02/26/2001 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Board of Selectmen Minutes February 26, 2001 APPOINTMENTS AND HEARINGS: School Committee/Finance Committee Budget Discussion: (continued) The School Committee, at the last budget meeting presented a proposed budget request of$15,636,181. The figure was revised on this date to reflect a budget reduction of$261,181. The School budget request is $15,375,000 for fiscal year 2002. As a result of the proposed budget reduction, new staff positions system- wide will be further considered. Additional costs associated to the projected increase include the negotiation of new contracts, MCAS improvement, textbooks, utilities, special education tuition and transportation. It was noted that approximately $100,000 would be available in FY01 in unencumbered funds. The School Superintendent requested that the Special Education tuition be pre-paid as last year using available funds. The figure for SPED tuition is approximately $90,000. The Selectmen were also requested to consider the establishment of a contingency account to accommodate increased costs associated to school utilities. The sum of$150,000 has been estimated to support increased/undetermined utility fees. Discussion followed with respect to utilities associated to the new high school. In addition to the budget request of$15,375,000, there is School Capital Improvement Projects contained in the CIP budget for the Selectmen's approval amounting to $215,000. Estimated disbursements for the School Department include schematic design services for the re-design and re- surface of the K.C. Coombs School parking lot, system-wide computers, a handicap transport van, the replacement of the kitchen walk-in refrigerator & freezer unit and the replacement of the Quashnet School front walks and curbing. Correspondence was received from the Town Administrator dated February 20, 2001 relative to budget recommendations for fiscal year 2002. The Town Administrator for the School Department set a budget recommendation of$15,100,000 forth for FY02. The Selectmen agreed to meet with the School Department and Finance Committee in late March to determine the final budget recommendation.