Natick Town Meeting - Fall 2002Finance Committee Cover Letter |
FINANCE COMMITTEE
TOWN OF NATICK
MASSACHUSETTS 01760
October 4, 2002
Town Meeting Members and Citizens of Natick:
This report contains the Natick Finance Committee recommendations regarding appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2003 supplemental budgets and capital requests. In addition, this report contains recommendations on most of the non-financial 2002 Fall Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles, in accordance with the Natick Home Rule Charter and Natick By-laws regarding Finance Committee responsibilities.
Each of the Finance Committee recommendations was made after conducting a duly noticed public hearing and open meetings of both the Finance Committee as a whole and, in some instances, Finance Committee sub-committees. We took into account comments and data gathered from Warrant Article sponsors, many town department heads, the town administration, town boards and commissions, and the public at-large. The Finance Committee made its recommendations only after affording ample time for input and discussion during meetings held on September 5th, 10th, 12th, 17th, 19th, 24th, 26th and October 1st.
In
consideration of a number of warrant articles (Article 1 through Article 13),
the Finance Committee discussed and reviewed the disposition of revenues and
expenditures for Fiscal Year 2003.
During that review and taking into account the State Budget cuts and
increased costs affecting the Town of Natick (Town), we feel confident that the
Fiscal Year 2003 budget adopted by Town Meeting last spring left the Town in a
position better than most neighboring municipalities. We also feel that those adjustments recommended herein are
founded on fact and good judgment.
We
feel compelled to summarize for Town Meeting Members and the Citizens of Natick
some of the key budgetary policies and actions that took place during and after
Town Meeting’s acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget.
First, the Finance Committee
reported last spring that we anticipated shortfalls from State Aid and
increases in costs outside of the Town’s control, e.g., increases in insurance
premiums.
In
anticipation of funding such shortfalls and increased cost, in spring 2002 we
wrote:
“…we have purposely placed or retained funds in
reserve accounts (Reserve Fund and Free Cash) which are planned to be used only
for emergency purposes and State [A]id shortfalls.” (See Finance Committee
Recommendations March 25, 2002 cover letter)
If
it were not for these funds, including Tax Levy, being held from appropriation,
Town Meeting may now be facing shortfalls of $300,000.00 or more. Such a shortfall would forced us all to seek
to reevaluate services, act to increase revenues or implement a Proposition 2½
Override of the Fiscal Year 2003 Tax Levy.
Many Massachusetts municipalities are contemplating one or more of these
uncomfortable remedies as of the date of this writing. Instead Town Meeting, as recommended by the
Finance Committee in spring 2002, acted in the best interest of the townspeople
when approving the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget last spring.
Second, over the summer months the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Legislature and Governor’s Office finalized the
current fiscal year’s State Aid to municipalities, as well as their operating
budget. Natick did indeed realize
shortfalls in State Aid totaling $213,000.00
Such shortfalls included, but were not limited to: 1) $34,000.00 state
owned land, 2) $20,000.00 school transportation, 3) $159,000.00 additional
assistance and 4) a major reduction in an educational grant that caused the
elimination of a Health Grant in the amount of $93,000.00. We note and applaud the School Committee’s
and School Administration’s actions and ability to “look outside the box” by
rewriting some federal grants to partially mitigate ($14,000.00) the Health
Grant elimination. Without the good,
conservative fiscal planning of the Town of Natick’s financial officers, the
Finance Committee, Town Administration, and Town Meeting, the townspeople of
Natick would now be dealing with more profound budget deficits in today’s financially
uncertain climate.
Finally, the Board of Selectmen and
the current Town Administrator implemented two budgetary policies, which are in
keeping with the fiscal constraints that were anticipated, and the actions and
good judgment that Town Meeting utilized in approving the Fiscal Year 2003
Budget. Specifically, the Board of
Selectmen and Town Administrator have implemented a hiring freeze of employees
under their control and halted all non-emergency capital equipment and capital
improvement purchases, among other non-essential spending. The Finance Committee whole-heartedly agreed
with these policies. Town Meeting
Members will see from the Finance Committee Recommendations herein that the
2002 Fall Town Meeting Warrant Recommendations are in keeping with such
policies.
The
2002 Fall Town Meeting Warrant contains sixty-one (61) articles that have and
should generate debate and discussion.
Several articles deal with subject matters that have previously come
before Town Meeting. The Finance Committee
has made recommendations on forty-seven (47) articles, no action was requested
by the sponsors on eleven (11) articles, no recommendation is given on three
(3) articles and no articles are tabled.
Additional or alternative recommendations for a few articles may be
provided to Town Meeting by the Finance Committee subsequent our meetings
scheduled on October 8 and October 15, 2002; any such recommendations will be
provided at the 2002 Fall Town Meeting, which begins on October 15, 2002.
The Finance Committee would like to express its thanks and appreciation for the hard work and dedication of all town officials, members of boards, committees, departments and citizens for their cooperation and participation during the Warrant Article hearing.
We respectfully
submit our recommendations for the 2002 Fall Town Meeting Warrant Articles for
your consideration.
As
always, we thank you for your support.
Respectfully Submitted,
Frank Foss, Chair
|
Gail Kaprielian, Vice Chair |
Carol Gloff, Secretary |
|
John Culkin |
Paul Griesmer |
|
Richard Jennett |
Christopher Lee |
|
Catherine Matzilevich |
Lynn Mattice |
|
Dominic Mirante |
Jeffrey Phillips |
|
Craig Ross |
Susan Salamoff |
|
Linda Sussman |
Bruce Wright |
