This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. going to call to order the meeting of the Southampton Select Board for March 12th at 6:30 p.m. And we have myself, Ellen, and Stephen here. I just got a
message that John won't be coming tonight. Um, so I'll turn it over to Becky. Do you all have a quorum? And if so, call yourselves to order. We do have a quorum and we'll call to order at 6:31. >> All right, perfect. All right, guys. Thanks everybody for getting together on
a both an odd night and an odd time. Uh we were trying to accommodate people's schedules and see if we could get a meeting in between our regular select board time. We have our regular select board meeting on Tuesday, as you know. Um, but Scott was able to pull together
the budget and do a recommended budget um, and put it out yesterday. And so we wanted to have a chance to take a look at that and understand where he's coming from in terms of where he's gotten to those figures um, with some help from the task force, I believe, and then um, just understand that and take it from
there. Since then, I think you all know, um, Norris had their meeting last night and have voted a budget that is different than what we have in our figures here tonight. And we will have, I believe, the Norris voting uh, I'm sorry, the Hampshire regional voting on
Monday evening. So, before we meet again on Tuesday, we will have both budget asks from both schools. Okay. All right, Scott, I'm gonna turn it over to you if you wouldn't mind and go for it. Thank you. Excuse me. So, this year's budget
was definitely not done in a vacuum, and I want to give a lot of thanks and credit to the budget task force who put in a lot of hours, um, a lot of energy, a lot of effort, uh, into getting, um, getting to where we are today. Um, the challenges that Southampton face aren't
unique to us. If you look across western Mass and Eastern Mass um from South Hadley and Graanby, Belchuretown, Hadley, um Ammerst, Northampton, I mean pretty much every town is is in the same area where um revenues aren't keeping up with expenses. Uh the state and local
the state and federal governments aren't putting in their fair share into what we need to to run a town and provide basic services. Um and you know revenue uh different areas are are slowly either being stagnant or they're being reduced. Um so it's a difficult position that
most municipalities are facing this year but it's also going to be an ongoing challenge uh to balance the budget going year after year. Um this budget uh that I presented um it was obviously done with a lot of uh input from the
different stakeholders from the school department and Hampshire regional um the police chief and we had you know public citizens serving on the on the task force as well. And uh it was really a matter of finding something that would
um be to continue the services that Southampton has uh and try to build on things a little bit uh but also being mindful of how it affects the citizens financially uh in their property taxes
uh and and balancing that between between the two. Um essentially I mean we really knew that we were going to start with an override. uh we weren't sure how much especially starting out in the early early uh part of this year. Um you know it did fluctuate and realistically the budget is going to
continue to fluctuate over the next couple weeks and couple months as as more revenue comes in and we figure out what's going to be going on with the state uh with the state aid. Um and then obviously as Chris had mentioned um you know Hampshire regional budget is going to be uh next week. Uh so we're we're
doing our best with moving targets and I think that we've uh taken a very uh conservative approach on what revenues we're going to be collecting and a very responsible approach on any new monies that are being spent going forward. Uh
so when I'm going to share my screen uh when you look at moment look at the budget. So, a lot of the reasons that we got into this, um, health insurance was one of, you know, back in the last summer
was one of the things that really pushed us off the the financial cliff. It was unexpected. We had a 20% increase for July 1st. We had another 20% increase in October. Uh, we had a huge increase for our retirey population, and we're trying to address that through joining the GIC. Um the GIC just last week released their
rates which is going to be about 5% increase um for the Health New England plan which I'm I'm hoping all employees will kind of look at as a as a real alternative both to save the town money but also for themselves. Um and what that leads to um is, you know, at least
some stability in our health insurance. When you look at like the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust, for example, uh they're going to be doing plan design changes as well, but that's even going to be a 13% increase. So, I I do believe that going into the GIC is going to stabilize a a big part of our
uh budget. Um just admit someone uh other things like, you know, our retirement contribution going up by $50,000. The onetime ambulance funds that we used to balance the budget last year, that's that's gone. Uh we're estimating a loss of revenue close to $200,000. We have uh seven plus million
in capital expenses that we're going to need to address. Uh we have to pay runout claims for leaving the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust. uh legal fees are going to be going up and then when you look at our state aid as I as I saw showed the other day on Facebook you know our our sending tuition is going up
and are receiving tuition is going down so that's really a matter of u you know less revenue and more expenses when you look at the entire total budget uh about 68% and we're talking you know roughly soft cost and things like that retirement health insurance uh but also
the three parts of our education north school Hampshire regional and our direct expenses for um our vocational uh tuition and transportation. Um our town departments are about 27%. You know, police, police, fire, library, council
on aging, financial services, uh and then debt, capital, um you know, insurance, miscellaneous expenses are about a little bit over a million dollars. And this is our revenue. As I said before, you know, we get the majority of our revenue from tax levy. Um and then
the other you know the other next biggest part is about 15% from state aid for education and local receipt and local uh aid and then the other part is local receipts and then other other revenue. Uh but this is not really you know this isn't going to be a one-year
uh problem. Uh for example if you look like our our education budget um which is obviously the biggest portion of our of our budget. Um >> could you make this just a little bit bigger? Sorry. Just a little bit. Sorry. Yep. Thank you. So, for example, we're starting at $14 million and if we continue on the path
of a 5% increase for the next 5 years, so each graph is the budget for our education increasing 5%. And this green line is how much if we replicate um our current property tax levy of 2.5% plus
new growth that we're currently in our overlay. um the education budget will exceed how much we can actually take in on our property tax levy in about five or 6 years. So that is uh just a quick overview. Um
as I said, you know, the the town budget is uh posted online. I'm going to start doing some education on different parts of it. Um but I I think it's it is dependent on an override. And I I have to say that, you
know, we were the task force was very mindful of how much the override should be and we kind of work backwards from that. Um we're at a little bit o over 1.7 right now. Uh again, there's a lot of question marks and that number certainly will change in the next couple
weeks. Um you know, there are there have been cuts that have been uh from the budget already um such as the library and fire department to even get to that number. Um, and I want to be just mindful that depending on next week, that number could even be increased based on the um, the Hampshire regional
vote. So, you know, I I think the target after looking at all the expenses, after looking at the dips in revenue, uh, was to get somewhere around 1.7 to a 1.8 uh, million dollar override. >> Okay. And I just want to mention that so
this this budget does take into account a 8% increase for Norris, which is just roughly about $500,000, >> which is a little bit more than what uh was originally proposed prior to the meeting last night. >> Okay. So about 8% for Norris and how
much for Hampshire Regional was? >> Uh I think it was a 5.6. >> Okay. So we've got a placeholder there for them at this point included in the budget. Okay. >> Okay. Do you want to show the budget overview maybe there the next sheet on that or can you there you go again
little little bigger sorry >> the yellow is just some question marks I mean obviously the biggest question mark is going to be our health insurance uh because we're transitioning to the GIC we don't know where people are going to migrate to um I do believe most people would look at health New England and and probably sub you know subscribe to it as
most other municipalities in Western Mass have but again until we actually have the numbers we can't really rely on them um we're not going to have those numbers numbers until hopefully May 1st or which is the end of open enrollment um if the GIC would would get us those
numbers early. Um so it is a little bit of a question and we don't know where things are going to you know go forward. So um the 14.25 25 uh 14,250,000 I think is a
reasonable estimate based on an assumption that you know giving us a little bit of flexibility. >> Sorry, Scott. What? Where where is that line? I'm sorry. Just pointed out to us. Sorry. >> That that's just in our our employee benefit line.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. Okay. Mhm. right there. >> Not not 14 million. 1 million four, right? >> I'm I'm sorry. 1 million4. >> I was going to say I just about had a heart attack there. >> I had this I had the school budget, the 14 million in my mind. >> Yeah. Okay, fine.
Okay. And so then our overall um estimated budget right now is around 23 million. Is that what you're pushing putting forth here? >> That's correct. And from what I understood from your presentation yesterday, that includes revenues where you've already built in
the 1.7 million override. Is that right? >> That's right. The the 1.7 million override would balance the budget. >> Okay. Okay. So maybe um maybe we could just take a pause here and just have some
questions back and forth from FINCOM, from select board. Um you know, I think what we want to do is I think probably we need to get a sense from other folks that were not involved in the task force, you know, what you think from your knowledge of the town and and
people what you're hearing would be the the right number, quote unquote right number for an override. Um, no number is great obviously, but we all recognize I think that, you know, the 2.5% levy is, you know, what we have to work with
right now with our state regulations and cost definitely costs are going up faster than 2 and a half%. So, um, I think it's a it's a challenge to get to anything that will maintain town services, including education at a reasonable level. So, who would like to
ask a question? Anybody on there? Just uh go ahead. Anybody? Any Reggie, Doug? Anybody? >> I had a question. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Um, so
Scott, I know that you talked to some of the departments about some of these cuts. I'm looking at you mentioned specifically fire and library that had some cuts. Um what what's happening with police, with fire, with health
department? Um that's my first question. The second thing is just more of a comment. Uh the spreadsheets that you have, it's really easy to see the year-to-year in the operating budget, but it's virtually impossible in the personnel without going back and forth
to see what was there or what hours were cut. Um, so I'm wondering if there's a another way to do that or if I just need to keep going back to last year's. >> Um, as as far as the comparison, yeah, it's just I last year's budget was just
way too big to print out and just just handle. So, I had to cut some things. So, >> I you know, I can share. Let me just throw something real quick if everyone wants to ask their questions. Um, it's not officially from Scott, but it'll
give a a pretty directional look at, you know, by position where wages are going or at least by department if that you think Scott is more appropriate. I guess the it is in your it is in your budget material. So, we're not, you know, sharing anything that's not being
made public here. U, but that may help you, Becky. um directionally. >> It's just a different way of presenting it, Doug. Is that what you're saying? >> Yeah, it's just it's a year-over-year comparison without having to hop workbook to workbook. It just basically
says, you know, the increase or decrease. So, most of those are, you know, the increases are from just your additional steps, Scott. So, you know, Scott and the select board have made, you know, a really, you know, big push to make sure that our town employees are are paid at market and, you know, um,
you know, a fair wage, you know, compared to surrounding towns. So, that's, you know, just step increases or most of it, but it does show Becky kind of where the positions are, >> you know, showing larger decreases and that's, you know, >> um, you know, for example, you know,
deciding not to fill an open role that's currently, um, in the FY26 budget. So yeah, >> why don't you field other questions and I'll kind of uh >> I'll have something I can >> Yeah. Scott, can you give um Doug sharing possibility there? Yeah.
>> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Any other questions from select board or >> this is this is Reggie. I was just wondering if we're going to see more detail on the Norris budget at some point in what I know they've talked about
not cutting as much or actually restoring, but I don't I I haven't seen the detail. I we did see one from earlier, but not the actual proposed. >> Okay. Um Yeah.
>> So, this is what they >> from last night. Is it? It was um yeah, this was this is the original um >> Oh, the the original. Sorry. >> Yeah, the one that was posted two days ago prior to last night's meeting. So, that was that's available on the Hampshire regional website. I'm going to post this on our um
um our budget website as well later on. >> Okay, I'll look for that. >> But then the one from last night was a fully restorative budget, right? >> Yeah, we don't have the breakdown. I think it's just a number, >> just a summary numbers. Okay. Mhm. But this is their original breakdown.
>> Okay. >> So, so they are talking about hiring more people. >> I think they're looking at taking some or getting some positions back. From what I understood last night, um I sat in on part of the meeting last night. um
they had with the budget that we had um talked about with them which was the 8% increase from last year that would have brought back two positions and some school supplies from what I understand and those would have been I'm believing if I was correct on this um thinking it was a math interventionist and a
specials teacher um looking toward a a STEM program uh formalized STEM program uh and um I think with the restorative budget that they then voted on last night that would bring back more positions. I'm not sure if it would get
all of them, but it was it was aimed at restoring the budget the way um the way they had seen it. So, I think that would have brought back several of the the positions. Maybe some would change, but essentially it would try to make them
more whole, I guess I would say. Yeah, that's what I understand. Um yeah, the comments from the school committee meeting were that it would not Reggie add positions above the redu you know of beyond the reductions that they suffered last year right so that's your one
kindergarten teacher your one elementary or your one first grade teacher half a nurse I believe the the math interventionalist positions um so that >> art teacher >> yeah the art teacher so that was about nine full-time equivalents Um, plus some
of the things like the supply line um, for K through six. >> Yeah. Thanks. >> Okay. Mhm. Okay. Yeah. So, Doug, if you have that, go ahead and >> Yeah. Let's see here
>> as we move off the school if I could. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Stephen. While while Doug's doing that, you got a question? >> Yeah. Um, just perspective. Um the amount that we're carrying for Norris School is in our view partially
restorative and there was a new number floated last night. I didn't hear clearly the magnitude of the difference between those two numbers. >> It was more than floated. It was voted last night by the school committee. Um,
and I I believe it was another >> Was it 500,000 extra? Was that it or was it three? Um, >> it was it was three and change over the what the um budget task force um was working with. >> Okay. Right. Okay. So, yes. Right. We
had we had put in Stephen, we had put in the 8% as um Scott had mentioned and so this was probably I don't know. I'm guessing this would have been closer to 12% thereabouts, something like that. 12 13% probably is what they would have voted on.
>> Thank you. But >> percentages weren't helping me. It's the absolute magnitude. Would we go from um talking about $1.7 million override automatically to two with some
uncertainty that that might still go higher? >> Scott, I'll let you take that, but I'm thinking it's certainly an increase in the override amount. Yes. Yeah, I mean it's definitely a possibility that the 1.7 could increase. >> Yeah,
>> I mean I think it really depends on on what the I mean ultimate um >> override number um >> so >> so compared to >> 1.7 could increase plus the delta between the number we're carrying for
Norris and the number we are served up by the school committee. The number served up by this school committee, Stephen, is 6.7 um which is 377,000 over what the budget task force was
working towards. And year-over-year from the reduction budget, um it's 845. So, so it's it's a little less than the initial override ask last year which failed at town meeting which I think was
about 890,000 >> the um the general budget so it's actually the the 5.9 that was last year so the restorative budget is about a 12 and a half% increase from last year >> okay >> thank you that gets my question
>> okay go ahead uh yeah Ellen Okay. Yeah, >> I I think that the only question I can think is is um as far as the override, you know, how we would craft that when we finally do have a number with whether that will be we ask for the one override
or whether that would be divided between education, schools, and the rest of services. >> I I I think uh a one question override is is the way to go just because it's very complex. the other way. But also, if you look at other areas, other towns
that um have overrides over the last couple years, especially like Hadley, and when you split it up, it's it it gets very confusing. Um the one thing that we have to remember is that, you know, we we are one town. So, education and and the town services and the
capital. Um, we can restore teachers, but if we don't have a capital budget >> and there's water leakage in North School or if we restore highway positions, but they don't have trucks to use, >> uh, what what good is personnel if we don't have the infrastructure for that? >> Yeah.
>> So, it it's it's not a it the town is an entity. The town is the capital, it's public safety, it's the education, it's everything. And I I think that people need to really kind of look at like that symbiotic relationship. >> Yeah, I would agree. I think you're either going to invest more in the town
or you're not. It's one or the other. >> And don't forget like for example, if we were to cut like the treasures office, well, the treasures does the payroll for the school. >> And they do the tax bills. So, it's it's we really are in in the same boat. >> Yeah. Agreed.
>> My opinion, Doug, go ahead. >> Yeah. at least as far as you know I I view the school so Norris and and I view you know the town operations as inseparable. Um the town is the school and the school is the town in that
sense. Um, and I think at least as far as splitting the override, you know, by department or by town operations versus Norah school, you know, I think you you pit departments against each other. And you also give people that, you know, uh,
the ability to kind of pick their their primary objectives and then, you know, not look at the overall greater good of the town. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, it gives someone the opportunity to say, "Listen, you know what? You know, I really care about fire and safety. Um, and I care about the
senior center, but I don't have kids in school anymore. >> You don't have kids in school. Yeah. >> You know, the quality of the school, >> it carries forward to property values, quality of the town budget. >> So, the quality of the schools go down,
um, school choice in goes down, school choice out, and and charter tuition goes. And, you know, that's another thing. It's not as though this the school stands alone. It it can continue to impact the budget um you know in negative ways if not you know supported
to a sufficient level. >> Agree. >> Yeah. Thanks. So Doug, you want to explain a little bit what you've got on the screen here for us for a minute? >> Yeah. So so this just looks by department um and we may be a thousand off because this was off of the uh annual or the budget task force, but
this compares FY26. I I have operations and personnel, but it basically shows what we're looking at here are the personnel changes year-over-year in Scott's budget or at least the budget task force um the the budget uh workbook
from the 9th. So, um excluding nor school the restoration of you know full-time equivalents because we don't have a at this point a you know a detailed budget. um these are changes in personnel and salaries um by department
um operations is separate. So um the the biggest increase um personnel wise is the select board um the the the budget line item for wage adjustments um which really goes you would assume to multiple departments. the highway
department, the 45,000 um most of that is just step increases um and cost of living increases, but we had also budgeted last year um the I believe at the time this was a mechanic
position. Randall has turned it into a machine operator position, but it was budgeted at half a year. Um the position was unfilled. So this you know kind of contemplates that position being fold filled for the entire 12 months. So that's the the biggest increase there at
the highway department. So personnel lines there is 45, police department is 35. So um there's kind of some ins and outs. Um but if we just look at it, so
there's a reduction in part-time wages, but um some some lines there going but all all in all the police department increase of 35,000. Um board of health is 24,000 at least unless Scott you cut
it out of your version. That's the most of that is from the assistant for inspectional services. That is a new position and an increase in the health agent wages. I think that's just based on um the salary level that we hired the current health agent at. >> Right. And the just to add the proposed
admin assistant for inspections inspectional services or whatever would be shared, right, Scott, between building and um and health department. >> That's correct. >> So, right. Yeah. Right now, we have um an oxygenarian in there as our volunteer
assistant and um it's time to think about how we can manage that differently. Yeah. Uh there's an increase for the conservation agent, but that's really in the overall budget offset by the fact that you don't have your land land use planner, Scott. So,
this looks like an increase um of 17,000, but really it's just kind of the, you know, the realization of if you're not going to fill the the land use planner, that dual position, you're going to have to pick up your conser your part-time conservation agent wages.
And then the rest are really just I think your step increases Scott. Um >> and then when you look at you know some of the the the larger decreases at the personnel. So there is the unfilled um
paramedic fulltime firefighter position. That's a cut that the fire department's taking for almost 58,000. Yeah. >> Um and then Scott is losing his land use coordinator position that's been taken out of the
budget. Um then just regular cola increases >> and the library we are looking at um a decrease at um the part-time youth librarian. So that's their 12,000 there. >> Doug, would you be able to do something
like this for Norris school salaries? if I had the detail. >> Okay. I think I think I think that would be helpful as well because that's our biggest obviously our personnel costs. Um >> yeah, one one thing just to clarify on the uh 80,000 for select board. I just
don't want to get people um just all excited that the select board is getting paid. We are volunteers. Please, we do not get paid. We are volunteers. >> Yeah, that's a good clarification. So, so that is for
Am I free to say Scott, you know, it's it's it's for the potential for union negotiations and and other wage adjustments um as you continue to set to market. >> So, that's correct. Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Does that answer your question,
Becky? >> Yeah. Oh, >> well, it makes it clear. Sorry, I'm turning off my video because I have to get so close to the screen here to see. >> Okay. >> Oh, you can ask me to zoom. Um, >> that's okay. >> So, the town administrator, the 42,000, is that actually a reduction or that's
just a cut from what we hoped might be in there? >> It's not the elimination of a filled position, >> but is it a position that exists? >> Yes, >> position ex there's no person in it. It exists. The position exists, but there's
no person that we we we killed the the hiring of somebody last year. So, we didn't take we had it budgeted and we took we didn't hire last year. So, we were hoping to put it back in this year, but that's not going to be real by the way the things are looking right now.
>> Yeah, we targeted uh positions that were not currently um had a person in. So, we were looking at vacant positions. >> So, that's how the fire department and the library ended up there. >> That's correct. And so what does the fire department
have to say about that as far as I mean they're losing one of four people, right? >> Um >> well they're they're losing the the the full-time position that was budgeted for. So um yeah, I mean I've talked to the chief
about it. Um talked to him a lot about his budget. I mean it's one of the bigger ones for the town. So, >> yeah, he would like to keep it, but >> yeah, it still leaves the chief though and a full-time There's two full-time people. I'm correct. Right. Um, the chief and a full-time paramedic EMT
or sorry, paramedic, firefighter, sorry. Um, >> and then a a shared admin between fire and police. So, two and a half people essentially on the fire department side. So, I'm just wondering if the fire department and the library are getting
these cuts because they had the um bad timing of uh having unfilled positions. I know the director at the library retired and the youth department um librarian moved into the interim. And so
because that position is empty, looks like now we're potentially cutting it by 11 hours a week. >> Mhm. So that that position was originally 30 hours a uh a week and with benefits, you know, we have a lot of those positions that are kind of in that
gray area. Uh my philosophy is if you're going to have benefits because a lot of times we will end up paying more for benefits than we will actually actual salary. um you know benefited position should be closer to the 35 hours and if you can't get to that then it should be you know 19 or under.
>> Is that true for other departments I guess is my question. >> Uh there are other departments that have that were existing that um once they become vacant um I would reduce the hours. For example the assistant uh town
accountant was budgeted for 21 hours and I reduced that to under 19 to 16 eventually. two years ago when I started. >> Okay. >> Yeah. For for comparison purposes though, Becky, I it is, you know, for
for the most part, these are unfilled positions. you know, there are other unfilled positions that aren't, you know, seeing reductions, but I I think, you know, personally, I feel like, you know, if you look at Randall's department, you know, he's been
operating, you know, really short-handed for a while. So you you know it's not so much that you know the library would be penalized because this positions currently unfilled and it's it's easier to do the reduction but I think the you
know the impact on the overall core services of the town aren't exactly comparable with you know slashing one of the unfilled you know machine operators that you know the highway department potentially desperately needs versus you
know moving the the you you know, the youth librarian position from a, you know, benefited 30-hour position to a part-time, right? The kind of the the cost versus, you know, the impact on the town. It's hard to line them up like that, I would say, personally.
>> Uh, and I think it's also arguably it's it's tough to to compare to the the really long list of of, you know, really drastic cuts that Norris faced last year that, you know, had a direct impact. So, so like Randall's staff is is, you know,
impacted you impacts a town in in the condition of the roads and the response to storms, right? The cuts that were made at the elementary school last year increased um you know class sizes drastically at kind of some of the more
critical levels. It it had, you know, the impact of removing support services that, you know, down the road, you know, would have, you know, potentially stemmed off, you know, avoided um more expensive interventions for students and
uh in the school system. So, you know, I think it's important to just look at the the impact, you know, on the overall town of what some of these, you know, things are. Mhm. Okay. Thanks,
>> Scott. Maybe if you would address one thing. I know you've put in um a separate capital line this year. Would you address that a little bit? >> So, um I'll post that probably in a week or two, but um looking at a five and 10 year capital plan is something that's always been a
little bit difficult for the town. Uh historically, we've survived on our well, I wouldn't say survived. Um we've kind of we we've only gotten our capital expenses paid through you know two ways. The first one is uh percentage of our
free cash and that kind of that kind of prohibited us from actually building up a good stabilization fund uh for you know rainy day fund for things like this and also it's dependent on free cash where if you have a low free cash year then you're going to have very low funding for capital projects. The other
way is debt exclusions. Um, which are not always popular. Uh, they often fail. Um, and you know, you really can't plan ahead for those types of things because again, they could fail at the ballot box. What with the $350,000 is it puts a actual line item in our
budget that we can borrow against. Um, not only, you know, can we do smaller projects in it, but the idea is, uh, once we have that $350,000, we can actually start going out and borrowing against it. Um so for example an ambulance um you know the average annual payment will be about hundred and
something thousand. It won't arrive for two years. So once we have that $350,000 we can place the order and then we would start paying it off u starting in two years from now. Uh but there's also a lot of other things that would be included in that. So uh improvements to north improvements to town hall to the
library um a lot of uh DPW equipment uh such as you know replacing the street sweeper that we currently um have to contract out for. uh things like that. So the idea behind it is to be transparent as well so that every year um because this is part of the override
every year it will be part of the budget. There'll be a line item that will actually show where it's going from. So whether it's to pay off debt for a new ambulance or whether it's for a new greater for the parks um people will actually be able to see that and hold um everyone accountable um in case
that number that $350,000 starts going down. Okay. All right. Any question there? >> All right. So, I think at this point I have one question. I guess I can go ahead and ask
somebody um sent a sent me a note today asking about the um CPC funds that come into the town. And since the community preservation uh folks had their their uh hearing last night, um I their annual meeting
hearing, um I took advantage of getting some figures from them about uh what the CPC money comes into town for. As you know, that can be put into three buckets. It's basically used for open space, uh, for historic preservation and
for affordable housing, which is not, um, those are the three limitations of the buckets. And then there's one other one that's called undesated funds. But there is basically money that comes in, it's a 3% charge sir charge on our taxes over the over the um thousands. And so
the money that came in last year on a 3% search charge was around $341,000 somewhere in that neighborhood. I don't have exact figures, but it's in that neighborhood. Uh and then because we have a 3% uh 3% um searchcharge, we are
eligible for three separate matches from the state. So we get we get three different um rounds, I guess I would say, of CPC funding coming from the state. And that last year ended up to be around $162,000
and that was about around 48% of sort of the the match if you will. So at one point in time when when the CPC funds started out I think some 20 years ago now we were getting pretty much dollar for-dollar matches and over time uh I've been told anyway it averaged out at
around 75% over those years. It's definitely dropped over the last few years. It's probably closer to the 50% range from what I'm understanding. So all in all, we we raised we brought in let's say 500,000 thereabouts um for CPC
funds in counting a little bit more because they I guess there's a little bit of interest on it as well. So say $550,000 that came in as CPC searchcharge and the state match for that that gets used for um basically
oftentimes a match for other grants. So that allows us to be able to go out for grant money and there's usually a requirement to have a match from the town and that's where that goes. So that has allowed us to bring in for example the the various funds that we're bringing in to do the the bike path the greenway uh there's been some $2 million
of of funding brought in from from Mass Trails over the last few years and largely that has had this match of the CPC uh available to it. Um, if that were reduced, someone was suggesting that it be reduced to a 1% which would have to
be approved by the voters, that would bring it down to um around 113 $114,000 in terms of what would come in from off of our our tax sarge. And that would be
make us eligible for only one round of of matching from the state. that percent would be quite low given our percentage and the best guess at the moment was around a 15 to 16% payout from the state. So that would be maybe
>> 17 $18,000. So all in all that might bring us in about 130 135,000 total if it were a one% um charge. So we we'd be losing you know a fair amount of money from from the state possibility for that match. So
that's that's the best I understand it. So right now that that is what has come in the past year and from the figures I've seen from the CPC coalition website I believe it's around $142 per household
in Southampton on an annual basis. That's how it's kind of spread out. So hope that answers a couple of questions for people that may be listening. Um >> thank you. So, so Chris, uh, Doug and Becky know my thoughts on uh, CPC,
>> but uh, >> you know, it might be something consider politically, excuse me, to, um, propose like a drop to 1% to kind of offset the other tax increases that we're considering.
Um, I think there are probably a lot of people in town that kind of wonder whether that money's going for anything that's useful to them as they see it. So, I I I think it's worth exploring just politically whether to drop that. I know Holio dropped
by half a percent. I think they were the first community to drop, >> but it's 3% but it's 3% every year. So I I personally don't like the fact that three I have got to pay a 3% search charge every year so that we can buy land that no one's ever going to develop
anyway. >> It's it's it's not always buying land. It's it's I know all about it because I >> I know all I've researched it. I I've been on a I've been on a board of a land trust. I know what they do. >> Okay. So, but just to say I mean we
we've used this also very much for those match for grants and that that's what enables us to go out and get other money that we don't have and will never have in town from tax tax revenues to do other projects that people would like to see. So, the bike trail being the prime one that's been ongoing for a number of
years now and hopefully is getting toward toward its end of design work anyway in the coming year. But I mean, I don't know if there's um I don't know the process about trying to trying to reduce it or how much it can be reduced. Um you know, again, I think it's I think
you'd have to weigh the the pros and cons. I mean, you know, you you cut something out. Sure. And again, as I've said, from what I understood, and I could be wrong on this, I I think it's around $140 per household per year. So, I don't think that's extreme when you're getting
other benefits from it, but that's my own personal opinion on that. Madam Chair. >> Um, >> yeah, Stephen. >> Yeah, I just want to amplify that because back to what you were saying about the way Southampton uses the CPA
funds, especially those in the conservation category are almost always um the local match for a much larger grant from state or coalition of other
partners. So um it's approaching 4 to one leverage >> maybe >> on taxpayers dollar when you consider the state match at 3% three rounds as Chris said and then that becomes
10 20% of the local match to a grant that may be six figures. Mhm. >> And so, um, that is so powerful. That's a story that, uh,
we almost dare not tell, but we we need to defend it because leverage is insane and it exists and it could never be replaced. I mean, that's that's the political reality. It could never be replaced. >> You still have
>> I am very mindful of >> the weight of a override. And I would like us at some point to come back to one of Scott's opening slides which looked at the endogenous growth of
expenses and our capped income under two prop two and a half because >> when are we going to have to do the next override? >> Yeah. Okay. We'll get to that in a second. Reggie, just one final point and then I'll turn it back to Scott.
>> No, I I'm good. I mean, it's just uh I was surprised that you mentioned it, so that's the only reason I'm adding anything to it. >> No, that's fine. I I brought it in because I'd gotten a question on it, so I thought I may as well mention it tonight while we've got a public for it. >> I'm always in favor of putting things in
front of the voters. If there's another opportunity to put that in front of the voters, >> maybe we should consider that. That's all I have to say. >> Yeah, that's what Chris was responding to. That is in the ether. So, Reggie, you're not alone at all. That is
something we need to consider. >> Becky has her hand up. >> Becky. Yep. Go ahead. >> Yeah. I have a question and a comment uh just about the CPA funds. So my question is, do I remember that um the town of Southampton is responsible for having a certain percentage of affordable
housing? >> Right. My belief is that we're supposed to be having per the state quota 10% of our of our um of our production house home production plan whatever uh should be affordable classes for affordable housing. Yes.
>> And we're far below that. We're like maybe one 1% maybe I'm not sure. >> Right. We're not required to, but any community that drops below that percentage would then be subject to 40B and that would allow developers to come in and override local zoning laws.
>> Okay. And then my my comment is that even if the CPA funds are reduced from 3% to 1%, there's no guarantee that any of that money ends up on the town side, right? Because it doesn't magically appear in the general fund. it's just a
reduction and then we cross our fingers and hope that maybe people vote for an override with it. Um like there's no guarantee that that's what happens. >> Correct. >> Yeah. That's a psychological argument. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, that it gives relief that
would, you know, motivate people to who would otherwise not support the override, >> right? >> Um I I'm just I'm not sure. >> I don't know if that if that argument actually stands up. I think a lot of the people um who would, you know, be against the override to support core services if they feel they're insulated
from the potential, you know, impact or are, you know, arguably most likely not also aligned with the, you know, the C the CPA funding, but >> right, I'm just not sure that that $80 would make a big difference. >> No, I personally don't think so.
>> So, I think we'll we'll get into further discussion on that. Maybe not tonight. that that wasn't intended to be the the point of tonight's meeting. I don't want to get us totally off track. Um, sorry, Stephen, you had a question back to Scott. You wanted him to take a look at the beginning pages again. I'm sorry.
>> Um, >> Stephen, would you repeat? Yeah, repeat your question. Sorry. >> Yes. Yes. Um the headline is when might we have to do another override subtext the prop 2 and a half limits are
crushing combined with decreasing state and federal aid but uncontrollable expenses witness insurance etc and fuel for next
year uh for our fleets. So, >> you know, there there's mismatch. There's what's called a structural deficit. And what what does that look like over time, >> Scott?
>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, absolutely, it is a structural deficit. It's um you know, we're limited to what we can raise through our property taxes and the other big portion of what we receive from revenues is strictly from the state. and the state hasn't done their part on providing the towns uh enough money to
to do basic services. Um they know that our hands are tied with Proposition 2 and a half. Uh the other the other thing that we have to realize is you know the state's also making it more expensive for towns to do uh you know our business. Uh more regulations uh you
know it's more expensive us for us to build buildings. It's more expensive for us to hire people. um things like um union negotiations, the states making it more difficult for us to to do things. Um I can give a lot of different examples on that side that u the states not only not funding their fair
>> Sorry. >> No, go ahead. Somebody Yeah, just mute yourself. >> The states the state's not, you know, doing their their part and they're making it more difficult for municipalities to operate. >> Yeah. And I don't think there's any any move I haven't heard of anything to to
try and change that and do anything different with the two and a half for up two and a half. Right. So I don't think it's on the is it on the radar screen of any of our legislators? I don't know that that it is or the governor's office. I don't think so. >> I'm aware of anyway. >> The state could just provide more
funding. >> That's what they got to do. Mhm. >> But they're not prioritizing the the cities and towns and the basic services that the data door day-to-day doortodoor services that municipalities provide. And you know, I told this to representative fees yesterday when you stopped by. You know, the state simply
has to do more. They have to prioritize uh municipalities over a lot of their other projects. >> Okay. Yeah, >> Scott, it might it might be helpful to provide um you know maybe big numbers of some of the surrounding towns and you
know that are facing similar fiscal challenges and are also asking for a bribe. I think there's often the perception that that this, you know, is driven by mismanagement on the town's behalf and not really an acknowledgment
of just the these are, you know, these are a lot of these things are beyond our control and you've done, you know, a lot to try to hedge what you can. So, up until this year, the health insurance that that surprise increase last year was at that point out of our control.
the town itself didn't directly have, you know, a say in the overall management of the the Hampshire, you know, trust. Um, and you've done steps to try to stem, you know, and head off the, you know, future large, you know, crushing increases.
um you know when you look at a lot of the other you know increases that it's not because we've added a number of positions right that are are are you know redundant or or or not important or excuse me not really contributing to
core services. Um there's not a lot of fluff in here. Um and it means that you know short of you know supporting core services um the the inverse of that is really important things to people are potentially on you know the chopping
block I if the town can't raise additional revenues >> yeah no thanks >> okay so I think um I'm not sure how much further we want to debate things this evening I think I was kind of wondering whether
people would like to weigh in uh finan select board about you know the amount of the override. I mean the 1.7 sounds sounds a little scary quite honestly. Um but I I honestly we've gone through the figures and I'm not seeing you know
where that can really be trimmed down meaningfully to a a much lesser number. Um, and especially if we try to try at least to do more accommodation with with what Norris was asking for last night. Again, we had put in 8%. So, again, what you
said, Scott, sounded like maybe a 12% in increase. So, we've got a we've got a difference there from what we had put in as a placeholder. You know, I think we've got to look at that and see how far we can get with that. I don't know if we can get to a full restorative, but maybe we can take another step on the path to to get a
little bit further along. I don't know. Um, and we don't really know where where Hampshire Regional is going to end up on Monday. So, um, I guess we'll have a better idea on Monday what we're really facing in terms of the budget asks. But, um, anybody want to just give a thought
in terms of the the amount of the override? I think Scott, remind me, you had done a the DLS calculation on what the, um, what the average amount would be. I'm I'm forgetting it was um, sorry, for the if it was 1.7 or 1.8. 8 million.
No, thank you. You got it handy. Very good. And and again, just make it a little bit bigger. Sorry. So, this is the for anybody who's watching, this is the DLS calculator. You can plug in um the town and put in the amount of a
potential override and see what the impact would be. Okay. So, 1.7 million override would get you. So down down in the middle boxes there, you've got the average single family um uh assessed value right now in
Southampton of $489,000. Um and then the average family tax bill of $6,413. And then the average single family tax bill if we were to do a 1.7 override would be $675
a year for the average um family household, right? Okay, so that's one. And then if it was at 18 for example. Okay, so some of the same basic figures, but that brings it up to about $715 per
per household for the year. So again, divided into four quarterly payments. So that gives us an idea of what that would, you know, what that impact would be. I don't know. I don't know if if with what, you know, we've heard from from Norris last night
and you were saying that that might be another 300,000 on, you know, suppose suppose Hampshire stayed, you know, at their their level that we had hoped for and we tried to restore more of Norris, then this is going to be, you know, maybe closer to two million. Thank you. you're ahead of me.
>> So, you're close at about $800 a year. Close to it. 792. So, close to 800,000. So, that's those are the kinds of things I think we really have to, you know, think about. And I'm I'm willing to take a couple comments from people tonight, but I think it's probably going to be part of our our figure maybe on Tuesday
as we debate things and we have some real numbers from Hampshire Regional by then, too. Um, but anybody from FINCOM or select board want to make a comment in terms of what you think because, you know, I I don't think we know. We we always try to figure out what what's
reasonable. We we understand that we've got, you know, we've got people on fixed incomes. We've got, you know, we've got a wide variety of of people in economic situations in town and trying to find one size that fits all is is really really a challenge. So
>> I I guess I can go and then I'll shut up. But uh >> we recognize that we did have an override get shot down last year. So to in light of the fact that insurance costs were just through the roof of just
incredibly bad management, not at our level, but I think at the state level and whoever was responsible for those plans. Yeah. Um, I think we that might be a little tonedeaf going to the voters
for a very big override and especially an override that restores what was already voted down. I mean, I think in in my mind that's the key. It was already voted down once. We're going to put it back to him again with additional
expenses. I mean, I I could see recommending a override that kind of barely got us gets us ahead, but I I wouldn't support an override over 500,000 personally.
>> That doesn't even begin to restore Norris. >> Well, I have I have I don't think we should restore Norris. >> Okay. So I guess Reggie to that point and I just want to make sure that you know if you look at the the components in the budget and the fact that you know there
there aren't you know uh non-impactful positions that are left to cut. You know what an override of only a half a million dollars would mean and that's basically just absorbing the health insurance increase. That means that you
are cutting fire, police, highway and more of the school and the school is you know in comparison to surrounding communities is is not at the same level of funding. So you're you know that honestly
um I'm trying to think how I could draw an analogy here. Um, you know, to me that's like deciding not to pay your mortgage because you don't want to get a part-time job. >> Uh, and I don't want that to sound tonedeaf. I know that this is, you know,
a, you know, an impact on households. Uh, we're all going to, you know, in the event of a past override, >> um, you know, bear some of that cost. I I would say Chris to your point about fixed income, you know, I believe the town in recent years has put a lot of
steps in place to increase the property tax exemptions, you know, for um for lower income, you know, elderly residents, for veterans, disabled residents. >> There are those abatements. Yeah. So, so, >> so we have we have kind of done what we
can to put people that are in, you know, a worse off fiscal, you know, position, you know, to be less impacted by this. And for the people that can step up to do their core, you know, to support the core services of the town, they're going to bear more of this. Um, I I app I
appreciate everything you're saying. You know, for me personally, it's I I don't want to reward bad management. So, you say, "Oh, we totally blew it on the insurance side, so you guys are just going to have to pay for that. Just suck
it up." And now you're going to have to pay more for other things. So, so we suffer as taxpayers because the people in charge in in Boston primarily can't do their jobs properly and we're going to pay for it and then we're going to
pay more. I have a problem with that. I think it's bad management. >> But but it's not management by the town, right? That's >> I like saying that. It's not by the town. >> I I would argue that's that's that's screaming at the rainclouds, right? Like, you know, it's it's out of it's out of the a lot of this is out of the
town's control. like this is this is >> the town is considering a restorative budget for the school. >> That is definitely within the town's purview. >> We aren't we aren't there yet. I mean, this was the proposal last night. So, these are the things that we'll have to talk about. And so, you know, we got to
wait to see what happens. I guess all I'm saying >> that's not restorative of of, you know, fluffy positions. This is restorative of having, you know, reasonable average class size. It's all debatable how many how many employees should be in the school. I mean I I can't believe that
removing five to nine employees is going to be devastating as people say. I mean it's all it's it's all >> I can tell you if you look at the class sizes right um you know that has a direct impact right you have you have at the first they're less than 20 >> less than 20
>> well they're right around that I think now they they >> I mean I guess I don't want to debate that but all I'm saying I guess is >> if I'm thinking these things other people are too recognize that that you know we've already been asked to vote for it once it got voted down
>> you're asking us for to vote vote again. And in the meantime, you've had this huge blow up in insurance costs. So now people's bills are going to go up by 8% 10%. It's a lot of money. >> I mean, $1,000 a year is a lot of money
to people. >> That's all I'm saying. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Agreed. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and just to note, yes, it did get voted down, but it was voted down very narrowly if I recall. I don't remember the exact vote, but it was pretty narrow. Um, but yeah, I mean it's, you know, there definitely were
positions that that were lost as as Doug illuminated there >> earlier on. So, um, I think we're trying to figure out how to how to balance it out. And, >> you know, maybe and as I said, I don't know if we can try to make it whole, but we've tried to make at least a a few steps toward it
>> with what we had proposed earlier on or what Scott's proposing tonight rather. Um, and so, you know, we've got to figure out where the balance is if we can if we can manage it somehow. But, yeah, go ahead, Doug. Sorry. >> Yeah. I I guess the other point there, Reggie, though, is, you know, even leaving the town, even leaving the town
of elementary school at, you know, level funding year-over-year. Um, there is still a hole that, you know, will drastically impact other core services, right? So, so last year the override was entirely on the on the school. That's
not to say that the town did not incur costs, but the reductions in in filled positions was all, you know, borne by the school. Um, other positions that were were open were not filled, right, in areas that they really needed to be
filled. But, you know, I I think we need to be upfront about the fact that, you know, a failed override will drastically um change the look of this town. Um, you know, there's there's nowhere else in
the budget to go. The the town the town elementary school would take an additional hit, but there's state minimums there and you would be looking at, you know, drastic losses of, you know, >> things that people, you know, look at,
you know, at this town and value. So, you know, it's not my say as to what the cuts would be, but just based on the numbers, you know, it would have to hit >> everything else as well, the library, the fire department, police overtime, you know, you're looking at and at the
end of the day, um, you would be, you know, paying the same amount of property taxes, but in my opinion, you'd be looking at a failing municipality that you're paying them to. >> Yeah. Well, I think I think at a minimum I mean without belaboring it, I I it
would certainly in my mind make um make for delayed response times, make for delayed wait times in terms of services and what people expect. So, you know, wanting to get something from the town's clerk's office where you can just walk in and get it within 10 minutes, you
know, it may take you three weeks if you had to make an appointment. So I mean there's you know and time is you know time is something that's precious to people I think but I think we we are used to certain certain services that we take a lot for granted and we have to just realize that if we don't have them then we're going to have to be willing
to you know bear the brunt of that too and understand what that really means in terms of our own personal responsibility on those kinds of things. up. Anyway, um Ellen, Steven, Becky, anyone um anything
>> any any other um I I mean, and I don't know, Scott, did were you hoping for us to come up with any kind of another override figure for you tonight or we want to just wait until Tuesday when we when we meet again and we hear what um Hampshire Regional will have come up with by then or
>> No, I I think Hampshire Regional will will definitely have an impact. Um, and you know, I think it ultimately goes by, you know, what is the override number that people feel comfortable with and we have to go from that. We kind of have kind of have to reverse it. Um, >> so I mean, it would be great if we could
restore some of the things that are cut. I mean, is 1.8 too much? Is 1.9 too much? Is 2 million too much? Is 1.7 too much? So, um, I mean, that's up to, you know, the thin comb to kind of make that decision.
>> Mhm. Okay. I don't want to buy Poland. >> I have no idea. I have no idea how we would establish that passible number. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. It's it's impossible.
>> It's it's really hard to do. And that's that's part of the the work that the task force has been trying to do. I mean, we had been tossing around different different numbers. Both Doug and I have been on the task force along with a few other people. And you know, we felt that 2 million was too much.
500,000 was way too little. But, you know, find finding that place in the middle where we could, you know, function at a reasonable level with, you know, reasonable expectations is where I guess Scott is is recommending the 1.7ish right now. And and that is not
counting the desired increases by at least one school and most likely both schools um by by next week. So, >> yeah, I think we'll we'll have our work cut out for us >> or the accounts that are yet unknowable. So, >> that too, right? No, you're right. We don't I'm with you. I
>> Yeah, >> I we're getting back higher and higher and I think Doug spoke eloquently about benefits. I mean, several people have. I won't belabor that. >> Um >> I think we have failed to invest
adequately in our town over a number of years. witness the failed overrides. Therefore, we really are playing catchup in the worst possible scenario between economic times
generally and the insurance debacle. So, >> um I take Reggie's point. We don't want to reward bad management, >> but we want to build a strong community. And so I'm
um I underscore Doug. I would go ahead with what we need. 1.8 doesn't doesn't feel undoable to me to build the kind of community that we
envision. And what what if this expense structure that we're looking at right now blows up between Hampshire and insurance and run out. Okay. >> So that's where I'm at. >> Okay. Thanks.
>> What I've heard like Yeah. Go ahead, Becky. Y >> what I've heard is a desire to put the school forward, right? To to give what we can to the schools in the most way. Maybe regions are great, but to give the schools what we can. Um, and what that
means is that town departments will take the hit, right? So, if 1.7 is too much, which I think it might be, um, then the only option if we're putting schools first, schools forward,
is to cut the other town departments, which is your highway, the police, fire, health, whatever it is. Um, and there's just not a lot of room there. >> Yeah. Yeah. There's not a lot of wiggle room, quite honestly. Yeah. So, that would definitely mean, like I said, very
much reduce services and increase weight times for whatever anybody wanted to get done. >> Mhm. Yeah. >> Yeah. There's no there's no magic formula, guys. I mean, you know, as Scott said, some of these numbers are sliding all over the place from the state side. We won't have a clue in
terms of the budgets, you know, the governor's real numbers for a while. the insurance is going to be very very late like a day or so before town meeting. I mean we're going to have to do our best to estimate you know the best we can and be at the same time conservative on our
revenues which I think Scott has been so that we are not you know being you know overly overly estimating our overest overestimating our budget I'm sorry. Um so I think you know we we've got um not an easy task. I mean no doubt about it.
So, all right. Anybody else have any final comments? Spin Commerce Select Board, I think we can maybe wrap it up for this evening, unless you've got anything else and we'll plan on on getting together. So, Scott, I'm sort of hearing we're kind of in that neighborhood, but we're
not all in agreement necessarily, but I think we need to, you know, see what the figures are from from the uh from Hampshire Regional when they come in and then fill in the figures too with Norris's request and just see what that impact looks like for us. And you know at some point in time I'm assuming that
we need to be preparing not only what the override budget will be but we need to prepare what happens when the override if the override not when if the override does not pass. We need to show that reality as well because that will affect not
only the schools but across the board. So it's not um it's not one or the other. It's it's it's really truly we're we're kind of all in this together guys. I mean, we have to look at this as the town, I think, as an entity and not not just pick and choose, you know, one line
item over another. Um, we'll never >> never manage things that way, I think. So, >> well, the naysayer the naysayer never makes it >> to the table or the committee or the task force, but um Scott really did
reach out and include so many people. Um, and that would include all the town departments. uh it was very, you know, bottoms up. Everybody's on the same page about the challenges and the solutions
are just damn few. So, um I think that uh we've got a good core of engaged and informed people. Thank you. Look at what Doug does on the fly to show us
>> your increase in in employment. So, um, you know, we have we have to deal with this and kudos for having the amount of engagement or outreach that um that you clearly have had. Thank you. >> Well, and I and I think there there will
be more and maybe I don't know, Scott, maybe you could just mention that a little bit. I know yesterday uh Scott I I I have to applaud Scott for for willing being willing to sort of put himself out there uh and and do these uh Facebook lives. So, we tried one
yesterday which was really, if you didn't see it, um was talking about the revenue buckets um for the town. So, where do we get all the money that comes into the town? Where do we get our money from to make our budget in the first place? Uh and so Scott did about a 15 minute or so Facebook video uh Facebook
live video on that. Um unfortunately, we've learned something that when you do a selfie photograph on on such a thing, all the print is is mirror image. Hint hint. So, we'll we'll get that one figured out for the next one. But, um the um this actual budget that we were
talking about tonight, not counting the um the new money, the new request that Norris put in for us as of this morning, uh is on the town website under um under government up the heading up the top
under government budget FY27. So, that budget is there in in great detail. Every workbook from all the all the different departments are there. So anybody can go through that workbook and take a look at that. And then the actual video that I'm referring to was on uh the town's official uh Facebook page. Uh
and so that is there if you haven't had a chance to see that. And so that's the town of Southampton, Massachusetts Facebook page, which is different from the other pages that you may be familiar with on Facebook. But Scott, you want to talk a little bit about a couple more things about you? I know you've got plans to do a couple more um
presentations like that. And then we were talking about some other kind of public input kinds of ideas too. >> Yep. So, uh the exciting part would probably be our uh town accident and um insuranceances and uh our IT cost.
>> Sure. >> Things like that at this point. Um but I I do once we get a little bit you know week or two further into you know what the the budget is um you know I do plan on having department heads like you know the fire chief police chief to come in maybe talk a little bit more specific
have a superintendent veto come in and talk about the education part as well so it's not just always me uh talking. Mhm. Okay. >> Chris, can I make one point of clarification because I think some of our statements may be misleading and and giving the impression that the ask from
the north from the school committee, the local school committee has changed. Th this is, you know, what they voted for last night is is the one and only. And you know, although we've had members engaged in the budget task force, um you
know, this is the first budget that Norris has put forward and it and I think they're, you know, I don't want to speak for the school committee, but I think this is their position. Um that's what they voted on as a committee and and you know, so it's not as though it was changed by the committee. This is
this is the ask that they brought forward. >> Oh, yeah. No, exactly. Exactly. Right. Yeah. No. And what we had done was to put in that placeholder at 8%. So their ask came in um originally I think they were in that neighborhood is from what we had seen in terms of the the budget
prior to the meeting just prior to that meeting uh last night we had seen the budget that the school chair at least was proposing I believe uh at that point in time uh if not I guess not the school committee per se because they hadn't seen it perhaps as a whole. Um, so it was presented um at the
school committee meeting last night and that's where that was debated and um made the motion to make that a restorative budget instead of what had been put forth. Right. Is that clearer? >> Yeah, I think so. >> Yeah, I've been unfortunately I was I
was uh double booked so I've been listening all day to that. >> Me too. >> Yeah, >> it was a really engaged and and really lively meeting. >> Good. Okay. Super. Well, good. And uh so I think >> meeting >> yeah we'll probably uh end up here this
evening. Um so um unless FinCom unless you're going to do minutes. Would you like to make a motion to adjurnn or do you have minutes to hang in for? No. All right. So how about you guys want to make a motion to adjurnn? >> I will make a motion to adjurnn for the
fin second. >> All in favor? >> I >> All right. Good. Thanks. Thanks for coming guys and for select >> move to adjourn >> second that. >> All right. All those in favor
>> I >> All right. I will call ourselves adjourned and thanks everybody else who might have attended tonight. Appreciate you coming in and listening >> and uh those that may watch it later on. So thanks. >> This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable
subscribers.