05/07/2007 Annual Town Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

FinCom Comment Note D: With this line item for medical insurance premiums representing over 10% of the total operating budget, and the cost of a farnily medical plan approaching $20,000 a year (75%paid by the town), without reducing employee health benefits, the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager must be very diligent about the administration of the plan, must explore all possible ways to contain costs and should develop strategies to limit future increases, to the extent possible. As an example of this, Article 11 on the Town Meeting Warrant recommends adoption of a policy which will require all employees over the age of 65 to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B as the primary medical coverage rather than utilizing the town's medical coverage provider as the primary coverage. As part of the recently concluded collective bargaining agreement with the school teachers, a provision was included which will allow teachers to opt out of the current, very expensive medical plan, provided the other school and municipal employees include a similar provision in their collective bargaining agreements. These:provisions, along with Article 11, are good first steps in the attempt to try to control costs. Budget Note 10: Total Appropriations: (+ $2,600,722), The increase in the FY '08 operating budget which begins on July 1, 2007,, is $2,600,722 or 6.1%. FinCom Comment Note E: The FY '08 budget of$45,430,672 is the amount the attendees at the Town Meeting will vote upon. It is listed as Warrant Article#2 in the 'rown Meeting section of this booklet. Expenses for this budget are increasing by 6,1 % over last year. It is a fair and reasonable budget, although the $ and% increases in the School Department budget and the categories of General Expense are disturbing, because of the rates these categories continue to raise relative to the rest of the municipal budget. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF THIS BUDGET. Budget Note 11: Budget Overlay: (- $125,000) While this line item is not voted upon, it is a coinponent in determining the total operating budget for the year. This is basically a "reserve" fund for unpaid taxes or taxes that are returned to property owners as a result of tax appeals. Mashpee's tax collection rate was an excellent 96.3 % in 2006. Budget Note 12: Cape Cod Regional Technical School: (- $49,404). This line will be voted upon separately as Warrant Article#4. Budget Note 13: Capital Improvements: (+ $370,147). This line will also be voted upon separately as Warrant Article#3. Budget Note 14: Total Fiscal Year Appropriations: (+ $2,796,465). The total budget for Fiscal Year 2008 is$47,186,13,7. You will note that this amount appears in the table"Calculation of Projected Property Tax Rate" as Line B. Total Budget Appropriations under the Heading: FY 2007. This total minus the total non-property tax revenues divided by the total property assessments equals the tax rate. 13