PRIORITIES COMMITTEE

DECEMBER 13, 2010

                                                      MINUTES

The meeting of the Priorities Committee was held at 7:30 pm in the Selectmen's Meeting room

and was called to order at  p.m. by Chair Laura Salomons.

Members Present:

Chair:                           Laura Salomons

Board of Selectmen:   Richard Powell and Walter Joe Roach

Finance Committee:    Ira Miller and Charles Goodman

School Committee:       John Hitter

Others Present:

William Fowler, Barbara Dunham and Benjamin E. Puritz

Meeting Minutes

A MOTION was made by Rich Powell and seconded to approve the Regular Session minutes of January 8 and 28, 2009 – March 26, 2009 and March 26, 2009 Executive Session minutes. – unanimous - Salomons, Hitter and Roach abstained.

A MOTION was made by Rich Powell and seconded to approve the Regular Session minutes of February 9, 2009 – unanimous – Salomons, Hitter and Roach abstained.

A MOTION was made by Rich Powell and seconded to approve the Regular Session minutes of April 6, 2010 – unanimous – Solomons and Hitter abstained.

The Executive Session minutes of April 6, 2010 were put on hold.

Chair Salomons called upon Treasurer/Finance Director Bill Fowler to discuss the Revenue Forecast.

Mr. Fowler informed the committee that the numbers will not be firm and certified by the State until mid-January for taxes and free cash.

Review FY’11

There is a potential $600,000 - $900,000 problem FY’11.  To offset we can do the following: 

• $325,000         Brickstone mitigation
• $425,000         Wilber School remaining balance
• $450,000         Overlay surplus
• $300,000         Potential new building permit money (to check with DOR if

                              this money can be used FY’11 or only FY’12)

There is a possibility that taxes will be raised FY’11 due to the following:

• Interest income $300,000  down (economy)

• $1,900,000 in balance sheet free cash – not available FY’11

• Will be collecting $200,000 in Tax Title by end of March 2011 – more than we did in the past three years.

• FY’11 new growth was $400,000 below estimate. FY’12 is estimated to be in $400,000 range per Mark Mazur.

• Sharon Commons – 1 to 1 ½ years behind where the original estimates were scheduled.  Permits estimates have had to be revised down the last 2 years. 

• Middle School – kept Middle School override off FY’11 tax rate and impact of $324 on an average home.

• $350,000 overlay release process, leaving $450,000 for FY12

The next meeting will be on January 11, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room.

It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn. 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

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