02/24/1999 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Board of Selectmen Minutes February 24, 1999 FY 2000 BUDGET MEETING: Information was distributed relative to demographics from 1978 through 1998. There appears to be a correlation between birth rates and school enrollment figures. Mr. Whritenour discussed the options for evaluating the need for new revenues. Two budgets were considered. The initial budget utilizes all available revenues to present a balanced budget within the constraints of the Town's levy limit. I The initial budget provides a$700,000 increase for the School Department. The recommended school budget for FY 2000 without an override is $12,300,000. The second budget provides for an override of $1,000,000. Seventy-five percent of the total sum would be earmarked for school funding for a total of$13,050,000. The remainder or$250,000 would provide for contractual obligations, health insurance, retirement, and general government improvements. The School Committee has requested a budget of$14,088,892 for fiscal year 2000. The override would be equivalent to approximately$.70 on the tax rate per $1,000 valuation. The average homeowner would pay an additional $104 in annual taxes. Mrs. Cook indicated that $369,000 has already been removed from the original draft school budget. We must realize that this is a huge reduction. This will destroy what we have tried so hard to create in our schools explained Mrs. Cook in concern. Personnel, school nurses, and programs such as extra-curricular sports will have to be reduced in addition to transportation if the budget were further reduced. The School Committee was directed by the Board to develop additional reduction scenarios in $200,000 to $300,000 increments. The Selectmen scheduled an additional budget workshop session with the School Committee and Finance Committee on Thursday, March 18, 1999. Finance Committee Chairman,Nancy Goulart indicated that the committee voted to support Mr. Whritenour's budget recommendation of $12,300,000 for fiscal year 2000,and to submit the override as a separate article. The exact figure for an override has not been determined.