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Town of Lunenburg
HO, MAST
Finance Committee:
Brian Laffond, Chairman
Marilyn Stokes, Vice-Chairman
John Male
Barbara Reynolds
Martha McDonald, Secretary
Mark Erickson
Mike Mackin
17 Main Street, P.O. Box 135
Lunenburg, MA 01462-0135
978.582.4139
FAX 978.582.4148
Lunenburg Finance Committee
Minutes
February 17, 2011
RECEIVED & FILED
MAR 1 4 2011
LUNENBURG TOWN
CLERK OFFICE
Location:
Present:
Absent:
Also Present:
Town Hall
Marilyn Stokes, Mark Erickson, Brian Laffond, Martha McDonald (left early), Barbara Reynolds, John Male
Mike Mackin
Kerry Speidel, Town Council members, several members of other committees, various department heads
1) Meeting called to order by the Chairman at 7:02 PM.
2) Deficit spending for snow and ice removal
KS had distributed the latest snow & ice expenditure report prior to the meeting. The report shows a budget of
$250,000, expenditures of $236,528.93, in-process invoices of $30,243.85. She requested we approve deficit
spending in accordance with MGL Chapter 44, Section 31D.
• BR made a motion to approve the authorization allowing deficit spending for snow & ice removal, MS second.
Vote to approve was unanimous.
3) Town Manager preliminary budget proposal
• KS presented the preliminary budget proposal for FY2012
• The budget includes increases for public safety, public works, council on aging, library and schools.
The budget does not provide funding for the recently completed DPW Road Management Plan.
The budget covers contractual obligations and the salary admin plan.
The budget is balanced with recurring revenue and does not draw from free cash or stabilization.
•
Property tax revenue increases by 4.21%.
•
Total revenue increases by 1.3%
•
Expenditures increase by 2.03%, with a focus on services, not employees.
Debt service decreases by $107,000, after including the loan on the new DPW facility.
KS recommends adding 1 police officer.
KS recommends 2.5% increase in schools, noting this is significantly less than the superintendants
recommendation, but reflects declining enrollments.
• David Reif, school committee chair, said they are watching enrollment closely. He asked if health insurance costs
could be taken out from the school budget, as it is from other department budgets, to spotlight these costs and
show school costs more fairly. KS responded that the schools budget is required to include health insurance costs
but agreed to show total town health insurance costs in the aggregate.
•
ME asked KS to comment on future debt service with respect to possible future borrowing for school buildings.
KS noted that this would be exempt debt, so the impact is small. KS said debt service peaked in FY11 and
continues to decline. She agreed to provide a longer term view for the committee.
4) Schedule for upcoming budget reviews
BL reviewed the calendar for future budget reviews over the next 6 weeks
5) Adjournment - ME made motion to adjourn at 8:25 PM and BR seconded. Vote was unanimous.
Approved 3/3/11
Minutes respectfully submitted by Mark Erickson
Bil. Zepl
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