by the Town
October 23, 2007
I was on-line, looking for tonight’s Selectmen’s agenda (not available at 3:30 pm) and the November Special Town Meeting Warrant (also not available). I did find the minutes from the October 9th Special Town Meeting for the $1.495M budget resolution – was curious to see the published attendance.
While I did not see the attendance, I did see some creative writing with the vote taken. The minutes of the meeting are recorded as:
It was voted that the Town appropriate $1,495,164 to fund its assessed share of the FY08 Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School budget, and to fund such appropriation, raise $351,881 from taxation, $203,973 from overlay surplus, $161,000 from ambulance receipts and transfer the following amounts from the following departments…
…(department & dollar listing)
It was further voted that the Town appropriate $84,580 to fund $50,140 for #132 the reserve fund, $20,000 for #188 Community Dev/Trans Mgt, $4,440 for #193 Senior Center and $10,000 for #940 Miscellaneous to fund such appropriations, raise the sum of $84, 580 from taxation.
The original Article:
To see whether or not the Town will vote to raise, appropriate and transfer from available funds the sum of $1,495,164 for the purpose of balancing the fiscal year 2008 budget, and to meet such appropriation raise from taxation the sum of $436,461, transfer from overlay surplus $203,973, ambulance receipts reserved $161,000 and transfer the following funds from the following departments…
…(department & dollar listing)
Some observations:
* Why was Bridgewater-Raynham included in the minutes of the vote? B-R was not mentioned in the Warrant Article nor was it in the motion as voted on the floor at the meeting.
* When all was done with Town Meeting, the town department budgets were reduced by a net of $693,730. Reductions to a few departments have been dramatic. Some history on this - July 30th Special Town Meeting set the B-R budget with an increase of $1,495,164. This resulted in the Selectmen bringing forward an override request and vote on September 8th of $2,199,655 [failed]. So, not only did the town forecast devastation without the additional $700k ($1.495M to $2.2M), but in reality, the town department budgets ended up only $693,730 out of balance. That represents $1,505,925 less than the override request.
All something to think about. Especially the next time someone talks about honesty, openness and transparency in budgeting; or my favorite… the need to deregionalize B-R to take control of the process. It sure looks like the town leaders have things well under control!
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
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