10/16/2006 Annual Town Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Article 4. Additional Chapter 70 School Funds. At the May Town Meeting, a Petition Article was approved which would transfer $222,500 of "any additionally appropriated Chapter 70 from the State to the School Department". The Finance Committee opposed the Article, because the monies had not been approved in the State budget. Further, at that point in time, there was no way of knowing what amount would be approved, or, if in fact, any additional monies would be appropriated to Mashpee at all. As it turned out, Mashpee did receive an additional allocation of$100,350 in Chapter 70 funds. In the spirit of the May Article approved at Town Meeting, this Article requests approval to transfer $100,350 in additional Chapter 70 funds to the School Department with the understanding that the funds will be used for three specific purposes: 1) technology enhancements; 2) books, and 3) professional development. The School Superintendent has stated that the funds will be allocated 50% to technology enhancements, 10% toward the purchase of books, and 40% for professional development. Approval of this Article will have no effect on the property tax rate. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TOWN MEETING APPROVAL OF ARTICLE 4. Article 5. Assessors' Revaluation Account The Town of Mashpee annually appropriates $315,000 as part of its municipal budget to be used by the Board of Assessors for the re-payment of tax appeals and tax reimbursements. Unexpended funds go into what is termed an"Overlay Surplus" account which the Assessors can release from time to time to pay for assessing-related expenditures. The Board of Assessors has authorized the release of$200,936 in Overlay Surplus funds to perform FY 07 interim revaluations and to complete a ten-year inspection of all properties. Approval of this Article will have no effect on the property tax rate. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TOWN MEETING APPROVAL OF ARTICLE 5. Article 6. : Board of Assessors' Stipend. At the May Town Meeting, the Board of Assessor's $1,200 annual stipend was not approved. This Article submitted by the Board of Assessors asks approval to re-instate the stipends paid to the members of the Board of Assessors. Since the stipends were specifically discontinued by Town Meeting as part of the FY 07 budget review, it is the Finance Committee's position that if the stipends are to be reinstated, the request should be included as part of the FY 08 budget process and come before the May 2007 Town Meeting. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TOWN MEETING DEFEAT ARTICLE 6. 3