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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Comm 09/30/2025Budget Subcommittee Meeting Minutes September 30, 2025 Present: Sara Walsh, Jack Cooney, Jenn Walsh, Lynn Cavicchi, and Walter W'Ir�FaQrgvyall in Meeting Room 3 A/B. Also present were Mr. Josh Reinke, Acting Town Man'ger'Dr. rchelle c Superintendent; and Mr. Matthew Violette, Director of Finance and Operatiof@5 i,l0�! 18 A 10: 53 Not Present: Michael Feck School Committee Members Present: Steve Schoonveld, Lynn Cavicchi and JeHh'walshlw�c6br6gat. Not Present: Diane Ready and Jenifer Sellon Finance Committee Members Present: Sara Walsh, Scott Feely, Ryan Martin and Jack Cooney were present. Greta Thurston was virtual via GoToWebinar. Nor Present: Michael Flaherty and Melinda Tarsi-Goldfien Select Board Members Present: Maureen R. Doherty and Walter Wilk were present. Kostas Loukos and Brendan Roche were present virtually via GoToWebinar. Not Present: Michael Feck was not present. 1. Open Meeting Sara Walsh called the Budget Subcommittee Meeting to order at 6:0313M. Sara Walsh stated that the Finance Committee meeting was also called to order at 6:03PM. The Select Board meeting was called to order at 6:04PM by Walter Wilk. The School Committee meeting was called to order at 6:05PM by Jenn Walsh. 2. Review of Budget Subcommittee Charge and Role of Tri Board Process Sara Walsh read the charge of the Budget Subcommittee and the process of the Tri-Board meetings. 3. FY 27 Budget Development Calendar and Proposed Meeting Schedule Sara Walsh then stated that the next Budget Subcommittee is November 10' and the next Tri-Board meeting will be on December 181h. She stated that at the December meeting there will be a larger discussion as the budget will be further along including some information from the School Committee than this meeting. 4. High Level Review of Initial FY 27 Budget Forecast Sara Walsh asked Josh Reinke to provide an update. Josh Reinke stated that the initial shortfall was $5.9M but it is now at $5.3M. He stated at the Budget Subcommittee meeting they had the shortfall at $5.1M however new growth was certified at a lower amount than expected. Maureen R. Doherty asked what the certified amount was and Josh Reinke responded it was estimated at $700,000 and it came in at $550,000. Sara Walsh then asked where the departments are in their budget process and Josh Reinke stated that they have submitted their budgets and Barry LaCasse has prepared everything for the next person who takes his position. Sara Walsh then asked the Schools where they were in the process. Matthew Violette responded that they will be sending the budget materials this week to principals and department heads and then throughout the month of October they will be meeting with those individuals to review the information and build the budgets. He stated that the final submission is due the end of October and a final review will be in the beginning of November. Sara Walsh asked when the budget would be presented to the School Committee and Matthew Violette responded that they were planning for the December 2nd meeting. Lynn Cavicchi responded they have a backup date of December 161h in case the new administration needs more time. She also stated that she expects that the first budget will be a level services budget and a balanced budget would come later. 5. Directions to the Town and School Administrators for FY 27 Budget Development Sara Walsh stated that the Budget Subcommittee would like to see two budgets like last year. The first would be a level services budget that likely requires an override and balanced budget that would have cuts. She stated they do not need the specific people that would be cut but an understanding of services that would be cut or impacted. Walter Wilk then stated that the biggest cost driver in the budget again this year is healthcare with a predicted 15-18 percent increase over last year. He stated that the Select Board has hired a consultant to review our health care plans and benchmark them again other towns. He also stated that they could change the percentage that the town covers verses employees for new hires after a certain date. He stated that initially that may not save that much money but over time it would. Steve Schoonveld asked if the consultant was going to look at other insurance carriers and other purchasing groups and Walter Wilk responded yes. Steve Schoonveld then stated that there are five union contracts that expire and what is being assumed for those increases and if they are going to start negotiations soon. Maureen R. Doherty stated that the unions have to reach out asking to negotiate and Josh Reinke confirmed and stated that they are actively negotiating with AFSME but no other unions have reached out. Ryan Martin asked the Superintendent about how new employees potentially coming on board would pay significantly more for health insurance while making significantly less than others in the workforce. Dr. Michelle McKeon responded that the insurance needs to be looked at holistically. She also noted that sometimes new teachers out of college still qualify to be on their parent's insurance plans or they chose the higher deductible plans because they are not accessing a lot of medical needs. Steve Schoonveld noted that what Ryan Martin said brings up the issue of equity amongst all employees and that should be considered. Sara Walsh asked in the interest of time for more discussion on this to happen at a Select Board meeting once the healthcare analysis is received from the consultant. Maureen R. Doherty provided examples of the state and other towns and what the health contribution percentages were in each. She stated that she experienced percentage changes during her employment and employees understand that it can change. 6. Public Comment There were none. 7. Board/Committee Comment Jack Cooney asked what the place holder dollar amount for employee union contracts was being used. Josh Reinke responded that he would need to find that and get back to Jack Cooney. Lynn Cavicchi asked what the percentage increase that they should try to be at. Sara Walsh responded that it has not been discussed yet and later it would have to be decided how much the school cuts and how much the town cuts would be. Maureen R. Doherty asked if the town needs to have both the balanced and override budget on January 111 and Sara Walsh responded she stated it would just be the override budget at that date. Steve Schoonveld then stated that the public info sessions last year were a huge burden on the Budget Subcommittee and asked if there could be a committee for these and if that could include residents. Sara Walsh responded that there will be listening sessions for people to ask their questions before we have anything to tell them during the month of November. 8. Items Not Anticipated by the Chair 48 Hours prior to the meeting There were no items. 9. Adjourn School Committee Adjourn: To adjourn the School Committee Meeting at the Tri-Board Meeting of September 30 at 6:3313M. (Schoonveld/Cavicchi) Passes 3:0 Select Board Adjourn: To adjourn the Select Board Meeting of September 30, 2025 at 6:33PM. (Doherty/Loukos) Roll Call Vote: Roche —Yes K. Lou kos—Yes Doherty — Yes Wilk — Yes Passes 4:0 Finance Committee Adjourn: To adjourn the Finance Committee Meeting of September 30, 2025 at 6:34PM. (Cooney/Martin) G. Lou kos—Yes Cooney — Yes Feely — Yes Martin — Yes S. Walsh —Yes Passes 5:0 Motion: To adjourn the Budget Subcommittee Meeting of September 30, 2025 at 6:34PM. (Walsh/Cooney) Passes 5:0 �,u2 Signature Minutes prepared by Carrie Champagne Date