Options for budget errors
October 2, 2003
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
Paul Sullivan (PS) opened by talking about pension holiday. Explained calcs and then stated a maximum of $520,933 with repayment up to 25 yrs.
PS said total problem $896,372
minus 189,776 anticipated prison monies
minus $100k extra excise tax to town
minus $ returned regional libraries
Therefore, looking at $582,737
** PS said met with Water & Sewer, & they are to assume note payment on sewer treatment plant resulting in another $141,682
PS then said there was a review of dept's other than educ and req'd payments (pension, insurace, etc) with the goal of determining the optimal % cut from original budget amount
PS said 2% was detemined to be best reduction, believing dept's could sustain this hit without layoffs. This would add up to $205,165.
PS then detailed some other areas to account for last $235,926. Basically, realizing cash sitting in some dormant accounts **($20k in an insurance reimb acct, $10k in Cablevision, $17.5k from a 10yr old sale). Also, principal on Hogg Farm purchase to be paid from Capital Projects Fund, and an undisclosed sum from Ambulance receipts.
Herb Lemon (HL) then asked Rep Flynn to speak on issues relating to the Capital Funds Project.
Flynn stated that in order to use Captial Acct for other purposes, a Town Mtg would be required to change those bylaws. The MA Legislature would then have to vote to accept the change. And this would be difficult since they close 3rd Wed in Nov (11/19), so wouldn't be heard until 2004. Until the Legislature votes to approve, our budget would still technically be out of balance. We realistically cannot wait that long, so this may not be an option for FY04 budget issues, however if we lay the work for it, it could help in FY05.
Some ?'s back and forth between Selectmen and PS.
PS then said 2% for police would be $60,914 and fire at $57k. And that he believed this could be done without layoffs.
HL said Selectmen to review info, but he would not push for a Spec TM, he would wait for Fall TM to save the town those monies.
HL then made final comments as he was closing saying NO to grab of $250k earmarked for Senior Ctr work and NO to a Prop 2 1/2 on this. HL tried to close, but Jim Nihan asked to be heard since a new topic was just mentioned. Jim concurred with HL. Dennis Gallagher then said since comments being made, he also go on record NO on both. Alan Chiocca then said NO on SrCtr, but he was keeping options open on 2 1/2. Mike Tiebert then said NO to both.
Important to note that Alan is the only person to not say NO to a Prop 2 1/2 tax over-ride at this point.
Meeting closed.
Please note that I marked a couple areas with **. Why were these items not understood in June when we first looked at FY04 budget? (having W&S pay own bonds, and 'found' money should have been done prior.) PS and Jo-ann's not detailing these until now further undermines confidence townspeople can have in the financial leadership of this community. I view these missed items as second mistakes.
