In its recommendation to approve the omnibus budget of $18,604,612, a 6.6 percent increase over last year’s budget, the Finance Committee warns voters that this budget “does NOT include any funding for collective bargaining agreements that have yet to be negotiated with the Town’s teachers, police, public works and dispatchers unions.” An article has been inserted by the selectmen as a placeholder that would add the necessary sum to the omnibus budget to fund any contractual agreements reached between now and town meeting.
The Finance Committee is recommending the four warrant articles that will require passage of a $650,000 override at Annual Town Meeting March 31: the omnibus budget of $18,604,612; restoring two part-time workers at the transfer station for $20,000; creating an new police sergeant position for $12,500; and funding unplanned electricity costs for the Bare Hill Pond drawdown of $15,000. All are contingent on voters passing the $650,000 override at Town Meeting and at Town Election April 3 on ballot question 1.
The committee is not recommending the article inserted by the School Committee that requests an additional $113,500 override for the schools and that is contingent upon Town Meeting approval and passage of ballot question 2 at the polls. In its explanation for not recommending the School Committee override, the Finance Committee wrote that the omnibus budget “includes significant funding for new and restored programs for the schools” and that this $113,500 override would authorize “additional funding above and beyond the $650,000 general override, and would be a permanent increase in the tax base.”
Special education audit
The Finance Committee decided to comment only, not to recommend or not recommend, two competing articles in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant that request funds for a special education audit. The article submitted by the selectmen and School Committee asks for a sum yet to be determined “for an independent review of the operations and expenditures” of the special ed program “under the auspices of the School Committee.”
A citizens’ petition requests $25,000 to fund an independent audit of special ed expenditures to be conducted by a company chosen by the selectmen. Unable to “independently assure the Town that the budget for this program is being spent wisely,” due to the confidential nature of the special ed program, the Finance Committee members provided comments that express concern that an audit conducted under the auspices of the School Committee “may not be, or may not appear to be, independent,” and that the citizens’ petition, while independent, “specifies an audit of expenditures only.” They state that they would support up to $25,000 to fund an independent audit of the special ed program as a whole.
To cover anticipated overruns in special education for the current year, the Finance Committee recommended a $250,000 transfer from the stabilization fund into the reserve fund. In addition, they recommended raising an additional $390,000 to be placed in the reserve fund for “unforeseen and extraordinary expenses” for next year. This sum “includes the typical $225,000 request plus $165,000 for potential special education costs.”
Dump truck with plow
The committee also did not recommend a $140,000 capital exclusion to buy a new six-wheel dump truck with plow, which is ballot question 3. When reached for comment, committee Chairwoman Debbie Ricci explained that, although the committee is generally in agreement about the need to replace the 1983 and 1984 trucks with a single, more versatile truck, they simply ran out of time to resolve disagreements about the best way to replace them. “We are recommending alternative funding,” she said, “and we would like to consider a lease purchase.” She added that they would be working with the selectmen and Rich Nota, director of public works, to clarify their position on this article before town meeting.
A new ambulance
An article to buy and equip a new ambulance does not require an override or a ballot question, because the Finance Committee is recommending that $200,000 be transferred from the stabilization fund for this purpose. The committee comments that the 1996 model currently in use has “outlived its recommended life” and adds that future revenues from the planned billing of out-of-town patients should generate sufficient revenue to help pay for the next ambulance.
FinCom citizens’ petition
A second citizens’ petition asking that “the Town vote to make selection of Finance Committee members subject to public election by ballot, with each position holding a three-year term” prompted the selectmen to insert their own article, asking for a change in “the manner of selection and terms of office of the members” of the Finance Committee. Currently, the members are appointed by the town moderator for three-year terms.
