HomeMy WebLinkAboutAd Hoc Budget Committee Minutes January 11, 2011_201402060847026594
Town of Nantucket
Ad Hoc Budget Workgroup
Minutes – Ad Hoc Budget Workgroup Meeting, held January 11, 2011
Approved 02/01/2011
A duly noticed meeting of the Ad Hoc Budget Workgroup was held in the conference room
located at #16 Broad Street on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, commencing at 9:00 AM.
Present: Ms. C. Elizabeth Gibson, Mr. Gregg Tivnan, Ms. Patty Roggeveen, Mr. Whitey
Willauer, Mr. Michael Cozort, Ms. Jenny Garneau, Ms. Melissa Bonvini Murphy, Mr. Glenn
Field, and Ms. Irene Larivee
Absent: Mr. James Kelly and Mr. Matt Mulcahy
Also present: None
Call to Order:
Chairman Patty Roggeveen called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM.
Approval of Minutes from 11/23/2011
All were in favor, the draft minutes were approved.
Continued Review of Fiscal Year 2012 Forecast
Ms. Larivee informed the group the Barnstable Country Retirement Assessment
figure has been received; however the calculation to distribute the assessment by General
Fund and Enterprise Funds still needs to be performed. The only remaining “unidentified
figure” that would impact the FY2012 Budget Projection pertains to State Local Aid.
Mr. Cozort explained the School is experiencing the “perfect storm”. The schools
are losing approximately $350,000 in stimulus funds while costs associated with the SPED
program are expected to increase by $271,000. He continued that other areas that are
increasing is the cost of technology and equipment replacements in the amount of $50,000
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October 27, 2010 Page 2 of 3
and $30,000 to address transportation needs. The school will need to cut approximately
$590,000 to be in line with the current projection.
Mr. Willauer asked if the School Committee plans on reviewing the possibility of an
operating override. Mr. Cozort responded that he shares Ms. Gibson’s view there is no
appetite for an override in the current economic climate. He indicated the loss of the
$350,000 in stimulus funds does have an impact; however he asked his administration to
provide three levels of cuts with the goal of not impacting class size.
Ms. Roggeveen indicated she has yet to hear much from the public on the topic of
an override. If we can tighten our belts a little more without an override, it’s a good thing.
Ms. Gibson explained there are a couple of factors as to why an override perhaps has not
been more seriously considered at this point. The first and perhaps most significant is the
funding needed to address the Sewer needs areas. Second, the 20 Water Street property
will need to be renovated in the next year or two. years. Third, the public perception that
growth in the cost of employee salaries and benefits needs to be reined in.
Ms. Garneau inquired if the Board of Selectmen has reviewed Solid Waste Enterprise
Fund fees. Ms. Roggeveen responded there is not a sense on the Board of Selectmen or
public to institute fees. Ms. Larivee also reminded the group if fees were instituted, the
Town would need at least six months of revenue information prior to increasing the
revenue budget and reporting to the Department of Revenue.
The feedback regarding the Town budget that Mr. Willauer has heard is that the
town needs to cut more. Ms. Gibson concurred she is hearing that Town Administration is
“top heavy”. If we cut certain positions within Town Administration, then the people paid
to run the town will not be able to focus on strategic and long term direction. Ms. Gibson
also indicated she has heard that Human Resources need to be cut. Now, more than ever,
we need a Human Resources department to deal with departmental transitions,
consolidations, and lay offs.
Review January Activities
Ms. Gibson informed the group, in the month of January, the Finance Committee
will begin its review of the FY2012 Enterprise Fund Budget projections and Town
departmental budgets. The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to adopt the FY2012 Town
Administration budget recommendations on January 19, 2011.
Mr. Cozort and the School Committee will review the school budget as a whole on
January 18, 2011. There will be a public forum to discuss the budget at the end of January.
Ms. Garneau indicated the Schools are currently in collective bargaining with the
Teacher’s Union. The impact of the potential contract costs remain an unknown for the
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October 27, 2010 Page 3 of 3
School Budget. Mr. Cozort stressed the need to ensure any additional costs associated with
the contract will need to come from existing funding and resources.
Date of Next Meeting & Topics
The date of the next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at
10:00AM in the conference room at 16 Broad Street. The tentative topics of discussion
include a continued review of FY2012 projections and upcoming activities in the month of
February.
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 9:43 AM.
Prepared by Irene Larivee