Lincoln Finance Committee
October 23, 2007 Meeting
Present: P. Giese, S. Haber, M. Hartman, J. Koenig, J. Robinson, E. Shorb, R. Steinbrook (chair)
Absent:
Minutes submitted by: R. Steinbrook
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm at Lincoln Town Hall.
The minutes of the 10-9-07 meeting were approved.
The committee discussed various matters related to the Lincoln Public Schools with Julie Dobrow, chair of the Lincoln School Committee and Mickey Brandmeyer, Superintendent of Schools. Formal and informal agreements have evolved over the years between the committees. The topics discussed included class size policy and enrollment growth, the full day kindergarten grant, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, Medicaid reimbursements, unanticipated special education expenses, payment of health insurance premiums for retired employees from the Hanscom campus, and school year-end spending. No actions were taken.
Following discussion and a consideration of options, the committee, by a vote of 7-0, adopted a budget guideline for the FY 09 non-override (base) budget that will permit 3 percent growth in operating expenses, exclusive of fixed costs. Each budgeting agency will be asked to submit a base budget that is limited to 3 percent growth as compared to the FY 08 budget. The FY 09 Capital Budget was set at $550,000. The warrant article for school classroom maintenance will not be part of the Capital Budget. The three warrant articles for maintenance--Town, School and Library--will be "Other Appropriations."
The chair updated the committee on GASB-45. The Town has received an actuarial analysis of its 30-year liability for future post employment health and life insurance benefits for current retirees and active employees. Copies of the analysis were distributed. The analysis and fiscally prudent courses of action are under review. The chair and John Robinson will meet with town officials on 10-25-07.
The chair updated the committee on a planned General Bylaw Amendment to Article IV (Finance Committee), which would be sponsored by the Board of Selectman at the FY 09 Town Meeting in March 2008. This would remove the prohibition on Finance Committee members serving in other Town appointive capacities and maintain the prohibitions on members holding any elective Town position or being in the employ of the Town.
A joint meeting with the Sudbury Finance Committee was confirmed for January 24, 2007 at 7:30 pm in the Donaldson Room at Lincoln Town Hall.
The committee will next meet on November 15, 2007.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 pm.
|