(1/24/07) A community forum on the FY08 budget will be held Tuesday, January 30th at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Room at Town Hall. The forum will feature brief presentations by key Town budget officials, followed by questions from the public.
The forum is being organized by the Budget Coordinating Group (BCG), which is made up of representatives from the Select Board, the Finance Committee, the elementary and regional School Committees, the Library Board of Trustees, as well as the Town Manager, Finance Director, School Superintendent and Treasurer, and the Library Director. The group was formed last year in an effort to improve coordination and communication among those responsible for the various sectors of the Town's budget.
According to the BCG, scheduled presenters at the forum will be:
•· Finance Director John Musante, discussing revenue and expenditure projections for the next three fiscal years;
•· Finance Committee Chair Alice Carlozzi, discussing this year's 1% budget increase guideline, and the status of the Town's reserve funds;
•· Town Manager Larry Shaffer, discussing the proposed municipal budget;
•· School Superintendent Jere Hochman, discussing the proposed elementary and regional school budgets;
•· Library Director Bonnie Isman, discussing the proposed library budget.
Shaffer's proposed municipal budget is already available.
The school budgets are still in the works. Debbie Westmoreland, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent said that Hochman and the school principals are working on their proposed “cut lists” and will make them available in the next couple of weeks. When they are ready, they will be posted on the schools' web site.
The library budget is also still being drafted, according to Library Trustee and BCG co-Chair Patricia Holland. She said that Isman will have preliminary numbers available and details of possible cut scenarios.
Hwei-Ling Greeney, member of the Select Board and co-Chair of the BCG, said that she began advocating for these budget forums when she was elected to the Select Board in the spring of 2005. One was held that year, two were held last year, and she said that if the situation requires it, another may be held this year once more financial information is available from the state.
“The idea is to solicit feedback, such as, what are the priorities of the citizens?” Greeney said.
According to Greeney and Holland, approximately the first half hour of the forum will be devoted to brief presentations by the Town officials, while the remaining hour and a half will be for public comment. Attendees will be able to write down questions and comments or speak at the microphone. [Corrected, 1/28. This paragraph had previously said that the public comment period would last for one hour.]
“Public input is really essential in helping officials make their budgets,” Greeney said. “The Town, schools and library are very sincere in wanting to hear from residents as they do their cutting.”
Holland encouraged the public to take part in the forum, saying “I think this is a really good time to attend, because shortly a decision will have to be made by the Select Board as to whether or not we have a budget override,” if the question is to be included on the March 27th election ballot. She said that there will be much information and discussion about the different impacts of such a decision.
In addition to the proposed municipal budget, other documents that might interest those planning to attend the forum include the Finance Committee's override report and FY08 budget guidelines. Additional helpful information is available on the Budget Process section of the Town web site.
-- Stephanie O'Keeffe
