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RECOMMENDATION: An attempt was made last year to have Department <br /> heads notify the Treasurer about anticipated additional employees. <br /> It has not worked, thus it is recommended. that as a matter of <br /> practice the Treasurer survey all departments heads in December to <br /> determine (1) anticipated number of "new-hires" who may join the <br /> health insurance program the following fiscal year; (2) anticipated <br /> .number of current employees -who may join or- change their coverage; <br /> (3) anticipated number of current employees, now in the health <br /> insurance program who may retire, resign or be laid-off in the <br /> following fiscal year and whether or not a replacement is expected <br /> to fill their vacancy. <br /> Unemployment -Account: <br /> There is an anticipated deficit estimated at $22,000 in this <br /> account. Information provided by the Treasurer' s office indicates a <br /> total of ten employees"'have collected/are collecting unemployment <br /> benefits this fiscal year. Nine of the ten are from the School <br /> Department (two substitute teachers , three teacher aides, one <br /> secretary, two custodians and one cafeteria employee) . The other <br /> was a Fire Department Employee . $25,000 was budgeted for <br /> unemployment . <br /> RECOMMENDATION: The survey taken by the Treasurer (as recommended <br /> above) and insight gained through the budget preparation process <br /> should allow for a. more accurate prediction of the amount which will <br /> be needed for the next fiscal year. The impact of the School <br /> Department on this account and on the health insurance account <br /> requires that department apprise and update the Treasurer and <br /> Finance Committee of anticipated changes throughout the budget <br /> preparation period. <br /> Assessor's Overlay Account : <br /> There is an anticipated deficit estimated at as much as $120,000 <br /> in this account. This should be absorbed by overlay reserves from <br /> previous years no longer needed for those years . <br /> RECOMMENDATION: The Board of Assessors indicate that they plan <br /> to do most of the re-evaluation work " in-house" . It is presumed <br /> that their local knowledge will eliminate perceived inequities and <br /> the resultant large number of abatements . To facilitate this <br /> process the "Re-evaluation Account" should -receive a modest amount <br /> of funding <br /> {�$15-25;000-) on a yearly basis . �.SO, 000 <br /> Interest on Abatements Account : <br /> To date this account is in deficit $4, 850 for what the Town has paid <br /> taxpayers in interest on real estate/property taxes which have been <br /> abated. <br /> RECOMMENDATION: See Assessors Overlay Account above. It would seem <br /> to make sense to include the full amount of the interest payment in <br /> the abatement check. Several hundred additional checks (most in <br /> small amounts . .many less than five dollars) were issued. A costly <br /> procedure. <br /> 2 <br />