Budget Committee September 3, 2013 RCL Notes

NOTES OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 RYE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

Revised Final Revision B – Provided by the Rye Civic League

Present from Budget Committee:  Craig Musselman, Peggy Balboni, Paul Goldman, Ned Paul, Randy Crapo, Ray Jarvis, Shawn Crapo, John Murtagh

Also present:  Mike Magnant, Cyndi Gillespie

Editor’s note:  For ease in finding particular sections using the archived video and audio on the Town website, the times associated with each section are indicated.  These coincide with the times appearing in the black bar at the top of the screen.  The elapsed time is also indicated for ease in using the slider and the elapsed time indicated at the bottom of the video window to fast forward to the desired section. 

Preliminary (7:01 p.m.)

The meeting was called to order.  Chairman Paul Goldman proposed video streaming of the meeting.  There was a long discussion about this and the legality of recordings vs. official minutes.  Ultimately, all were in favor except Shawn and Randy Crapo.

7:17:38 p.m. (0:00 elapsed)

Video turned on.  Ray Jarvis agrees to check to see if any minutes are not yet approved.

Town Budget (7:19:31 p.m. (1:53 elapsed))

There was discussion regarding the August year to date expenditures.  It was noted that 36.9% of general fund budget is unspent.  Two thirds of year has passed, 33.3% would remain if expenditures were steady at budgeted levels throughout the year. The conclusion was that this was not a bad place to be.

8:24:10 p.m. (66:32 elapsed)

There was discussion about the warrant article process.  Craig Musselman complained about Petitioned Warrant Articles being filed at the last minute, without prior conversations.  He claimed that nobody wants to shoot them down.  Rather, the goal is to discuss them so they can be implemented easily, he says.

8:37:40 p.m. (80:02 elapsed)

Capital outlay account.  There was discussion regarding what this comprises, and why this is not part of the departmental budgets.  There was discussion about revolving funds.

School Budget (8:57:08 p.m. (99:30 elapsed))

There was discussion regarding the actual fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 performance.  The School District was under budget by $236K in the general fund vs. a $347K surplus the prior year.  Of the $236K surplus, $117K will be retained by the School District, rather than the entire surplus being returned to taxpayers as was required in prior years.   The 2013 School Warrant Article 4 permits this.  The remaining $119K of the 2012-2013 surplus, representing under spending on tuitions, will be returned to taxpayers in accordance with the agreement with Budget Committee.  Enrollments continue to drop.  The enrollment is currently 493, compared to 509 in 2012-2013 (elementary and junior high schools only).  Costs not declining along with enrollments is a major cause of the cost per pupil increase.  A major health care cost increase (8-10 percent) is projected again this year.  The School District lost a record $37K on the school lunch program in the fiscal year just ended.  No solution is seen.

Process for public input (9:56:34 p.m. (158:56 elapsed))

There were audience questions about process for public input prior to final hearing.  Chairman Paul Goldman provided assurances that earlier public input will be permitted.  There were inconclusive discussions regarding the details of how this would be accomplished.

Adjournment (10:08:44 p.m. (171:06 elapsed))

Whereupon the meeting adjourned.