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{ <br /> 5 <br /> 6 <br /> the School Committee dated April 16, 1997,regarding Fiscal Year 97 budget and end-of-year <br /> projections was distributed to the Finance Committee. <br /> Kathleen Lynch reviewed the letter Dr.Del Moura seat to the School Committee which gives <br /> the fiscal year 97 budget review for each function,line item number, description,and where <br /> there was a projected balance and where there was a negative balance. <br /> Mr. Golub noted that Sped Therapy shows a projected balance of$91,348. Dr. 1 eMoura <br /> stated that Sped is probably more like$89,000. In the energy accounts, spm fically gas and <br /> electricity,there were significant savings primarily due to the assistance of the School <br /> Building Committee. He noted that the School Building Committee has taken care of some of <br /> the energy bills. The last gas bill the School Building Con nittee paid in January or February <br /> of this year was$51,000 for the high school. <br /> Mr. Golub questioned what function number the beating was. Kathleen Lynch informed him <br /> that it is 4120. Stephen Paxton noted that the boilers were replaced ire the middle school. He <br /> noted that they estimated there would be a savings with the nein boilers,however,they still <br /> budgeted the same as the previous year_ He stated that, subsequently,with the new boilers <br /> and the mild winter,there were some savings. <br /> Mr. Golub questioned when the Committee knew about the surplus funds. Kathleen Lynch <br /> noted that somewhere around April,about a week and one-half prior to Town Meeting,they <br /> realized that they would not need the$65,000 requested at Town Meeting. <br /> Mr. Golub remarked that the Town should be made aware of surplus funds. <br /> Kathleen Lynch commented that the heating.bill for the High School was$70,000 and the <br /> electric bill was$83;000. 1f you.add them up and if they had to pay for these two items,there <br /> ould.not have been a swplu.s. She also commented that they were-very lucky with Sped this <br /> year because as late-as April, a placement can come in and use up all-the remaining Sped <br /> monies. <br /> Mr. Goggin questioned the School Committee on what happens when the School Department <br /> has a surplus--do they return the surplus to the town like other departments or do they spend <br /> it. He noted that if the Fire and Police Departments have surplus funds,those funds are <br /> returned back to the town. <br /> Kathleen Lynch noted that they did not have a choice but to spend the surplus funds on <br /> maintenance of the schools. She stated that if you look at the what was spend:for maintenance <br /> in this year's budget, it was an amount of$330,000,which is less than 4%of the total budget. <br /> She further commented that they could have taken the money and spent it on next year's <br /> programs; however,they did not—they spent the money on maintenance of their buildings. <br /> She noted that there will be a major capital expense if they don't maintain their buildings. <br /> Mr. Golub commented on Sped and that it is very difficult to budget. It is uncontrollable and <br /> unbudgetable. <br /> Kathleen Lynch noted that the School Budget is completely different from the other budgets <br /> of the town. <br /> Mr. Watt commented that Sped is difficult to budget. He noted that there is an understanding <br /> with the'Town that if there is a deficit with the Sped account,you would come buck to the <br /> town and request additional funding. At the same time,there should be an understanding <br /> that any Sped monies that are over-budgeted should come back to the Town. <br />