6/9/2011 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes

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Y Charles G sl r: a Mashpee resident for 9 years; Finance Committee member for 7 years; Chemical Engineering degree and Masters in Public Administration, spending 30 years in municipal government; served as a commissioner on the Mashpee Charter Commission. . Initial Impressions from the Newly Elected state Representatives Dan Wolf. IIIb. Wolf thanked the committee members for their service as volunteers recognizing that their efforts are what keep the Town going. Mr. Wolf stated that it has been a totally humbling experience for him, an honor, a pleasure and a privilege, to serve as a State Senator. The legislature process is very leadership-controlled, and as newcomers, he, randy, and David will need to earn the respect of others by proving their credentials and their credibility. Mr. Wolf stated that they have formed some collaborative relationships with common goals and values that will serve Mashpee and the rest of the District well. Dan stated that he Inas been appointed to serve on eight legislative committees. Randy Hunt IIIb. Hunt stated that his first big surprise as being Rep.e . was the 200 emalls he receives every day. Mr. Dunt echoed Mr. Wolf s feeling that it is a privilege and ars honor to be serving in the state louse of Representatives. There is such an overwhelming majority of democrats in the State }douse that there is no vying for power, and they have been able to accomplish a number of things, and,were able to get a budget through without tai increases. Nor. Hunt noted that he has lived in Sandwich since 1998, serving on the Finance Committee in 2001, and in 2004 was elected to the Board of Selectmen, serving 6 years. Mr. Fount is a CPA since 1983, and continues to maintain his private practice. David leira. Mr. Vieira stated that he is continuing to serve as Town Moderator for Falmouth and is a.- Director of the state Moderators Association, which enables him to stay in touch with w a isppening in our cities and towns. Mr. Vieira spoke about oca ai , stating a non- discretionary local aid has decreased 7.2%. Traditionally, $200,000,000 in funds is in an account that has not been spent, which reverts back to the state coffers at the end of the fiscal year. For every dollar returned, the House has asked for 50 cents to go back to the cities and towns for local aid to be gapped at a total of$65 ,million state wide. Mr. Vieira stated that if-the state can get the traditional return they expect to see at the end of this fiscal year he hopes to be able to restore local aid to its level from the last fiscal year to the next fiscal year. Mr. Vieira stated that the % state tax is necessary to avoid a state budget gasp. The Senate this afternoon passed a bill that talks about a sunset Clause for every state agency which would require each agency to prove the necessity for its existence. If the bill is implemented, the state will_be going through some soul searching to figure out what it should be doing and how It could be doing it better, to determine the appropriate size and role of the state government, all of which should result in some cost savings. IIIb. Vieira stated that his goal for MA. is to maintain the % tax rule to enable the state to maintain a balanced budget. QUESTIONS To THE GUESTS uesti 1 (Mark I avi i : ""Acknowledging that the state does provide limited financial assistance to the municipalities for educational services for Special Education students and associated transportation, are there any plans by the state legislature to expand state aid or contain the disproportionate financial burden on the individual school departments and their municipalities? 2