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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Comm 02/12/2025Budget Subcommittee Meeting Minutes -,. , u , February 12, 2025 � Present: Sara Walsh, Chair, Jack Cooney, Walter Wilk, Lynn Cavicchi, Steve Sc1ffi6dWdl4J1d,MagrE" Doherty were present at Town Hall Meeting Room 2 A/B. Also Present: Kevin Dumas, Teresa Murphy, Ed Donoghue 1. Open Meeting Ms. Walsh called the Budget Subcommittee to order at 6:34pm. 2. Discussion and Consideration to Approve the Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2024 and December 11, 2024 Motion: To approve the meeting minutes of November 18, 2024 and December 11, 2024. (Wilk/Schoonveld) Passes 5:0 3. Update on FY 26 Budget Projection and Scenarios Mr. Dumas provided the Committee with a balanced budget proposal. He stated that this represents all revenue and expenses that are known at this time. Mr. Dumas noted that the regular Health Insurance increase rate is 14.9%for active employees and 19%for retirees, the dental insurance will be a 3% increase for FY 26. He continued and stated that there is still $323,000 in reductions to meet a balanced budget, but that gap should be closed next week. Mr. Wilk asked if the Southeast Regional School District Assessment number was accurate, and Mr, Dumas confirmed that it was the actual number. Mr. Dumas passed out a packet of an override budget which includes one additional police officer and one additional firefighter and he then asked if the proposed override budget should include the solid waste program, Mr. Wilk asked how much the solid waste fee is and Mr. Dumas responded that it is $890,000. The schools are still working to reduce their budget by one million. Mr. Dumas stated that he will be asking the Select Board to add an override budget option to the warrant and that it will be their decision to decide which override budget will go on the warrant, the one with solid waste or the one without. 4. Discussion of FY 26 Budget Development Timeline a. Upcoming dates related to revenue/expense projections Mr. Dumas said that Waste Management is not willing to do a long-term contract but agreed to a 36- month extension due to market conditions at this time, with an increase of 2.5 % each year. Mr. Wilk asked what next year's budget will look like generally and in terms of an override. Mr. Schoonveld stated that our revenue is growing around 3% and most contracts are increasing well beyond 2.5%, indicating that a normal increase to salaries, the benefits kill us afterwards. Mrs. Walsh asked if they could discuss the schedule in more depth, such as when a Tri-Board Meeting will happen, to then gauge when information sessions would work. Mr. Schoonveld stated that February 25th would work best for the School Committee at 6:30pm. Mrs. Walsh asked if the explanations from the Town and Schools' reductions could be prepared for a Tri- Board meeting on that date, Mrs. Murphy asked how explicit the explanation ought to be and Mrs. Walsh stated that it should be explicit enough for people to gauge the impact of the reductions listed. Mr. Wilk commented that the role of the committee is to make everything clear so that when people vote on the override they can't say they didn't know about the impact. The committee agreed that the Tri- Board meeting would be best if it were held on February 25`h at 6:30pm. b. Proposed Budget Subcommittee, Tri Board, and Town Meeting Dates Mr. Dumas said that they are looking at April 30'h for Town Meeting. Mr. Dumas continued that once the information session materials are finalized, they have to be exactly the same at each session. Mr. Wilk commented that it might be helpful to update the Frequently Asked Questions list as questions are asked during the sessions. Mr. Dumas proposed a Saturday meeting, a day time meeting at the Council on Aging, and a few night sessions. Mr. Walsh stated that the Town's social media platforms should be used to inform people and Mr. Wilk added that the social media is the best option to inform the public. Mrs. Doherty asked if there could also be a special edition in the newsletter. Mr. Schoonveld stated that it is unfortunate we don't have a newspaper anymore. Mr. Dumas asked how long the media campaign should last and Mr. Wilk answered roughly two weeks straight before the first information session. Mr. Wilk stated that he is worried that people will arrive at Town Meeting without prior knowledge and it is a big task to inform people of everything in two hours. Mrs. Cavicchi listed a few dates and Mr. Dumas said that March 101h might be a good week to start the info sessions. Mr. Schoonveld said that we should provide a video or recording for people to watch. Mr. Wilk stated that the high -density meetings such as at the Council on Aging would be a good idea and to connect with the parent groups through the schools. Mr. Schoonveld added that maybe a better location would hopefully improve the number of people who show up. Mr. Dumas stated that it is very important in presenting this that the Chairs of the Select Board, School Committee, and the Finance Committee attend so that the public can ask them questions. Mrs. Walsh shared that this adds more of a need for the schedule to be solidified. S. Communication and Outreach Planning Mr. Dumas provided the Committee with a draft list of Frequently Asked Questions that could be used to inform the people. The questions include what is an override, why is the Town seeking an override, and what happens if the override fails. Mr. Wilk commented that in the beginning of the document it should be highlighted that an override hasn't been passed in Mansfield in 25 years. Mr. Cooney asked if there have been cuts that have already been made to reach this goal. Mr. Dumas said that we need to be more specific with that. Mr. Schoonveld noted that in the introduction of the document it stated that the Town of Mansfield is seeking an override, but it should be the Select Board as they are the ones voting to propose an override. Mrs. Doherty stated that the introduction should remain the Town of Mansfield as opposed to the Select Board as suggested by Mr. Schoonveld because it is one town one budget, Mr. Schoonveld disagreed and said that the Town of Mansfield refers to 25,000 residents who live in the town and not the governing entities, and Mrs. Doherty responded that it is actually referring to the government of the town. Mrs. Doherty stated that the assessor's office's phone number should be included in question twelve which directs people to contact the Assessor's office for more information on exemptions or abatements for seniors or low-income residents. Mrs. Doherty added that after question number nine there should be a general graphic that provides an example of what the property tax increases will look like for different residents. Mr. Dumas stated that there might also be a link to a calculator for people to use to see the impact of the override. Mrs. Walsh said that the graphs, and graphics provided to the Committee by Mr. Violette should also be available to people to provide additional Information. Mrs. Cavicchi added that there should also be a question about an annual audit. Mr. Wilk suggested that this could be in the spending control measures section. Mrs. Cavicchi suggested that there should be more specificity in terms of the language used in the questions. Mrs. Walsh stated that we should explain that the override would need to pass at both Town Meeting and by ballot vote, Mrs. Doherty asked what happens if it fails at Town Meeting and passes at the ballot. Mr. Dumas answered that there would need to another Town Meeting after the ballot. Mr. Schoonveld stated that this handout is easy to read and understand but that it should also highlight the fact that there are budget scenarios in which require an underside and not solely overrides. Mrs. Walsh asked if we should wait for the Tri- Board meeting to post or immediately after the February 19th Select Board meeting. Mrs. Cavicchi stated that the questions should be dated on the website so people can see it has been updated. Mrs. Walsh stated that the website should be approached at our discretion and Mr. Schoonveld added that as long as it is just presenting information and does not lean towards advocacy, Mrs. Doherty asked if this list of questions will be posted on the School's website. Mrs. Murphy stated that it may be best to hyperlink the Town's page from the Schools' site, because with all of the updates it would be almost impossible to keep everything uniform across the different domains. Mrs. Doherty asked if the vote for the Select Board was for the warrant and the ballot and Mr. Dumas responded that it would just be for the warrant. Mr. Schoonveld suggested that there be weekly info session forums because it increases the chances of an educated population. Mrs. Walsh said they should be targeting the week of April 14th for the hearing. Mrs. Walsh stated that we should get a calendar of public forums. 6. Public Comment Mr. Scott Feely was recognized by Mrs. Walsh and said that we don't want such level of detail that people are distracted by the micro items as opposed to the overall issue at hand. Mrs. Walsh recognized Mrs. Jenifer Sellon, who stated that it might be helpful to simplify the language for people to better understand. 7. Any Items Not Known within 48 Hours There were no items, 8. Adjourn Motion: To adjourn the Budget Subcommittee meeting of February 12, 2025 at 7:52 PM. (Schoonveld/ Wilk) Passes 5:0 2Z,(2 Sig a& re Minutes prepared by Michelle Henderson lO I Date