TOWN OF SHARON
ASSESSORS MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 3, 2002
7:00 P.M. Called meeting to order. Present: Robert Merritt, Paula Keefe, Ellen
Abelson, Mark Mazur and Paul Keefe. Signed a bill voucher.
7:05 P.M. Old Business
The Board reviewed the fiscal 2003 tax rate recapitulation form and related documents.
7:10 P.M. Because more people wanted to take part in the meeting than we had space
for, the Board decided to move their meeting to the upstairs meeting room.
7:15 P.M. The meeting continued in the upstairs meeting room. In addition to the
previously mentioned individuals the following people were in attendance:
Town Administrator Benjamin Puritz, Selectman Walter Roach and five
members of the Finance Committee: Colleen Tuck, David Grasfield,
Charles Goodman, Marc Bluestein and Daniel Sirkin.
Old Business (cont.)
Ms. Keefe went over the background to the setting of the tax rate and the
fiscal 2003 recapitulation form.
Mr. Puritz provided an overview of the Town’s financial situation in
relation to the fiscal 2003 recapitulation form.
Mr. Puritz provided copies of two documents to all those present. One
was a comparison of estimated and actual receipts. He then explained
how it showed that our estimates for fiscal 2002 receipts
were reasonable. The other document was titled “amplification to the
revenue forecast” and it showed what the town’s free cash was over the
past seven years. He expressed his belief that the amount of free cash was
for less than an organization the size of the Sharon town government should have.
Mr. Puritz and Mr. Roach expressed their belief that a majority of the
Board of Selectmen were in favor of reducing the fiscal 2003 levy by
$515,889, but no more than that amount.
Key parts of the fiscal 2003 recapitulation form were discussed. The
history of actual motor vehicle receipts was discussed. From fiscal 1998
to fiscal 2001 the receipts for each year were around $2,000,000, then for
fiscal 2002 it jumped to over $2,500,000. Reasons for this increase were
discussed but it was noted that our estimate of just over $1,800,000 had been reasonable in light of recent trends. It was noted that the state would
have accepted $1,800,000 without any explanation. However, any figure
below that would have required a letter of explanation from Ben Puritz.
It was acknowledged that the $1,100,000 estimate used in a previous version of our fiscal 2003 recapitulation was ridiculously low and the $1,540,000 was better but still unrealistic.
The increase of debt and interest charges on page 2 of the recapitulation
form and how it allowed us to increase motor vehicle estimates to
$1,540,000 was discussed.
The use of letters to explain changes in estimated receipts was discussed.
It was explained that some letters of explanation are commonplace each year. This year, for example, documents will be sent to explain the elimination of two receipts for revolving funds, changes in the investment income and water department estimates.
The estimate for investment income was discussed. We are expecting far
less than the $620,000 that we received last year. The $100,000 figure was acknowledged to be on the low end of Treasurer Rob Uyttebroek’s range of estimates.
The state guidelines allowing plus or minus 10% on individual estimated
receipts without any explanation was discussed.
The allowance for abatements and exemptions (overlay) was discussed.
The $850,000 being used in the current recapitulation form was acknowledged to be far higher than we had used in the recent past. In recent years we have set aside between $450,000 and $550,000.
The general consequences of lower estimated receipts on Town finances
was discussed. The difference between actual and estimated receipts becomes free cash in a subsequent year.
The question was raised as to whether we were overtaxing townspeople
by underestimating receipts. The amount of underestimating was discussed. The danger of overestimating receipts if we are not conservative in our estimates was mentioned.
8:10 P.M. The Board concluded their discussions with Mr. Puritz, Mr. Roach and the
members of the Finance committee in the upstairs meeting room. The Board
went downstairs to the assessor’s office.
8:15 P.M. The Board resumed their meeting in the assessor’s office.
8:15 P.M. Old Business (continued)
The Board decided to not set the fiscal 2003 tax rate until the Board of
Selectmen vote their recommendation next Tuesday night.
The Board directed the assistant assessor to respond to an expected call
from the Boston Globe by explaining in general terms what was discussed
at this evening’s meeting.
The assistant assessor explained that because we are required to round the
tax rate to the nearest penny, reducing the levy by $515,889 would actually lower the levy by a slightly different amount.
The Board approved as amended and then signed a cover letter to our
Capital Outlay request for the photographing of buildings.
The Board reviewed and approved both our regular and our executive
session minutes from 9/19/2002.
8:35 P.M. The Board went into executive session.
8:45 P.M. The Board returned from its executive session.
8:45 P.M. Adjourned
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