This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. Okay, I think we are at least we'll start up. So, the meeting is going to start off with the select board. So, we have our quorum. So, I'm going to call to order the meeting of the Southampton
Select Board for March 3rd, 2026 at 6 p.m. And if we could just uh sort of stay in place, but um say our pledge of allegiance. Okay. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands. One nation >> under God, indivisible, with liberty, >> with liberty and justice for all >> and justice for all. It's always so hard to get that in unison. It's impossible, I think. Thanks everybody. Okay. Um, do
we have anyone here for Citizen Speak? Anything that's not on the agenda? You'll have to probably raise your hand if so because I'm not seeing necessarily everybody. Uh or just uh shout out if you are there. Uh okay, not seeing anyone.
So let us move on. Um okay. All right. So let's go to uh the town reports. Uh we'll start with Scott briefly. Uh, sorry, not much, but the budget going on and uh wrapping up the uh free
cash and the uh trying to get the audit. So, um nothing much to report right now. Okay. >> I'm sure we'll hear more details as we go along tonight. So, that's fine. Uh anybody from select board? I know we just met very recently. Have you had another meeting in between time that you want to report on? Or is there anything
that's happened in the last few days that you've been to a meeting? Um I was at Concom uh last night went in person. Um and it was the um a second public hearing for the 4353 Pleasant Street project. >> Okay.
>> Um and wasn't a whole lot that went through. So it was agreed to put that off until the next meeting. Um uh which will be let's see here. Um put that off until March 2nd. Uh nope. Nope. Nope.
>> No, I'm looking for my dates. Sorry about that. Anyway, must be that put off till the till till the next meeting later in the month. Exactly. >> Okay. >> So, the hearing was continued then. I take it >> the hearing was the public hearing was continued. Um and what else we had? Um
there were some questions about um questions about butters. That seems to be quite a big issue with a couple of the uh the the folks living on on Pleasant Street on what constitute who
needed to be notified as a Butters uh 43 as as as opposed to 53. Um and it seemed like they um they wanted to be looking for kind of a legal opinion um town council as to where they stand with
that. um kind of clarify if everyone who should have been notified was notified. Um >> okay. >> And that was that was about it. So that was the major one anyway.
>> Okay. Very good. Thanks. Anybody else? John or Stephen? Any other committees? No. >> No. >> Okay. All right. Nothing really on my end either. Just continuing um nothing major news from from the last meeting. Still working on a couple of grants and things
like that. Um all right, so let us get into the business of tonight. We have um I'm sorry, Stephen. Sorry. >> Yeah, sorry. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'm sorry. I was muted. Um the weather and postponements of meetings plus our very busy schedule
around the budget conspired such that I missed an open space meeting and I miss a greenway committee meeting. >> Okay. >> But last night the housing trust had an extraordinarily productive meeting. Um we too are looking for legal services to
uh review the um document of trust. There's a piece that we have to record at the registry of deeds to further confirm the establishment of our trust and we need
legal review for that. And then we're gearing up um with Sierra Simmons as liaison to the CPC committee for town meeting on May 2nd because the trust will with support of the housing
authority um apply for funding a transfer of some funds from the designated housing account under the CPA to the trust. >> Okay. So, it's very complicated, but it is important to know that it's coming
for town meeting and therefore again with Sierra's help, we'll be working on a warrant article. >> The next CPC meeting is I think on the 11th. I don't know if that fits your timing. >> Okay. >> That's that's what we're g hoping to
Yes. >> Okay. Very good. Okay. That's it for the select board committee votes. Okay. So Scott, uh we've got a few items to go through and then we'll join in with um the fincom, they're here, but we'll um officially start that part of the
meeting. So the first thing I think on the agenda is this uh def deficit amortization for the Hampshire County Insurance Trust. >> Yes. Uh so this was legislation that was passed a couple months ago that would allow members currently in the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust that are
leaving to essentially take the runout claims, which is the amount of money that um the town may or may not own owe um up until um when we leave on July 1st. Um so depending on how much that amount is, the state is allowing us to uh essentially pay it off um and then
spread the debt over the next 5 years. Um, so by a vote of the select board, um, Bradley and I, we're going to have to do a little bit of, uh, filling out of the forms once we get everything caught up, but essentially allows us to go into debt for five years and then pay it off, uh, at the end of the five
years. Now, I do want to just make note that I did put $25,000 into this year's budget just to start the fund. Uh, we not going to know the exact amount until probably mid to late fall um, at the best. So, uh, this would just once we get that amount, then we're going to be
able to, um, report that to DLS. >> And this would be something though that we would try to pay off every year over the five years. Is that right? We wouldn't wait until >> depending on the amount. I mean, it it could be, I don't know, 50,000, it could be 300,000. We just really won't know
until um until until midfall. >> Wow. So, we're signing basically I mean what kind of figures are you going to have to be able to fill in then? We're signing kind of a blank form here. >> Uh mostly the signature page and then um
some of the other stuff. Um we're going to be doing the deficit of FI27. So, we're going to fill that in once we actually get that. But, we do need to submit the sign signature page that the that the select board had adopted it, which is right here. Okay. So, this is the one that's just
certifies that we've moved out of the Hampshire County Trust. >> Okay. Okay. Anybody have questions? Select board folks. >> Yeah, I do. Chris, >> John, Scott, what happens to the um the initial deposit that we made? I think
it's like $57,000 way back when. Do we get credit for that against whatever this deficit's going to be? >> Um I think it's a little bit. I think it's like around 27 which has been static for the last 20 or 30 years whenever we did put that initial uh investment in which is another issue to
talk about later on um and how it was managed. But technically according to the trust agreement um the runout fees are first deducted from whatever reserve account that we have with the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust. So, okay. So, in theory, this if it is
27,000, we would go in debt above that number if anything materialized. >> Um, I would I mean, that's a different argument. I would probably say that that according to the trust agreement, that is their only way to recoup the money, but that's a different argument.
But for simplicity to move forward on a vote tonight, >> in theory, if we have a $30,000 bill and we're sitting with a $27,000 credit, we're on the hook for $3,000 would be our stance, right?
>> My stance would be the only the 27. >> I understand that. Well, then we don't need to sign this because there's no reason for us to go into debt. Well, >> if we're only on the hook for 27,000, then we >> invest. >> I mean I mean that's a different legal argument, though.
>> Yeah. I think I think it's going to end up being more than that, I would assume. No, I mean we were getting figures that were, you know, much much greater than that, but still less than the 100,000. I mean, it was in the 50,000s or something, wasn't it, at one point? Uh, I mean, it's really going to be
about three months of runoff claims, and it depends on how quickly those bills get into the insurance carriers and what's paid and what's not paid. >> Okay. >> All right. So, by our signature tonight, we're just signifying that we have taken
the steps to leave the Hampshire County Trust and that should there be money owed as runout costs, we want to pay it over a 5-year period. >> Correct. >> Is that correct? >> Yep.
>> Okay. Would someone like to make a motion to that effect? So, I'll I'll make a motion to authorize the select board to withdraw from the Hampshire County Group Trust as of July 1st, and that it is our understanding that we
will receive a credit for our initial deposit, which we believe to be in the amount of $27,000 in round numbers, and that our debt would only be an amounts in excess of that, and that we reserve the right to advertise it over five
years should we choose to do so. Second. >> Okay. >> All right. >> All right. Any further um a second by uh Stephen, I think I heard. Um Scott, does that meet your needs from BLS guidance? >> Okay. All right. Then if uh no further
discussion, all those in favor, let's do a roll call, please. >> Lumbery. >> Johnson. I >> Johnson. I Yeah. De Brunai. Lumbery. Pal's eye. Okay. Very good. Thank you. I've heard everybody. All right. Thanks. Um, so just a note, we've got several
things to sign tonight and given that we're remote, I'm going to ask that people try to stop by town hall whenever you can somewhere in the next few days here to get these papers actually signed. Um, so there's two or three other things to be signed later on here as we go along. Uh, the next one up is
the partnership request with Mass Audabon. Uh, and this is regarding the purchase of the Rattle Hill Rear Road property, otherwise known as theity property that had passed at town meeting. And this is one I'll let Mark Cassus, if you're here for uh open
space, if you'd like to talk about this. This was um a $50,000 acquisition. And um I think uh you can take it from here if you would please. Um so at town meeting the town approved $50,000 for
purchase of 40 acres off of the distant end of Rattle Hill Road. Um that was meant to be completely reimbured through work of Kestrel Land Trust. Um and they have voted the board has voted from Kestrel that they will provide all that
money. Part of that is $18,900 that will come from the Mass Audabon Catalyst Fund. And the Mass Ottabbon requested that they have a direct agreement with the town of Southampton for that $18,900
rather than take it through um Kestrel. So there's um letter that I sent to to Chris and to Scott that would require a agreement between the select board and Mass Audabon for that $18,900 to go
towards purchase of the um 40 acres of the back of Walcott Roer. Um >> great. >> We um so and the rest of the um the $50,000 will be provided by Kestrel. They've approved that. And Chris just
notified me that we also got a grant for 10,500 to pay for the survey legal costs and the um uh um sorry papers for um why am I blanking? >> Um >> the former road properties.
>> Yeah. Uh but but also no no that's um that they that that No, they Okay. Yeah. So we the other costs are covered basically. Yeah. Yeah. So, this one basically the the total purchase is 50,000, but Kestrel has gone
out and gotten the partnership with National Auto Massond rather. >> Yes. And they'll come up with all the other residual funding to get once the purchase goes through um that all of it will be paid by um there won't be any cost to the town,
>> right? It says here that within uh a certain number of days of the closing, we have to let them know that the closing is happening and then they will transfer that 18,900 directly to to the town or to the to through the attorneys to the town. >> Very good. Okay.
>> If there's other questions, be glad to answer. >> Yeah. Anybody have any questions on that? It sounds like uh what we approved at special town meeting uh with some more particular details that um are entirely coincident or
>> supporting what we voted at town meeting. It's no cost to the town. All we need to do I guess we have to sign uh with our grateful thanks. So moved. >> No, that's good. Okay. Uh Stephen, would you like to make a motion?
>> I did. Okay. I didn't hear it. I'm sorry. >> I'll second to >> to approve um entering into this partnership agreement uh with grateful thanks. >> Okay. All right. Ellen, I heard a second, I think. >> A second. >> All right. All those in favor? Roll
call, please. Ellen. >> De Bruin. I. >> John. >> Lumber. >> I. >> Steven. >> I. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone. >> Yep. Thanks, Mark. >> Thank you, Mark. Awesome work.
>> And thanks to Kestrel as well. >> Um, we've got a couple more things up. Uh, Scott, if you want to do this one first. It's uh that's not the next one on my order. Uh, the next one is the Western Mass Recycling thing, but
we can It may not be in the package. I have it on my um thing here. Hold on a minute. Um, this came from Randall. Uh, and this is regarding the sustainable purchasing policy for the town. There we go. Thanks.
And maybe you can explain a little bit more. My understanding is Randall, this is a required form that Randall needs us to sign off on. Uh, basically um um well, let's just read the two or three objectives of it. Excuse me. Um,
it's a purchasing sustainable purchasing policy for the town to minimize waste and prioritize reuse by identifying alternative options to new and single-use products and equipment. Support recycling markets by purchasing products with postconumer recycled content and that are recycled recyclable
after one use. And conserve natural resources such as energy and water and minimize environmental impacts from pollution, greenhouse gases, and toxin hazardous products. So, this is a little bit of a a revised, I think, um document compared to what we've usually signed,
but it basically is our recycling policy that we end up signing so that Randall is eligible for recycling grants from the state is my understanding on this. I don't know, Scott, if you have any other detail on that. >> Uh, no, but it does help us open up to
grant opportunities, especially with the transfer station, >> right? I think it's basically related pretty much to the transfer station. Yeah. Um, >> is there a is there a date on the document? >> Um, scroll down. Uh, please. >> Um, no. Uh, there's not, but I, uh, we
we put the date on today, I guess. So, I think this looks like it would be for my signature. So, uh, what this does though is refer to various websites about, um, you know, products that we're supposed to look for, you know, buying, you know, buying green products to the extent we
can, purchasing products that are, you know, reusable. So, it's it's basically a recycling policy for us. >> Scott, can you scroll up to the to the header? >> Yeah. I'll make I'll make a motion that we approve the sustainable purchasing policy as presented by the highway
superintendent and we authorize the chair to sign on our behalf. >> Second. >> Okay. All right. Second by Stephen. Okay. If no discussion >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yes. Discussion Stephen. >> Yes, please.
>> Okay. Go ahead. uh the um origin of this or the incentive or encouragement may come out of our solid waste department. However, it is clearly meant to embrace the entire
municipality. And I would just like to say that while uh entering town building today, I guess I felt safe, but I felt contaminated because of the amount of rock salt used
on the stairway. And consistent with the intent of this, we shouldn't be using rock salt there at all. We should be using something that is less damaging to our building while providing adequate safety, no
real safety to um the public. And I would say they're calcium based products rather than sodium based products. U also better for the aquifer. So >> if we're going to live up to this um
let's start there. >> Okay. something we can certainly bring to Randall's attention. I think this, if I'm not mistaken, the town hall area is plowed by a contractor, not by the town, if I'm correct. >> That's Yeah. Yep. >> Yeah. So, it's something that maybe Randall might need to bring to that
person's attention if that's not been the case. Okay. Thanks for bringing that up. >> Clearly, we control the contract and the, you know, performance, >> right? Yeah. Okay. All right. So, I think we have a motion on the floor. Could we have a roll call vote, please? All those in favor? Ellen
>> Deu I >> um John >> Lumbra I >> Stephen >> John Sny >> and Fowl's eye. Okay, very good. Thank you. Okay, next up Scott was the one you were showing the community status report
um emergency declaration one. Is that right? >> Yep. So, uh, in order for us to seek some, if there are any reimburse reimbursements available, um, our emergency manager, uh, Chief Fulli and myself, we declared a state of emergency, uh, for the town of
Southampton on 2226 at, um, 4:00 p.m. And that lasted to 22326 till, um, 6:00 p.m. Um, and we would just ask for the, uh, select board to approve that as well. Okay.
And just to clarify, we did that because the governor had made this a named storm. Is that correct? >> Yeah. Uh the governor had declared a state of emergency. >> Okay. Right. So when it is a state of emergency at the governor's level, the municipalities have the authority to
also do that. So to the extent that there might be some well there will be probably costs obviously from um a lot of the Randall teamwork um out on the roads um we might be eligible for some some reimbursement by declaring this. Is
that correctly it? >> I'll make the motion to ratify the state of emergency as declared. >> Okay. Have a second. Second, Ellen. All right. Thank you. All right. Again, roll call vote. All those in favor? Ellen
>> De Bruan I >> John >> Lumber I >> Stephen >> Johnson I >> and Fowl's eye. Okay, very good. Thanks. All righty. Um let's see. Next up, uh just a couple
things on my end. Um the Boston Postcane Award. Uh this is something I'm I'm working on. We have uh it's usually it is not usually it is given to the oldest person oldest citizen in town and uh the most recent person um who had it for
about five years passed away a couple of months ago and so working with the town clerk and also the council on aging director just to be sure that we have the correct person and age in mind and um we'll bring that back up in another meeting. But, uh, what we'll end up doing is getting a plaque and a
certificate for that person and, um, awarding it, um, perhaps to that person at home if that's the most logical place to do it or some other place. And so I'll keep you posted on that. We haven't finalized it yet. Uh, and then we have the retirement
certificate for Johanna Douglas. Uh, and this was basically given in appreciation for her work as the library director for three years and the eight years that she served as the youth librarian here in town. And so this will be I don't think we need to
approve it. We just need to sign it. Um, so this is just a certificate of retirement and our appreciation from the select board. So this will be another one added to the list of things to be signed. Okay. All right. Um, any other business that can't wait until
our next regular meeting on the 17th? Does anybody have anything off hand? >> I just have one quick thing just to reiterate, I brought this up before, but >> um, a little pet peeve of mine. >> We've got the new fire pickup truck. The old fire pickup truck is still sitting
there. It still has municipal plates on it, which tells me it's still register, you know, it's registered, which means we're carrying it on our insurance policy. And maybe it's only $100 in premium, but let let's get figure out a way to get rid of that thing instead of sitting there for a year. And at least
let's get the plates off of it and get it off the insurance rolls. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Scott, >> I I'm the number one advocate for getting rid of all the old stuff that we have around town hall and uh we're just waiting for the chief to be able to transfer the plow um portion to the new
truck. >> Okay. And that and that's fine. I get it. It just it's sitting right there on Main Street, you know. It's not like at the police department where it's down where their cars used to be down in the back hidden behind the trees. It's very obvious that it's sitting there. So, it's just it's just an eyesore.
>> Well, we don't want to obscure our beautiful fire department. >> There we go. Okay. Valid point. So, we've done a pretty good job of getting rid of all of our excess properties and um this one will go on the list as soon as we can get that ready to do so. So,
very good. Uh we have two sets of minutes for approval. Uh January 6th and February 3rd. If people have had a chance to take a look at them >> without exception, I make a motion that we approve both. >> Okay. >> Second.
>> Second. Stephen. Okay. All those in favor? Ellen >> I. >> Lra I. >> Steven >> Johnson I. >> And Fowls I. Okay. Very good. Thank you. Okay. Okay. So, that gets through the
bulk of the select board portion that we had for business. And again, I just people, if you would just take some time and figure out when you can get down to town hall and um sign off on these various documents, that'd be appreciated. Okay. Um and let Judy know
um when you might stop by. Okay. So, I think we will move into a more general budget meeting. Um joint meeting now with the finance committee. and finance committee. Um, if you would like to call yourselves to order. Scott, I'll let you take down that certificate
and we can see who's here for. Okay. >> I see Reggie and Doug. I don't see Jamie yet, but that's a quorum. >> Uh, no, Jamie's here. I see Jamie here. Becky. Yep. >> Okay. So, you want to call your meeting to order? >> Call the meeting to order at 6:25.
>> All right. Very good. Thank you very much. All right. So, we're going to basically have a joint meeting, select board and fin. We have uh all of our members here. So, Scott, we'll turn it over to you to talk about our status on the FY27
budget and what's what's going on there. >> Okay. So, tonight's all about revenue, which is probably the most important part of any budget. It's the money that's going to be coming into us over the next fiscal year. Uh just wanted to start off with a couple quick slides before I go into the the actual uh
budget revenue section. Um so it's going to be a very difficult year. I don't think there's any question about that as we've seen. Um >> you can make it a little bigger, Scott, please. Sorry. >> Uh yep. Let me just go one second. >> There we go. Um, so there's, you know,
obviously there's a lot of, um, towns that are are facing, you know, a financial crisis as well from South Hadley, Hadley, you know, Northampton, Ammerst, everywhere across the state. Uh, but looking at at just the budget right now, some of the FY27 increases,
you know, health insurance over last year's budget going to be over $400,000. Hampshire Regional $300,000. Our retirement contribution rose $50,000. the onetime ambulance funds that we used last year that obviously is not going to be available to us this year. Uh the loss of revenue and the decline of new
growth in in other areas which you'll see uh it could be as great as $200,000. Our capital deficit that we're going to have to start funding is $350,000. Uh our collective bargaining and other wages uh $80,000. Our mitigation funds for that leaving the um Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust will be, you know,
$35,000. run out claims to start our amortization at $25,000 and on and on and on. Um, so how do we get into this? Um, you know, we've had a lot of growth over the last couple years and that's obviously slowed down and it's slowing down yearbyear. Um, we've had an
increase in cannabis and meals tax, ambulances, and building permits, but again, the growth has has stopped and it's it's starting to level out. Uh, ARPA money is no longer available as well. Um we've had $200,000 plus savings from our uh dispatch grant that the uh
police chief had got, but again that next year or two that's going to start winding down as well. Um irresponsible increases or lack thereof for our health insurance. Uh and that finally caught up to the town. We had a 0 -2% and another 0% increase. It should have been much
more steady a growth every year. Um and it did, you know, it obviously hit us pretty hard this year with a 40% increase. uh lower compensation for the workforce. You know, we we were able to actually adjust things and uh that's going to cost, you know, some money to continue um paying people at market
rate. And obviously, the biggest one is the lack of support from the state and federal governments. Towns are constantly restricted by Proposition 2 and a half. And we really depend on the state government to continue giving us, you know, from chapter 70, which is our for our schools, or chapter 90 for our
roads, our our general unrestricted governmental aid. And as you'll see that things just haven't been able to catch up with just the basic expenses of running any town or any organization, never mind just inflation alone. So, as it stands now, stands now, you'll see our our property tax levy that's set at
2.5%. Obviously, you know, the misconception is that someone's property tax bill can't go more than 2 and 12% a year. Uh really what proposition is it's the total amount of money that the town can levy uh from property taxes can't increase by more than 2 and 12%.
Uh you know, we might be getting $120,000 for our state aid on the local side. Uh the state aid on the education sides probably going to be minimal at best with with the increases to our assessments. And this is just going off of the governor's budget now. There still needs to be the house budget,
senate budget, and then the uh con um um joint committee between all three um house um governor and the two houses. >> Uh locals receipts are going to stay, you know, relatively stagnant and um you know, we're going to be really just looking at $250,000 in increased revenue
based against all of these costs alone. Sorry. So this is just a breakdown of where our revenue comes from. The biggest part is obviously our property tax levy and that's close to 75%. The next largest
part is going to be state aid for education. Then after that, our local receipts, which is, you know, our cannabis tax, meals tax, um receipts for uh building permits, uh our state aid for the local government, and then other. Now, let me just bring up the other next
one. So, this is um let me just move it over here. So this is our our revenues organized um by area. Oh, okay. Um as you can see, this is the column right here of our
FI27 revenue and this is um our FI26 estimate. We're not done with FI26. Um so our >> Could you Scott, could you just slow down just a little bit? Just we need to absorb some of these words, but go ahead. >> So our first one, our biggest chunk of
money is going to be our prior year levy limit. Um, so we're going to raise just over, you know, a little under $16 million for that. Um, it's going to be the new they're two and a half% increase is going to be a little under $400,000. Um, we don't have an override scheduled
yet. Our new growth, as you can see, historically went from 160 uh to 206 to 118, and that's going to start dropping. Um, so maybe $100,000. Um, it could be even a little bit less. our debt
exclusion. So these are the borrowing that we do that the towns uh that the citizens voted to exclude the debt. So that's balanced off by going uh above the prop 2 and a half. So that kind of so that evens it out. And then our our overlay expenses. So those are things
like if someone doesn't pay our t their taxes or if they qualify for an abatement for being elderly uh veteran or blind or any of those programs. So that would come uh as a negative for our property tax levy. Those are essentially property taxes that we're not able to collect.
The next biggest part is going to be our state local aid. Uh and the biggest part again is our unrestricted government aid. And as you can see, it really doesn't go up much each year. Uh from 760 to, you know, about $20,000
to about $9,000. And this year it's about a $20,000 increase. The stateowned land. So, this is reimbursement from uh the state to land that they own within Southampton. That pretty much stays the same. Uh the same thing with veterans benefits. Um the next part I do have a
um request out to DLS to just verify this $105 $105,000 figure. It looks like that something may have happened in the previous year, but I'm asking them to clarify that. Uh the public library direct aid. So the $19,000 goes directly to the public
library for uh their expenses. And then these are our abatements. So this is um things that we owe the state government and that that's deducted from our total um cherry sheet total. >> So Scott, quick question. So even though we do not have regional transport in
Southampton, we have to pay something toward that. >> Yes, unfortunately. Why? >> Um, I'm not quite sure. I guess it's somehow still a benefit to Southampton residents
even though there's no actual access to the regional transit. you you can get regional transport in Southampton under very unique circumstances and if you apply for it, but I don't know of anybody that utilizes it, but it's another wonderful
Boston thing. >> Yeah, but at one point they were talking about PV Yeah. PBTA having a stop in Southampton, but I haven't heard any more about that in months now. And I know that um Kate had mentioned a special service that that might be coming uh to fruition.
>> Mhm. Okay. >> Okay. >> So, the next biggest next biggest portion is our state aid for education. Uh our chapter 70 money. Again, with the governor's budget, it increased by about $40,000. Our school receiving tuition. So, this
is our school choice receiving tuition. So this is money that the schools will receive um from people that are incoming to the from outside of Southampton coming into the the school for Norris and that goes directly to the school. So that is zeroed out
the charter tuition reimbursements. So that is again um what we receive for um students going to charter schools. And then the two negatives that we uh have in our cherry sheets. The first one is our school choice sending tuition. So
these are students from Southampton that are going to other communities that we owe for their tuition. And then the same thing with charter school tuition. Um students from Southampton going to a charter school outside of outside of the town. And as you can see um those have
risen significantly over the last couple years. Um and the actual amount of aid so far in the governor's budget would be uh a slight reduction um based on the assessments than than what we've had in the past. The next big one is our local receipts.
So these are things like our alcohol licenses, our building permits, cannabis tax, uh earnings on investment, um things that are really on a local level. We're still um calculating our motor vehicle excise taxes. Um, but you know, this is being a little bit conservative
right now. And then finally, >> wait a minute, Scott. Scott, can you back up just on the motor vehicle because what is that column? I don't see the header. The $17,000 609. Is that the current year?
>> That is uh actuals till um December 31st 25. >> Okay, I'm good. And then finally, we just have our other sources of income. I'm probably going to zero out the PEG programs pro PEG programming because that's a uh direct distribution. So the money comes in and then we give it directly uh from the
charter bills um to East Hampton Media. So we probably can eliminate that. Um other things like our indirect costs from the enterprise fund for our water and um transfer station, those are things that the water department owes. Um our FRTA indirect cost uh that we
will receive. So reimbursement for like Bradley's time, the accountant's time, the treasur's time for processing payroll for the van drivers. Um Medicaid reimbursement which is a uh comes from the school department and um our transfer from ambulance fees. So the
amount of money that we receive for providing ambulance service usually through insuranceances that comes um back to the town. So total revenue is going to be about $22,55,000 this year.
And I and this year I did take a uh more conservative approach. Obviously with the economy the way it is um you know things like you know meals tax, you know I don't see a lot of growth coming in. Um so it's probably better at this point to um you know budget a little a little
bit more conservatively um on what the potential uh revenues might be. >> Could you just scroll up just a little bit to show that again, Scott? Sorry. So because we're a couple hundred thousand less. Is that right? just on the local the local ones, I'm sorry. >> The local receipts.
>> Yep. Yeah. >> So, reduction. So, generally, you know, we were receiving about um you know, building permits over $120,000 and that's going to be down down to about $100,000. I talked to both Art and uh the building building uh inspector today and we still have a lot of permits
coming up, but they're just not the value. Uh so, it's things instead of new homes, it's things like remodeling, um things like that. So that's going to bring in a lot less uh for the permits. >> So you've either kept things stable or lowered some of the bigger ones that
might be problematic. Okay, >> that's correct. And uh just on the on the um state aid, education, state local aid again, the House and the Senate and the uh conference committee, they're going to have to come together. So sometime a lot of these are going to be the same. Um
the real question is what is the house and the senate going to do with government aid and our chapter uh 70 money? Are they going to increase over the governor or or keep it the same? And those are really the two biggest chunks. So there's not really a lot of flexibility. So, you know, other than
our property taxes, which, you know, that's pretty much set at prop for Prop 2 and a half. Um, and then our state aid or cherry sheets, there's not a lot of wiggle room or flexibility or ways that we can raise additional revenue outside of those two options.
>> And when do we remind me when we usually get our sort of final numbers or at least more solidified numbers from the governor's sad? I mean >> um well it probably won't be until late May June till uh we get the state numbers and then the assessments and
things like that those are those are going to be estimates until after the uh July 1 fiscal year begins. >> Okay. So going my point was going into town meeting we will not have the governor's final budget for these state aid figures. >> More than likely not. We'll have the
estimates but probably not. Okay, >> have any questions? >> Yeah, >> I know Steve has his hand up or Stephen has a stand up. I just jump in on your question, Chris. Traditionally, we use the governor's number and then usually at the end it's a little bit better, but we just allow
that to fall out to free cash, >> right? >> Like we traditionally don't have the final numbers going into town budget, >> right? Yeah. I just wanted to make that clear for anybody here who's listening who may not realize that. Yep. And when House of Senate releases theirs, we'll use the lower number to budget for.
>> Yeah. >> Right. Yeah. I think we we've tried to be conservative on that and not not assume that we're going to get everything that they they think they want to give us at some point in time, but um usually we've done a little bit better sometimes anyway than the governor's budget. But that really just depends on on a given year. There's no
no guarantees there. Um Stephen, did I hear you had a question? >> Yes. Thank you. Okay. >> Um it's about revenue. Um it may be well it's real property related but it's inloo payments from Hoyok water
department or others. I know the cherry sheet carries an amount for stateowned land, but that does not include the Hoyoko water lands unless they're just
um rolled up into a another assessment line that makes it opaque. Um, coming up as we look at these energy facilities, um, there are going to be
specific agreements with each of them about what they're going to pay for what would otherwise be personal property. So, it's going to be transformed into a payment agreement. And there's some
question whether it is technically legally a pilot or whether it needs to have a different title. But is the revenue showing? >> No, we don't have the revenue yet for any of the new uh Bashista solar farms.
And once that comes on, that would show in the uh in the revenues probably next year. >> Sure. I wouldn't expect that. And I know I dragged us into that. The first piece is Ho Water Company. Hoyo Waterworks is on this list. It's showing zero paid to
date so far. >> I think you have to 70 $70,000. >> I'm sorry. >> Is it on the revenue sheet, Scott? >> Yeah, I can't control the scroll here, but somewhere on there is um so you have
your stateowned land at 17,000, but there's another line of payment in lie of taxes, and it's made up I believe it's made up of two pieces. One being the Hoyok Waterworks And then um I don't know if if it's the hoy gas and electric
piece. Where is it in there? >> I thought I I thought I saw $70,000. Keep going right there. Payment in le of taxes. >> Yeah. >> Line 84. >> So they haven't paid us this year.
>> Got it. Thank you. Um, >> and I would just I would just add, Stephen, that as far as solar fields go, the um there's a case law and it it came into effect when I was treasuring and Hoyok, it it's limited. It's $5,000
for X amount of solar. So, did um because way back when when it started with the solar and you can negotiate this whole thing much like the cannabis, you can negotiate the community. Yeah. then everybody gets in, then they file the appeals, and then it's the state
came down and said it's a $5,000 token per number of kilowatts. And um I probably have that spelled out somewhere. >> Thank you. Um that's >> I wish it were more lucrative and it's
not for the upcoming tax year. As Scott pointed out, this isn't going to apply until the thing actually gets built, >> right? >> Yes. So, just to be clear, Stephen, just can I clarify one thing? Because there are two Bashista solar farms, >> right? >> Correct. >> So, there's one that's already been
approved at the orchard, which is very different than the one that's being talked about at Concom right now. >> Correct. >> They they are completely different um parts of the family, separate applications, and it's the orchard part
of the family that is finalizing the right >> payment agreement. And John is absolutely right. It's changing legal environment. We are not going to get rich on this. But I want to have marker in there so that we fill out
all the blanks. >> Yeah. >> And that is for future years, not this year. This year's question is how do we get $70,000 out of >> Hoyo? >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Okay. Yeah. You understand? Okay. Anybody? Um, finance committee. I'm not totally seeing uh Becky, Reggie, Doug, anybody? Jamie. Uh, any comments, questions? Hearing none. Okay, I'll turn it back to Scott then. Go ahead.
>> U, so that's it for the revenues. Um, I think the next meeting that we're going to have to have is just talking about the overall uh uh budget um for the Let me just bring up the agenda. >> Scott, while you're bringing up the agenda, at at this point in time, do you
have a snapshot of, hey, this is what we think the revenue is. Here's what we have for right now, and we're upside down by >> X. >> Yep. So, one of the things, so just let me just bring this back here one moment.
So this budget is based on every like all the requests uh from the departments. Um so as I showed with the expenses um they're pretty significant. Um with this there is the Hampshire
regional assessment which u we're using the what the number that they released for is the the highest number so it won't go any higher than that number. So we're budgeting with that. the Norris School. Um I know at the last school committee meeting that they're probably going to be looking for a restorative budget from last year um with the
override that failed. Um there's a lot of also question marks right now uh especially around employee benefits that could swing several hundred,000 um with the maintenance, but um obviously there's going to be a lot of reductions just to um right now things
that we may need, things that we could use, and things that we don't need right now. So with the select board and the finance committee uh going through everything and making some reductions will be necessary but all in I mean this is our our complete wish list like if we
had everything um it would be about $2.4 for uh million dollars >> upside down. >> Mhm. >> And when when you say wish list though, we'd ask people to prepare a level
services budget. Is that is that right? I mean, >> well, that's that's the thing with with Southampton, you know, we're not a very large community and many of our budgets are very they're very small. it's it's a few staff members or a staff member and
um you know some office supplies. So really our level service budget is usually the minimum that it takes for a department to operate on. >> Right. >> So if you Well, Scott, I'm going to ask you a question. If you don't feel comfortable answering right now, that's
fine. We can save it for the next time we get together. But of that two four 2.4 four that were upside down. What do you think can come out of this budget? That is a it's an ask, but let's
wait a year. I mean, are we is it 10%? Is it $240,000? Is it >> Well, what one thing I do want to just stress is I'm going to be talking about my capital plan next, and this includes uh $350,000 that would fund the capital program. So, that's a pretty significant
chunk of it. So, >> and that's that's a new program, right? So, >> if we if we exclude that for the moment, we're we're still talking about 2.1 million, >> right? >> And um Okay. >> Yeah. So, there's definitely some
reductions that can be made. Um you know, this is this is kind of an all-in and obviously the biggest chunk is the um the restorative budget for Norris. And I think they said that they would try to have their budget to us by next week sometime.
>> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Is the restorative budget somewhere around 650,000? >> Um it' be estimated about 750,000. >> 750. Okay. >> That's
right there. So >> 6 million7. Okay. >> I'm sorry. Can you unpack that? I can't translate 6.7 million700,000 and what that might mean on the bottom line.
>> Um it would go, you know, towards the um the um liability amount right here. Um what the override amount would >> it's already factored in, right? But I I to to answer Steven's question, I believe when the override did not pass
last year, that was like a $650 or $670,000 cut. So they want that restored, which is in that 6.7 number. So if we don't restore last year's cut, you can minus 700,000 from that 6.7.
>> Thank you. So the override amount at 2.447 447 million includes a restorative component for the schools >> for last year at Norris. >> So I mean I >> for last year at Norris and it does not
address the um citizens open questions about services of the regional high school. the the regional high school that's a little bit out of our control uh because it would take you know several towns to not pass the budget. Um so we we just
send the assessment essentially um once it's passed by town meeting and the select board uh unless at least two towns disagree with it and then at that point the budget for the Hampshire regional wouldn't wouldn't pass. >> Thank you. That's very clear and very
important. But I wanted to distinguish between what the select board and finance committee are considering here and your spreadsheet is in support of
restorative budget for Norris and whatever we've been given by the regional school district. So whatever issues there are about services at the regional high school
need to be addressed there, not at the town budget level. >> I I do want to just stress that that this number is not going to be the override amount and that there will be reductions. >> Yeah, this is this is the basic this is
how bad it is, but we're going to have to make cuts. There's no way we can go for this amount. And I, you know, I'm in I'm in support of of some level of restoration for Norris, but I'm I'd be surprised if we can restore the entire thing, >> right? >> You know, I think we've got to get some
teachers back, but I don't know if we can manage to do the entire thing. I think that's the the next level of discussion we've got to have. >> Then I would say this is the structural deficit that the town has inquired over a number of years. And these are not
radical policy choices. These are prudent um fiscal policies embedded in this that have been neglected for years. So we're behind the curve and it's going to be immensely painful. But I think
this in fact is level services responsible framework and we can tinker at a percentage here or there. I'm open to that. But, um, I would say that this is appropriately labeled. We're looking at
about a 2 million plus override. So, I um, and Chris, I don't know if you see, but Becky has >> Go ahead, John. Yep. >> Well, and and Becky has her hand up and then I'll say one thing quick. >> Okay. Sorry. Yeah. >> I I get it.
>> Sorry. 700,000 Norris restore is only 30%. >> Right. So that that's still 60% of this is coming from the town side which is again I I agree with you Chris and Scott we can't ask for 2.4 and and we've got to work but this is this is the starting
point where we're working at and everything's on the table. >> Yeah. Becky >> just a quick question to clarify the Norris thing. So there's 7750 restorative and then is there an additional percentage on top of that
that's in the budget for this year? So they they believe that they would be able to restore most services lost last year with that $750,000 all in. >> Thanks. >> So this is Reggie. I can't figure out how to raise my hand.
>> Oh yeah, go ahead, Reggie. Sorry. Thanks. Just shout out at me. Thanks. >> So back to Norris. I mean Oh, can you hear Can you hear me? >> Yes. Go ahead. Yeah. So, um it's a fif it's a 15%
increase over last year, which even though it's yes, it's money that didn't get approved last year, it's a huge increase. And Scott mentioned that he hasn't adjusted the benefits yet, but that's there's going to be increased benefits, he hasn't shown any increased benefits for additional positions. So, I
just I disagree with Stephen. I think it's a huge ask to go up that much. And I you know strategic part of it too is you you know two and a half million is going to be a really big ask and maybe some lesser number would be more successful.
>> Yeah. And I I just a piggyback and I know you're going to get to it, Scott, but is your thought to ultimately recommend like two separate overrides, one for the operating budget and then one for capital
or is it going to be one question consolidating both numbers? >> Uh I think it would be one question just because we're almost $8 million in a deficit for our capital program right now. um we have not funded it adequately
uh over the last 10 20 years. Some of our debt exclusions have failed. Uh this $350,000 isn't just for trucks, but it's also for Nor school. It's for the library. It's for the, you know, the senior center. Um it's just things that we need to keep basic services running.
Um so it would allow us to get, you know, to order a new ambulance, to order a new pumper truck in a few years. Um, so I I think that this is a vital component. If we save our operational side, if we keep DPW workers or our highway workers, that's great, but
they're not going to have any equipment to do their jobs. And if we save Nor's teachers, they're going to have a flooded classroom. They're not going to have the sidewalks. They're not going to have the things that they're going to need to to provide, you know, for the students. So, I I think it goes hand in hand.
All right. Anyone? Doug, Jamie, anybody questions? If not, just holler at me if you if you have any. Okay, >> Madam Chair. >> Uh, yes, Stephen. if you want to bring it back to the board. Um,
I just wanted to note that even though Scott has done a very good job of looking at our basic capital needs over several years, there is no money allocated for
consultants or other work at zero college highway. Okay. The only way that incremental progress is made there is through specific grant funding which we are
pursuing. But um just wanted to reassure the voters that there's nothing in here for expensive plans paid for from whatever source. Okay. >> Right. >> Yep. >> Okay.
>> I do have one question. It's Jamie. >> Yeah. Jimmy, go ahead. >> So, Scott, looking at this at the debt service, um, is there a a line graph or something about when some of the 403 274 would be falling off the books? Because, you know, if we're looking to
crunch numbers here, you know, if if in the next couple of years that's on the horizon, then that could support some of the capital needs if we know when some of that is falling down. I I think it's important information about, you know, how do we fund projects? If if if if we
have some of our debt falling down, then maybe that's the recommendation. >> I I mean, we do, but most of our debt, the the vast majority is through debt exclusions, which is funded above and beyond Prop 2 and a half. So, we don't actually have any other than the highway heating system that's coming up and a
loader. Um that's just going to be reflected in in the tax bills. So, um, as far as >> the 403274, what does that represent? >> That's going to be our total debt payments, um, minus the the, um, so in
the revenue, it's going to be the debt exclusions. So, that's our total, uh, debt. >> Yeah. Said differently, when when the debt exclusions fall off, it's not going to, you know, open up additional funds. It may, you know, it may give, you know,
the taxpayers some relief that would, you know, you know, sway them to support, you know, future funding, but it's not going to open anything up in the in the budget because one comes off, the revenue comes off and the expense comes off.
>> Right. >> Thank you, Doug. That's what I understood. And furthermore, at the margin, it is debt. And to the extent that
there's an amount of debt retired, if we're in good fiscal health, our borrowing capacity overall would improve uh subject to specific citizen approval
for funding requests. So, um, both things are true at the same time. It's just not going going to amount to a lot because of the way we've done everything by debt exclusion and we have a small
town, small budget. >> Okay. All right, Scott, go ahead. >> So, that's kind of a snapshot where we are right now. Um we've been having a lot of progress with the um budget task force reviewing everything. We have another meeting on
Thursday a little bit longer. So um I think it's a it's a good opportunity for a lot of the different stakeholders to get together and express you know what their ideas are. Uh where cuts might be made you know what could we look what would an override look like. Um and then
after that um uh I think that we would need to get together and go through the budget. um once we get the task force recommendation and kind of show the select board in the fincom um what might be possible uh with uh an override of a certain amount
and I think it's also important to demonstrate what what the budget and what town and school services might look like without an override >> which will be included as well. >> Yeah, it feels like we've got to prepare
>> two things in a way, right? I mean at least at least we have to also be prepared in case something does not pass, right? So and what that really means would be I'm sure will be an eye openener when you get down to those figures. Um but I think we have to be
prepared for that as well. >> Chris >> and as I showed in in the first slide, you know, there's very little revenue that have been increased. Um and a lot of the things, you know, almost a third of our budget is set in stone. you know, things like maintenance, employee benefits, retirement contribution,
um, you know, debt, um, those types of things, you know, they're just you can't really reduce them because, you know, we have to keep the street light on. We have to be able to heat Norris and town hall. Um, we have to pay retirement benefits. So, there's not a lot of wiggle room with with almost a third of
our budget. done. >> Yeah, Chris. Yeah. The other thing that I I want to make sure that uh at least I as a select board member and and and a town voter clearly understand is I would
like when we do get to the point where we're talking about all this stuff to collectively at the select board and FCAM level finance level when we're going to take all the recommendations and then we're going to come out with the final product and you know we'll each one of us will be able to weigh in and say you know I think this should be reduced or increased whatever the case
is let's get to the final product so we can have our final debate is I would like it clearly articulated how the town voters what their options are when it comes to the Hampshire regional budget. I understand it's the number
that comes down and I get that. But I believe we are not the only community of the five that's going to require an override in order to in order to sustain the number that's proposed right now by Hampshire Regional, which I get is the ceiling, and it may stay there. It may
drop. You know, time will tell. Um, but there there has to be I know that I know the answer to this, but I want it in the record. There has to be a way that that line item, that section could be defeated at at the town meeting and the
rest of the budget moves forward. And I I just feel that we need education on that >> because to Scott's point, it only takes two communities to vote down the Hampshire regional budget and it sends it back. And I'm not advocating that
that's what we need to do. It's just with all everything needs to be on the table. We need to understand everything so when we get to that last day where this is it, we're going to meeting, everybody knows what their options are and then they can exercise their right to vote as they see fit.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. Valid point. I think, you know, as we as we move forward, we've obviously got, as Scott mentioned, the budget task force is coming up. So, within the next week or so, we'll definitely be into the mode of, okay, what what can be reduced? what's absolutely essential and and
really can't can't move very far or there's not enough um you know extra money around there to even make that reduction make sense and then are there other things that maybe we can push off and and do without you we know it's a position position that doesn't get filled it's you know whatever it may be I think all of those are the discussions
that we've got to have you know coming up in the next week or two but I would hope Scott I know you've been talking about you know just doing some other basic public education kind of stuff I mean I think we've really got to get, you know, I know there's a few people listening tonight and thank you for joining in. Um, but, you know, we we
definitely have got to get information out that people are understanding the whole situation. I mean, this is this is a conundrum that we are not the only town that's in it. I mean, my god, I' I'd hate to be in another town that I can think of that's, you know, going for
some amazing amount of of uh override that I had heard was something closer to 11 million dollars, which I just can't even fathom in my brain. So, um, you know, I I know we've got a lot of hard work to do, but I think we can put our heads to the heads to the grind here and
see if we can get it done. But, um, it won't be easy and I'm sure we'll have some disagreements, but we've got to do it. >> Ellen, move forward. >> Okay. No, Stephen, sorry. Yeah.
Um, excuse me, but I really want to be clear how we move these important facts out to an engaged community that can then develop it into advocacy.
And there's a lot of law around what we as elected officials or town employees can and cannot do. But I want to make sure that at least we're transmitting the right quality and quantity of
information to those who to everyone who is affected and that they might exercise their first amendment rights. That's all. >> Okay. >> All right. Um, is there anything else
you want to bring up tonight on the budget, Scott, or are we Nothing? This is kind of just to give us the overview of what the revenues look like and how far in the hole we are right now. Okay. >> So, I mean, we still have a few minor or smaller departments um I'm sorry,
committees that have budgets, you know, parks, cemetery, uh, conservation, um, that we'll have to get to, but those are very, um, you know, it's it's a few thousand dollars. just not millions like other departments. So um with all the budget hearings uh concluded um now
comes really the the difficult part of forming the budget which is refining everything reductions and making different priorities. >> And part of that will be figuring out how we how we apply the I guess not only the priorities but how we apply the cuts. I mean I mean you can you can
slice the pie many ways, right? So you could decide that you know it's it's a x% cut across the board or it's you know I don't know how we do that but I think that's the discussion we've got to have going forward at some point. Right. >> Yep. That's correct. I mean, I always
advocate for more targeted cuts than just general cuts, but yeah, I mean, so with the override budget, I mean, we're gonna have to produce an override budget, but then we're also going to have to produce a um reduction budget, and realistically, it won't be death by
a thousand cuts if it's a reduction budget. It's going to be significant reductions across all departments. And I and I guess Chris, that's where I was going is is I I think I don't think
while I hope so, I I don't think the project that's going to come before us is going to we're going to be able to support it as is. I I think yes, we'll have a number. Here's the override number. That's that's relatively easy if we can feel comfortable with that
number, whatever it might be between select board and finance committee. But it's what do we do if it doesn't pass? And that's where I think we're going to need a couple meetings of, you know, the elected and appointed folks to just say, okay, we're I value committee input and
and the task force is is a great idea. It's getting a lot of input, but at some point it's just got to come in and, you know, we take Scott's recommendations and he's going to put his be best foot forward on what it is. But we've got >> we've got to make the difficult
decisions and the sooner we can come up with the number the sooner we can start the education campaign. >> Totally agree. Yep. Totally agree. Yep. >> Two months minus one day. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um if nothing else on that topic,
I think um I don't know if there was anything else under old business. We had talked about the 24 audit last last meeting briefly. Excuse me, my voice. And we're still making progress on that, but the um the auditor has begun some of their work. I know they've been querying
Bradley on certain things, but um we've got more documents to give them, so that's not complete by any means yet. Um and we have our next um regular select board meeting uh I believe on the 17th.
So 17th and 31st we actually have three select board meeting three regular Tuesday meetings this month. Um okay. Is there any anybody else have any other comment questions? I think if not um we'll just allow folks to swing by town
hall when you can select board folks and sign those papers and um sometime during the week if you possibly can. >> Otherwise I will take a motion to adjurnn if we're set to go. I'll make that motion to return.
>> Okay. I heard Ellen. Yeah. Okay. >> And Stephen, you want to second that? Yeah. Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. And uh well, yeah, I guess we'll go ahead and vote the select board. >> Go ahead. All those
>> eye >> Johnson I >> and FS I and then finance committee. >> Um finance committee. Do I hear a motion to adjurnn? >> Just hand it. >> I think Reggie wanted us to vote on the minutes if possible before we adjourned,
but >> Okay. >> Yeah. How about it? 13 sets of minutes February 19th and 25th. >> Thank you all. >> Bye. >> I'll make a motion to pass the finance committee minutes from um I'm sorry, I
know February 11th and what was the other date? It was February 19th and 25th. >> Thank you. So make a motion to pass the minutes from February 19th and 25th for the finance committee. >> All in favor? >> I
>> I'm abstaining. >> Okay. >> So now would you like to formally >> So I I'll make a motion that we adjourn the meeting. Second. >> Uh, all in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> All right. Very good.
>> 7-Eleven. >> Okay. Thank you. Yes, we are adjourned at 7-Eleven. Thanks everybody for joining in. Appreciate it. >> Thanks, Chris Scott. >> Stay safe out there. >> This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers.