Dublin Budget Committee
Minutes - Public Hearing
February 14, 2006
Present: Nancy Campbell, Charles Champagne, Judy Knapp, Rich Scheinblum – Chairman, Tracey McTague, Ken Woods and Michael Walker – Selectmen’s Representative
Also Present: See attached list
The Public Hearing on the 2006 Budget was called to order at 7:30 pm by Chairman, Richard Scheinblum. Mr. Scheinblum read the public notice that appeared in The Peterborough Transcript on January 26, 2006. Budget Committee members introduced themselves and the budget package was handed out.
Mr. Scheinblum reviewed the main items driving increases in the 2006 budget – salary and wage increases of 3-5% (reflecting merit); increased staffing levels and overtime; 15% increase for health insurance and increases in all petroleum based items. The Budget Committee is recommending that the Selectmen offer employees an HMO option for their health insurance, in addition to the POS plan, that would save both the town and the employee money. The HMO could be funded at 95% by the town and the POS at the current 90%.
Mr. Scheinblum reviewed the expense budget by department, offering explanations where there were differences with the Selectmen, and answering questions. The following are departments where there are differences and/or questions in line items:
1. Planning Board – $22,252 increase from 2005. This is because of new lines in both expense and revenue for consultants and legal fees. The Committee differs with the Selectmen on the Education & Training line (4191.1-290), specifically GIS mapping ($320) and town’s capabilities to handle GIS mapping; Master Plan (4191.1-394) - $5,450 additional expense was added at the last minute for professional help; and Postage (4191.1-925) - this was based on actual expenses, plus the Committee felt the town’s Website and The Advocate could be used to inform the citizens.
2. Police Department – Office supplies (4210.1-610) - $1,500, 5% less than the Selectmen because the Committee used the 5% recommended cut from the department head. Gasoline (4210.1-635) - $7,500 based on actual consumption in 2005; Selectmen at $9,100.
3. Fire Department – Training (4220.1-291) - $2,000 and Medical & Physical Exams (4220.2-292) - $2,000- These lines are both 5% less than the Selectmen because the Committee used the 5% recommended cut from the department head. These cuts seemed reasonable because this department has been under spent since 2003.
4. Building Inspection (4240.1-110) – The difference is based on the number of hours per week in this budget. The Committee based their recommendation on 23 new houses in 2006, 10 hours per house per week, 33 other permits in 2006, 5 hours per permit per week, for a total of 400 hours per year. An additional 2 hours per week for 50 weeks was added, making a grand total of 500 hours or 10 hours per week. The Selectmen feel there will be no control over the land use code without a Building Inspector and more time is needed based on 2005 history. There are fees collected to offset the expense of the Building Inspector. A Building Code will be voted on in 2006.
5. Principal Long Term Notes and Bonds (4711.1-980) – This includes a payment for the 10 wheel truck.
Mr. Scheinblum reviewed the revenue budget by department, offering explanations of increases and changes. The following are departments where there are changes in line items:
1. Planning Board (3401.104) – Three separate revenue lines from postage, consultants and legal fees. Consultant and legal fees can be charged to developers.
2. Sale of Town Property (3401.102) - $29,000 for a timber harvest on town property.
3. Transfer from Special Revenue (3912.101) - $60,000 from the recycling fund for equipment purchases.
4. Transfer from Capital Reserve (3915.101) – Purchase of 10 wheel truck-the first year payment.
5. Transfer from Trust and Agency Funds (3916.101) - $6,000 from the Remediation Fund towards the exhaust system at the Highway garage.
6. Proceeds from Long Term Notes and Bonds (3934) - $167,000 for the 10 wheel truck.
Mr. Scheinblum reviewed the following warrant articles:
1. Bedrock Mapping – The Budget Committee doesn’t recommend this article ($24,000) because of unknown costs in the future, the town’s liability in telling someone where to put a well or septic system, problems with community wells, should Dublin be the first town to do this, concerns about the level of expertise in town to implement this and the impact on taxes and affordable housing.
2. Water Testing – The Budget Committee doesn’t recommend this article ($2,000) because of the additional cost of $120 to the homeowner. The Town should know before we fund this article if the required 100 people will sign up to participate in the study.
Members of the audience felt both these warrant articles would be beneficial to the town in planning for growth. The Budget Committee and the Planning Board will be meeting to see if their differences can be worked out before Town Meeting.
3. 10 Wheel Highway Truck – The Budget Committee recommends this article ($167,000). The details are still being worked out to provide for the most flexibility in financing. The Committee believes a bond would be the best alternative for the Town, with the each year’s payment coming from the Capital Reserve Fund set up for Highway Equipment ($42,898). This article will require a 2/3rds vote to pass. There should be some savings in the 2007 budget because of using less contract services and fewer hauling trips for sand, etc.
4. Landfill Equipment – The Budget Committee recommends this article ($60,000) for a new forklift, an additional bailer and a compactor owned by the Town. The current forklift is too small and 20 years old, we rent a compactor for $3,000 per year and we need another bailer to keep up with the materials coming into the landfill. An additional $5,000 was added to this warrant article for the cost of the electrical installation to run the compactor.
5. Capital Reserve Funds – The Budget Committee recommends this article ($88,000). The funding is the same as the 2005 budget, except for a $5,000 increase in Building Maintenance.
6. Expendable Trust Funds – The Budget Committee recommends this article ($12,000). The funding is the same as the 2005 budget.
7. Revaluation Expendable Trust Fund – The Budget Committee recommends this article ($12,000). This money would be taken from the unreserved fund balance in 2006. This fund is being set up to offset the expenses of a complete town wide revaluation in 2009.
Mr. Scheinblum announced that the Budget Committee 2006 net budget would total $1,143,243, a 1.15% increase over the 2005 budget. The Selectmen’s 2006 net budget would total $1,186,406, a 4.97% increase over the 2005 budget.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy E. Campbell
Co-Secretary
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