Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – September 20, 2004

Town Hall – 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Brian Fitzgerald, David Fixler, Kenneth Goldberg, Charles Goodman,

                               David Hearne, Jonathan Hitter, Ira Miller, Paul Pietal, Gloria Rose

                               (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Michael Feldman, Gregory Sydney

1. The Fall Town Meeting will be coming up on October 18.  Deliberations continued on Articles for the Fall Town Meeting.  On September 21, 2004, at 6:30 P.M. there will be a Revenue Forecast review.  This will be a first look at FY ’06.

2. Recommendations were sent to Kathy on Friday.  Next step, we have eight more without a recommendation to go through for Town Meeting.  The Open Warrant meeting is scheduled for October 4—two weeks ahead of Town Meeting.  The writing of the recommendations for the Spring Town Meeting — we need to get more people involved.  The Clerk, Ira Miller, in concert with the Chairman, will coordinate this activity.

3. A specific discussion ensued regarding the Recommendation for the Teen Center Article which broadened into a general discussion about warrant recommendations (e.g., length, tone, and the pros and cons of having warrant recommendations contain absolute statements).  Members of the Committee thought that the Chairman’s final version of the Teen Center recommendation nicely balanced the different views concerning the language of the Recommendation.

4. REVENUE FORECASTS:  Chuck Goodman and David Fixler gave information from past years.  Detailed discussion on Revenue Forecast.  Prepared many questions for the Selectmen’s meeting on September 21.  Revenue sources include taxation, state aid, local sources, and a few minor items.  Expenses, fixed charges.  Total revenue less expenses equals operating budget.

5. Hearne:  Direct pass through for Special Education.  School Department expenses expected to be reimbursed—mandated by State—going to school and then to vendors.

6. Goodman:  State requirement how Special Ed is to be handled.  Lottery big number reimbursement.  Most of the money that comes back from State is education money.  Sharon is very high recipient of this aid.  Based on population growth, school growth, assessed value of property.

7. Goodman:  Fixed and uncontrollable expenditures:  the major items are the debt service and insurance.  Debt service, interest exempt, detail of what is paid on principal.  Insurance covers all insurance:  medical, liability, motor vehicle, Norfolk County Retirement System.

8. At the first Capital Outlay meeting, September 29, debt service to be discussed.

9. Goodman:  Appropriation for annual Town Meeting, FY ’05 operating budget, $53,000,000.  All available sources of revenue local receipts, State aid, and taxation of residents.  Fixed and uncontrollable have to come out first—most are estimated.

10. Fixler:  Most of a department’s budget is allocated to salaries.  We are really confined to 2 ½ plus new growth.  Both the Selectmen and the School Committee have signed employment agreements that exceed these confines.

11. OTHER BUSINESS

12. Minutes of August 23 to be resent.

13. Next meeting, Monday, September 27, 7:30 P.M., Capital Outlay review.  Planning Board may not have information for next meeting.

14. On the last page of the Warrant, budget not broken down for any department.  If broken down, reduces flexibility of how people can spend money.  Instead of using funds for salary, can use for something else.

15. Suggestion made to have a fund raiser at Town Meeting of edible items.  Could be run by every school.

16. MOTION to adjourn.

17. VOTED:  9-0-0.

18. Meeting adjourned at 9:35 P.M.

19. ACTION:  Have Don Hillegass post final version of Revenue Forecast on website