; most of them seem to wish no further publicity.
Public Works Dept. - Capital Projects A letter was received from Mr.
Burke giving the present status of capital projects for which appropria-
tions have been made. Copies will be made for members of the Committee.
School Committee
Logan Clarke requests that we put together some information which might
help him in negotiations with teachers. He suggests that we consider
what the outside limit of future school budgets might be. Though he
would like as much back-up material as we can provide, Logan has requested
that there not be a member of the Appropriation Committee on the School
Salary Study Committee this year.
Dick Perry has prepared some graphs showing, for example, the increase in
school operating expenses, compared with the increase in general operatig
expenses and with total town expenses. Ed Furash has figures on consumer
price increase and Lexington income figures.
This discussion of what the outer limits of school budget should be and
what basis should be used in expressing possible increases (total budget
figures, proportion of total town expenses, per pupil cost) continued
for the remainder of the meeting. Between 1964 and 1968 there was a
33% increase per pupil and a 6% increase in cost of living.
TheCommittee tentatively agreed that the school operating budget should
1.
not, in future years, increase at a rate greater than the increase
of the townspeople income, that is: about 4 to 6% per year.
Thiswx would increase the cost per pupil from $835 in 1968 to $885
in 1969 (maximum increase).
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth F. Souza