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s <br /> million of free cash and other receipts such as ambulance receipts and shellfish receipts to stay <br /> within the operating budget. <br /> George Schmidt made a motion that the Public Hearing be closed. William Johnson seconded the <br /> action. The ,notion was unanimously approved. <br /> OLD BUSINESS <br /> 1. Review/Approval f Town Manager's 2012 Budget <br /> School Department Budget Line Item Oskar l lenert stated that the Town Manager's <br /> recommend6d budget for the school Department was $18,560,434, representing a budget <br /> increase of$300,000. <br /> Robert Chalker,rude a ,action that the Finance Committee approve the Town Manager's <br /> recommended school Department budget of$18,560,434. Mark Davini seconded the ,notion. <br /> Discussion followed. <br /> Christopher Avis stated that after reading the response from Superintendent Ann Bradshaw to the <br /> request frau the Finance Committee for additional information on the school committee's budget, it <br /> is apparent that the school committee does not intend to.move away from the policy of <br /> prepayment. He still feels that the act of prepaying something and them funding something <br /> differently is not the most transparent way of preparing a budget. Christopher Avis stated that he <br /> would probably not vote in favor of a'Schccl Dept. budget of$18,500,434, but would vote in favor <br /> of a level funded budget of$18, 260,434. <br /> y <br /> William'Johnson stated that he also has an issue with the School Committee mittee budget, which has to <br /> do with the amount of contingencies that are included in the budget, but are not disclosed as <br /> contingents. There apparently is no understanding within the school Committee, from Ms. <br /> Bradshaw's latest letter, that she understands what it is that the Finance Commiftee Commitmeans b <br /> contingency. Mr. Johnson stated that therefore, he.will not approve the $18,560,434 school <br /> committee budget because he is not comfortable with the number. <br /> Charles Ga i r stated his feeling that the Town Manager's budget is a fair budget for the school, <br /> and he will vote in favor of it. However, Mr. Gasior stated that he, like other Finance Committee <br /> —members, is very frustrated by the prepayment strategy that the School Committee uses to prepare-- - <br /> its bbdget. Mr. Gasior added his feeling that according to the Charter, the School Committee is a <br /> department of the torn and its strategy df budget preparation should be the same as for all other <br /> ` <br /> town departments, i.e.: each year's budget should be a stand-alone budget. <br /> Mark Davini stated that the school CoMmittee budget may represent a fair budget, but he is not <br /> 100% sure of that, based on the way the numbers are broken down and the adcounting <br /> mechanism that seems to be in place. He also has a problem with the prepayment methodology <br /> as the best way to ensure transparency in the budget. Mr. Davini stated that even though the <br /> School committee budget m ay appear to be fair, he cannot be 100% sure of that, and therefore his <br /> recommendation will be to not approve the Town Manager's school Department budget of <br /> $18,560,434. <br /> Oskar Klenert called for a Roll-Call Vote on the ,action on the floor: Christopher Avis, n ; Mark <br /> Davinix no: William Johnson, n ; George Schmidt, yes; Oskar Klen rt, Yes; Charles Gasiorx yes; <br /> Robert Chalker, yes. The motion er as approved. <br />