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5 <br /> Finance Committee <br /> Minutes <br /> February 4, 2021 <br /> NEW BUSINESS <br /> Presentation from Town Manager <br /> Town Manager Rodney C. Collins discussed his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2022 with <br /> the Finance Committee. The $64,924,643 budget represents a 4.80% change from last year. <br /> The budget as presented is reflective of a$740,000 decrease from FY22 Departmental Requests. <br /> With the exception of the DPW, Transfer Station and Board of Health(vaccines),the budget <br /> submittal level funds services and satisfies all contractual obligations. <br /> In reviewing the line items associated to the Omnibus Budget it was noted there is a slight <br /> increase in the Treasurer/Tax Collector expense budget and slight decreases in the budget of the <br /> Town Accountant and Planning Board. The Department of Public Works expense budget was <br /> decreased by $212,875 to level fund expenses. The budget of the Tree Warden; $2,000 has been <br /> transferred to the DPW expense budget. <br /> The School Department budget has been reduced by $229,000. The School Committee will be <br /> using School Choice funds as an offset. The School Committee was noted to have voted to <br /> accept the Town Manager's FY22 Recommended budget of$23,299,435, a 3.29%change. <br /> There is a slight adjustment to the Library expense budget; $0.08% increase. <br /> In terms of staffing there are a few positions not funded however, existing positions shall meet <br /> contractual obligations. Many of the existing positions are approved by a vote of Town Meeting <br /> but not filled due to affordability. The positions remain in que when the funding and the need is <br /> supported. <br /> If the wastewater project is supported by the citizens,the funds would be deposited into the <br /> Town's General Fund to provide for contracted operational costs and associated services for an <br /> anticipated expense of$1 in. to $1.5 in. per year. <br /> With projected wastewater expenses and during a time of an unforeseen pandemic it was <br /> suggested that diligent management and decisions consider budget projections and trends in <br /> ensuing years. <br /> Finance Director Dawn Thayer indicated that it is difficult to compare the budget to actual <br /> comparison figures as there are multiple variations that attribute to revenue assumptions. For an <br /> example,Medical Insurance has not increased in two years, several approved positions remain <br /> unfilled, and there has been turn-backs of appropriated funds. With the pandemic the turn-backs <br /> have been significant. The lock-down of Town Hall from March until May has attributed to cost <br /> savings in utilities and other items. Funds were anticipated,but not expended. Budgeting is also <br /> conducted in October for July, and it is far better to anticipate more to alleviate a shortfall. <br />