HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-09-SC-min
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, April 9, 2007
School Administration Building, Conference Room
1557 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Tom Diaz, School
Committee Members Helen Cohen, Margaret Coppe, Tom Griffiths and Ravi
Sakhuja. Minutes taken by Leora Tec.
The meeting was convened at 5:37 pm.
I. Call to order and welcome (Tom Diaz)
II. Members Reports/Concerns
Is there money in the budget for the aides if override fails: Yes.
Helen Cohen: Is there the possibility of funding pieces of the German program
by constituents?
Paul Ash: We were offered money though the Italian government to provide
materials for an advanced placement course but did not have to hire a teacher;
but with German we need to hire a teacher. It is the opposite.
III. Action Item
Vote to take a position on Article 23 (petition to change the guidelines in
Lexington for property tax deferrals)
Tom Diaz: Now town by-laws and state law allow a person to defer all property
tax until their property is sold. The Article would empower the Selectmen to
make different guidelines. Proponents would like seniors to qualify if they have
income of more than $45K a year. CPA has more lenient exemptions. We have
an interest in this because we tend to take 70% of property taxes for schools.
Helen Cohen: Is there a dollar figure attached to this?
Tom Diaz: I have never heard an estimate on the impact.
Helen Cohen: This is very open ended. I am supportive of going this direction
but having no guidelines feels uncomfortable.
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Tom Diaz: The proponents’ suggestions were to use CPA guidelines because
now very few people take advantage of tax relief, though many more take
advantage of CPA exemptions.
Margaret Coppe: When you defer you are charged interest.
Ravi Sakhuja: In general I am in favor.
Tom Diaz: We can take a position now or on the floor of TM.
Tom Griffiths: We need to know what they mean by following CPA
guidelines, do they mean simply extending it to younger people and a higher
income level; if so I would be in favor of it. Property tax is not a good measure
of ability to pay.
Tom Diaz: I would like it extended to younger people who pay higher taxes,
high fees etc…So let’s wait and see what the debate is and caucus in the back of
the room.
IV. Motion to adjourn (Griffiths, Sakhuja). The motion passed 5-0.
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