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Lincoln Finance Committee
February 8, 2007 Meeting
Present: S. Haber, M. Hartman (vice-chair), J. Koenig, P. Phillipps, J. Robinson, R. Steinbrook (chair)
Absent: P. Giese
Minutes submitted by: R. Steinbrook
The meeting was called to order at 7:15 pm in the Donaldson Room at Lincoln Town Hall.
The committee reviewed the preferred budgets of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School District, the Town of Lincoln and the Lincoln Public Schools and discussed whether or not to recommend an override to the Town. Following a consideration of various options, the committee unanimously voted to support the preferred budgets of LSRHS, the Town and the Lincoln Public Schools and to support an override as the fiscally responsible way to provide the additional funding required.
After a brief recess, the committee reconvened with Tim Higgins, Lincoln Town Administrator, Colleen Wilkins, Lincoln Finance Director, Gary Taylor, Lincoln Board of Selectman, Julie Dobrow, Chair, Lincoln School Committee, and Mickey Brandmeyer, superintendent, Lincoln Public Schools. Following discussion of various scenarios with the budgeting agencies, the committee unanimously voted to recommend an FY 08 operating override of $350,000. This consists of $100,886 for LSRHS, $155,541 for the Town and $93,573 for the Lincoln Public Schools. The committee also unanimously voted to increase the base budget of the Town by $15,000 and the base budget of the Lincoln Public Schools by $15,000. In addition, the Town said that it would reduce its preferred budget request by $15,000 and the Lincoln
Public Schools said that it would reduce its preferred budget request by $15,000. The committee then discussed plans to inform the town of the override and to communicate the reasons for recommending it.
Tim Higgins reviewed funding requests related to public safety radio systems. A total of $81,800 to replace copper line that connects head-end equipment at the public safety building with the existing radio tower is included in the capital plan budget. A total of $71,000 to replace the existing tower is being withdrawn from the FY '08 capital budget pending further study. A total of $47,000 to replace public safety radio equipment is also being withdrawn from the FY '08 capital budget. Following discussion, the committee voted 5-1 (Yes: Haber, Koenig, Phillipps, Robinson, Steinbrook. No: Hartman) to support a transfer request from the FY 07 reserve fund for $47,000 to replace the public safety radio equipment. The transfer would allow the equipment to be replaced within two to three months; Tim
Higgins agreed to submit a formal request to the committee at its next meeting, which is scheduled for March 1, 2007.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 pm.
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