Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – March 21, 2006

School Administration Building – 7:30 P.M.

 

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Kenneth Goldberg,

                               Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Ira Miller, Gloria Rose (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Michael Feldman, Joel Lessard, Gregory Sydney

 

1.      This was the 22nd meeting for this fiscal year.  The agenda was the School Department’s budget.  The Selectmen’s budget was also discussed regarding the use of the same format as the other sectors.

 

2.      Dr. Claire Jackson, Superintendent of Schools made the budget presentation for the School Department with a budget overview.  Dr. Barbara Dunham provided the spread sheet.  To maintain what now exists, the School Department would need 8.36% or $31,756,475.  A proposed budget at 2.67% is $30,089,615.  This was a difference of $1,666,860.  There was an override request of $934,000.  The total request at 5.86% was $31,023,615.  Places where cuts could be made were also presented.  A number of FTEs would be cut.  Special Education numbers are being greatly reduced.

 

3.      There was much discussion after the presentation.  The budget has been frozen except for contractual items until the end of the year.  The increase in energy costs was a big factor in the budget.

 

4.      WARRANT ARTICLES

 

5.      Discussion was held regarding articles for Wilber School, budgets, salary negotiations, and health insurance costs.

 

6.      A suggestion was made to offer three different budget options.

 

7.      There was a run through of the Warrant articles to see if more information was needed.  They would need to see Jane Desberg regarding the establishment of the Sharon Affordable Housing Partnership.

 

8.      The next meeting will be on Monday, March 27, 2006.  Another meeting will be on Tuesday, March 28.

 

9.      It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

10.  VOTED:  8-0-0.

 

11.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 p.m.