PRIORITIES COMMITTEE

JANUARY 26, 2010

                                                            MINUTES

The meeting of the Priorities Committee was held at 8:00 pm in the Selectmen's Meeting room and was called to order at 8:45 p.m. by Chair William Heitin.

Members Present:

Chair:                          William Heitin

Board of Selectmen:   Richard Powell

Finance Committee:    Ira Miller and Charles Goodman

School Committee:       Glenn Allen and Linda Callan 

Others Present:

William Fowler, Barbara Dunham, Timothy Farmer, Sue Owens and Benjamin E. Puritz

A MOTION was made by Rich Powell and seconded to approve the minutes of December 16, 2009.

VOTED: 6-0-0 to approve the minutes of December 16, 2009.

Chair Heitin called upon Treasurer/Finance Director Bill Fowler to discuss the highlights and mechanics of the updated Revenue Forecast spreadsheet.

Bill Fowler presented version 2.11 of the Revenue Forecast which includes the following highlights:

• Motor vehicle excise tax up 4% from the version 1.00 of the Revenue Forecast spreadsheet;
• Local Aid to be level funded per Governor’s Office;
• The State January revenue numbers to be released early in February;
• Given passage of the Middle School debt exclusion override, the Town will be receiving approximately $2.7 million reimbursement for HVAC, roof, improvements already in place;
• Numbers indicate a possibility of not taking 2 ½% levy increase FY’11;
• New growth expectations: Wilber School Apartments;
• Two (2) very good years re health insurance with frozen rates for 2 years;
• Don’t expect any 9C cuts this year;
• Chapter 70 is marginally up.

Anticipating FY’12 what our needs are going to be and where our risks lie.  B. Fowler stated that the risk is more FY’11 re Sharon Commons if growth doesn’t materialize.  If growth did happen re Sharon Commons, that would be good FY’12.

Rich Powell stated that the legislature to have Local Aid resolution early in March.

Superintendent Dr. Dunham stated the circuit breaker is budgeted for 40% and is quite concerned FY’12 if circuit breaker doesn’t come back.  Circuit breaker is a huge cut.   The Schools are good FY’11.

B. Puritz needs direction from the Priorities Committee for a target number FY’11 sectors’ budgets.

A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and seconded by Chuck Goodman to direct the sectors to budget for a no tax increase which is 2.47% as a target allocation FY’11 operating budgets.  (as contained in the Revenue Forecast reviewed at this meeting).

VOTED: 6-0-0 to approve to direct the sectors to budget for a no tax increase which is 2.47% as a target allocation FY’11 operating budgets

The next meeting to be announced.

It was moved and seconded to adjourn.  VOTED: 6-0-0

The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.