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5 <br /> Ilex. Golub questioned Mr. Whritenour where the capital items are. Mr. Whritenour stated <br /> that the capital items are included in the budget. Mr. Whritenour stated that it looks like the <br /> C.I.P. amount will be$900,000. Out ofthat$900,000,there is maybe$240,000 of bond <br /> proceeds and revenues supporting it. Therefore,out of the levy budget, he noted that we will <br /> be able to get by with less than$700,000. <br /> Chairman watt questioned Mr. Whritenour if Southport is being taxed. Mr. Whritenour <br /> stated that it is being taxed as vacant land. He said that the assessment will change for <br /> FY2000 and will help in the year 2000. <br /> There was discussion concerning Free Cash, stabilization surplus,and the overlay surplus. <br /> Mr. Goggin questioned Mr. Whritenour on how he sees the gap closing between requests and <br /> available funds and keeping the tax rate level. Iii. Whritenour stated he is working right <br /> now on a plan for jut that. He said that he has started meeting with each individual <br /> department reviewing their budgets. He has worked with the .1. , to substantially cut <br /> department requests down to a level that is manageable. He noted that one of the other keys <br /> is the educational program of the town. He commented that he can't see another twenty-plus <br /> percent increase with revenues staying the same. He stated that,primarily, if we do have a <br /> free cash number for next year that is a little hit larger than we normally have because of <br /> issues such as Southport,that those are excellent monies to target for the property tax relief <br /> portion of the budget because— 1 they are not available now to be used to fund current <br /> budgets;and 2 they will be available to fund for the tax rate. <br /> Mr. Whritenour noted the meeting scheduled for next Monday night where the Selectmen <br /> and the Finance Committee wih be meeting with the School Committee. He commented that <br /> he would like to see the Finance Committee and the Selectmen be together ort this issue. He <br /> further commented that he would like to work very closely with the Finance Committee on <br /> the educational issues and the whole budget this year. He noted that he is quite concerned <br /> with the diminishing of the levels of excess funds that we had and with the magnitude of <br /> increase in some of the expense budgets. <br /> Mr. Whritenour completed his presentation by stating that he wants to work closely together <br /> on the budget process with the Finance Committee and he is very glad to see the issue with <br /> the school is starting off'with a meeting in January and all the numbers are known in <br /> January already. He said that he feels there is plenty of time to go over the budget. He <br /> added that he will be corning up with his recommendations on the budget the first week in <br /> February. <br /> Mr. Cleary noted that he feels there are three areas that he feels offer some potential <br /> efficiencies— <br /> Library Services. There are facilities at the High school, the elementary school and <br /> facility which badly reeds space. <br /> S stems omputer Services. He said the high school has their own system and the rest <br /> of the town has their own system. He questioned if it would be more effective f you <br /> look at that from a total systems view and realize some savings. <br /> Maintenance Services. He questioned whether we have looked at maintenance services <br /> for all the town across the board,including schools. <br /> Mr. Whritenour noted that the schools are on the town's computer system. The school has <br /> their own computer system for education;however,all of their financials are on the town}s <br />