2/4/2016 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes

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5 Finance Committee Minutes February 4, 2016 NEW BUSINESS Joint FYI Budget Meeting with School Committee: (continued) Mr. Funk was asked if the School budget is able to accommodate the School Wireless project, a four year upgrade for Network Core Switch Replacement at a cost of$70,000 per year. The project is listed in the CIP program for funding. The CIP has agreed this project is needed with the use of available funds. In response,Mr. Funk indicated he is unsure if the wireless project can be utilized with excess school funds. Presently,there have been requests for funding from school members, and there is concern with out-of-district placement students. The School Department has been required to outsource a speech therapist and there are buy backs. One employee will also not be retiring as previously thought. Additionally there is a request from grades 3 to 6 to fund Chromebooks for PARCC testing. Mr. Funk stated the School budget is very transparent, and most of the surplus will derive from salaries. With surplus funding last year,the School Department purchased Chromebooks for grades 7 to 12. The remaining sum of$176,702 was returned to the Town. This is a large turn-back of funding that has not been observed in the past. In considering the School budget,realizing the ebbs and flows of expenditures it was mentioned the School Department realized a surplus of$375,000. With the decrease in transportation projections, the Schools are seeking an additional $374,000. With the purchase of nearly$400,000 for Chromebooks,an item that was not budgeted, it appears the budget increase is close to $800,000. Mr. Funk was asked to report the balance of School Choice Funds. Mr. Funk replied by stating at the end of fiscal year 2015 the balance is approximately$689,000. Mr. Funk indicated the funding is always expended in arears. It is permissible to fiend these monies on technology and infrastructure. Funds cannot be expended on construction or transportation. The disbursement of funding is controlled by the School Committee. With regards to School Choice Funds it was recommended the School develop a plan on how to use this funding. In discussion Mr. Funk agreed to bring forth the Network Administrator's capital request for wireless to the School Committee for funding through this account. Mrs. Cook responded by stating the Town and Schools are a team, and this initiative would assist the Town in its capital planning. In reviewing the budget process of the Schools, it was noted the initial budget prepared by the School Superintendent, School Business Administrator and main staff projected an increase over last year's budget by 3.07%. With the input of the Acting School Superintendent the budget increase was pared down to 1.83%. The revision was approved by the School Committee. In was noted the School Committee in normal process does not get involved in the initial budget procedure.