Finance Committee: April 3, 2023

Transcript captured from MHTV’s Vimeo auto-captioning. No speaker labels; proper names and dollar figures occasionally misheard. Click any timecode to jump to that moment in the source video.

0:00 Where we will vote review and vote on the remaining budgets that we did not cover last week. We have a lot of budgets to cover tonight. So I’m going to try to keep things moving along but knowing that we were only able to do two nights this year as opposed to three. It could be we could be in for a little bit of time here tonight. So with that we’re not gonna vote prior meeting minutes tonight from last week. We’re just gonna wait till next week because I didn’t get a chance to review those in depth yet. But let’s I guess call to order to start if I didn’t say that already and let’s move right into the retirement. Pick things off.

0:42 Get over to Pat for the chair liaison. Sure. I’ll share my screen.

0:52 I guess before we start I just wanted to make one clarifying points that. Historically the retirement budget we would vote as its own separate budget just mechanically the way that we’ve always done it this year. There’s a general fund other departments that the contributory retirement that Pat is about to speak about with you all for the portion that goes to the town meaning not the Enterprise funds is within that so we we do want to cover it in depth in this meeting right now, but we’re gonna hold off on the vote until we vote the entire general fund other department later on. fair enough Mr. Chairman members of the finance committee Robert Peck chairman of the Retirement Board and Linda Gifford our executive director as

1:38 you know, we we work on a funding schedule and every two years. We have an Actuarial study performed and we revise the funding schedule to make sure that we are on track to be Fully funded by the time the legislature establishes a deadline which right now is like 19 2039. I believe it’s been changed from time to time. They keep kicking it down. The road. Marblehead is actually better in terms of its status of funded liability then many of the cities and towns in Massachusetts, but it’s a struggle we were all going very well until the market crashed in

2:26 2008 and that just destroyed everything and consequently. It’s been a buildback over time, but we are presenting to the finance committee and to the town the appropriation which is part of our regular funding schedule a four million. 4,493,049 that’s the town’s portion. There are the others we have the Housing Authority sewer water light and harbor through their Enterprise funding mechanisms. And as the chair has indicated, I guess you’re going to wait until you get to that difficult point of knowing exactly what numbers you’re recommending for town meeting. I’d like to think that ours is simple. It’s it’s this number it’s not going to change up or down for this

3:13 year. And so we would ask you to vote that and if you have any questions fire away

3:26 You Melinda? Okay good. So yeah, this is actually quite straightforward. We have Michael Janko and myself were the liaison subcommittee and every year the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Public Employees Retirement. Administration commission actually assesses the town a given amount with as Mr. Peck has just mentioned it reflects periodic increased to achieve what they’re what’s considered level are fully funded by 2039 and and the breakdown that Mr. Peck described is exactly the

4:12 portion and as as Alec had mentioned we’ve tried to make a in terms of the Town budget that we’re putting together. We’ve tried to at the with the help of Our Town Administrator and finance director have consolidated What has historically been other? General government indirect in yeah indirect costs that are part of the standard article 30 budget in this year. And so the all the information that

4:57 That Mr. Peck described his exactly correct and not and the other. Board, excuse me, the other departments in authorities as we get to them. Are reflected they have their own line for contributory retirement. And I I had sent everybody the notes ahead of time. I hope you’ve had a chance to to do that. I just had one question. I was intending to come to your meeting. You had a meeting before this today, but you’re busy. Well, yeah, but still there there was a question that had come up about potential additional assessment this year with regard to article 33 did that is that been resolved been resolved? It’s

5:43 been backed out. It’s not that was just put in there as a placeholders. I understand. It’s and our finance director. Who’s the next official member of our board confirmed at our meeting that it is. It’s no longer an issue for discussion that will all be taken into account when we have a new Actuarial study done in inner about January of 2024 and and we’ll be revising our funding schedule. Okay, so you basically gonna withdraw the article 33 from no, we’re not withdrawing article 3 what I’m saying is that the long-term implications of that because everything compounds on itself here to year. We’ll be taking into consideration when the new Act Burial study is done. The only implication of

6:30 article 33 for this year is going to be about 17 thousand dollars, which isn’t going to have to come out we have the funds for that. So it’s not going to come out of any. Anything you’re you’re worrying about okay standard tax levy is not it’s not change. You have no effect on what you’re acting confirm that the number in here. I confirm separately that this does not include any adjustment for if 33 passes, right? And even if 33 material adjustment it, you know, all it is.

7:02 It if there is a cost of living adjustment, there’s nothing automatic about it. Although we typically do Grant a cost of living and we take that into account in doing the analysis but it’s not it’s not a mandate that that a cost of living goes up, but we’re changing the base and we’ll certainly talk about that next week at your public hearing. Okay? Yes for sure. And that’s that’s fine. I just didn’t know if there was something that needed to be considered in tonight’s number. No, it’ll have no bearing on this four million for 93049 number. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. Yeah. So like I said when we would normally vote this number, we’re gonna hold off until we get to this general fund other accounts. It’s love

7:47 it’s okay understood with a different. Yeah always tell Santa and the contributions for the other. Yeah, they’ll all be highlighted as we still really water sewer and harbor. Okay, good. All right. Okay questions. LED we could be brief. Yeah. Thank you. Appreciate it. And first, you know being a former fincon Memphis income member, I wish you well. Thank you.

8:16 Amy

8:26 but just updated my file for some late changes, I guess happened today or yes yesterday or even today and today just committee members. Okay. The numbers might be slightly different.

8:41 I do have our budgets to if anybody wants another copy of the form that we put out but it agrees with this. Great, okay. So I’m on on again and there are liaison subcommittee was myself as chair Tim shot Meyer and Eric Knight and we met with the Commissioners Water and Sewer Commissioners and Amy on March 7th to review what was at the time the the budgets as of that time as usual. We Water and Sewer budgets are have a significant contribution based on the Massachusetts Water Resources Association in South Essex

9:29 sewage District assessments and we did not have those at the time but that’s very typical and and so we reviewed the rest of the budgets and so I’m I if you have anything you wanted to For introductory remarks either either Carl or Amy, either one. Other than that I presented. Review notes to the yeah, wait for the full community. Maybe look at sewer first or if you have interesting comments. I didn’t think so. This is Carl Siegel the chairman of the Water and Sewer Commission. I’m Amy McCue the superintendent for the Water and Sewer Commission. The Water and Sewer Commission looks at this budget. A lot extensively and then they look

10:15 at it first and we look at it again before the finance committee. Then we look at it with the liaison group. Now we look at it with you and then watered into it goes one more step forward. Once this is approved at town meeting. We then have a rate study in June where we set our rates and this budget is all up for review again, so it doesn’t change in June because it’s been set back in the town meeting, but we do have to make our rates cover. What was said to tell meeting so it does get reviewed. Another time just so people anyone who misses one of these exciting nights can always pick it up again and shoot you. Sure, so we can stop with sewer the changes that you’re going to see where the sesd has got their final numbers in so that one will not be changing after this. We had

11:02 a review of our general government and had an adjustment there and also our insurance we got some I believe what our final numbers for insurance. So and I found Alicia found one error in my one of my employees. So that was adjusted also, so and I got rid of pennies. So you’ll see grounded. Yes. So the salaries have increased by approximately 3% and those are just Cost of Living adjustments all the so with water and sewer. Those are contractual requirements 2% for our non-union administrative people. And then we always have people that

11:49 we are trying to push with licenses. So if they get licenses we do carry for the next step up so they can move forward and we can have a crew that’s more ready for an emergency. Okay. can I just yeah, that’s what I was gonna do. I just gonna mention that water and sewer departments are both Enterprise funds and as Amy reference just now there they do not roll up into the overall tax levy for the town the article 30 number is people as you’ll hear it referred to their basically a self-sustaining or departments and their and as

12:35 determined by the rate structure in the fees that are assessed to households for water and sewer usage on it on an based on the individual households usage. So that’s an important distinction for water and sewer departments that they that they’re budgets what we review them to make sure that you know, things look reasonable because the rate payers are taxpayers too. So And another in another way and you you reimburse the town payment lieu of taxes for indirect costs, correct? Right. So that’s what that General government number is, right. So both Water and Sewer have a piece of the retirement budget that was just referred to

13:22 that’s included in their basic budget that rolls into their rate study. Okay any questions on sewer? So we’ll just roll through water. If I go down to the bottom of the salaries a little bit. Higher salary increase on the water side as a percentage at least of last year’s budget amount.

13:52 I tried the same numbers 1015.

13:58 Okay, so same changes were made with water. The general government was refined. The insurance numbers should be the hard Insurance numbers now mwa is not a final budget yet. It is what they think is our draft assessment. and the one other thing that you’re going to see in this budget is under mwra will be discussing it tomorrow at our meeting but

14:29 Since I’m not sure what our construction article is going to be this year and I need to have construction continue. I am going to be looking at mwra to access some of more the loan money that we’ve already had approved to tell meeting. So that’s what that $200,000 increases actually an additional loan 0% interest loan for 10 years that you pay back so that could change at the time of town meeting too. Okay, so that is a number that’s up.

15:01 The Department’s name excellent use of the option for zero percent loans over the last couple years. So it’s can’t be can’t beat the correct. Yeah, right. That’s a good Dutch opportunity exactly. And has avoided us from doing pay as you go. So where we got Tedesco Street down in one year and Humphrey Street done in the next year in the old format that we’re probably would have taken six years to do. We probably would have been there three summers in a row in Tedesco and then three summers in a row, so it did allow us to get a big Chunk of work done in a very busy area.

15:40 So do you I’m sorry any other questions?

15:45 Like yeah, I just had one question. I was thinking about after our liaison meeting. After you send these new employees to get their CDL training. and different licensed trainings and whatnot that I assume that your department pays for correct. Is there any tie in like whether service Academy or something like that where they get that and then? They’re required to stay with you for three years or pay back for the licensing. No, so we haven’t you know, we’d have to work that out in the union contracts. We have not gone that way basically you don’t get moved up unless you have the licensing. So the heavy equipment operator the CDL, which is a benefit for water and sewer and also for snow plowing, so We will work with you that year to get your license and then

16:33 it takes you know, I have to carry it in a budget going forward. So if you get it in December and I didn’t expect you to get it I didn’t carry it most likely in that budget. So you’re gonna have to wait for the budget season. So it does even out and then the Mass state licenses for water distribution and Sewer collection those we do pay for you to get your license, but you have to have it for a full year before you get the stipend. So there is a small incentive there and we really needed an incentive because these departments have to have licenses water department has to have licensed distribution operators. So I was thinking more flight once they get their license. Yeah. Well the CDL is a little concerning right now because of how expensive it is and you know

17:20 right now people were looking at our You know for offering to them we are hoping to stay for a long time.

17:31 Yeah, everybody has questions for water or sewer.

17:35 Yeah, take the motion because I don’t have the final number. Sure.

17:43 Let’s start with sewer.

17:48 We don’t have I know it doesn’t work, you know. You have to start with the one. Oh next time bring it in take it out. Yeah, so I like to make a motion to approve the sewer fiscal year 24 requested budget amount of five million 224,655

18:11 To around the room Tim approved Pat in favor. Alec favor cam. Yes, Molly. Yes Mike. Yes, Eric in favor, Tara. Yes, Michael. Yes. Great Alex. We didn’t Bowen Assessor. Right. We didn’t go on the Assessor’s budget. They were up here before we didn’t do that. Yeah you I think yeah, that’s fine. And then for water I’d like to make a motion to approve the fiscal year 24 requested budget of five million 818,713

18:55 Tim affirmative at in favor Alec. Yes cams Molly Mike. Yes, Eric in favor, Tara. Yes, Michael. Yes. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you.

19:15 Okay. So next item on the agenda is the select board budgets. which is a long list of sub budgets underneath

19:29 but you know, right.

19:53 Here’s the motion. Let me introduce it. And yeah, okay. You ready for me check? Okay. First thing I need to do before we kind of. Turn it over to you folks is so on Friday the select board voted all the budgets under their purview. I call it the punch list. There was some tweaks since then some numbers that need to be adjusted. So I’m gonna ask is the select voice since the hearing in session to do a quick vote to make adjustments. To some of the line items that the bottom line bottom line stays the same. We’re just gonna add in two places and subtracting another and then one vote

20:38 and then we have small tweak in the Harbor’s Enterprise fund. I’ll do that a separate vote so Mr. Chairman, so we are in session. We need to be here. Yeah, maybe you

20:55 know someone

21:00 so it’s just you. Okay, for those of you online is in session simultaneously. think And we do as Thatcher mentioned. We have a motion entertain a motion to increase the select Boards out to increase the select forward salaries by 37 the stock board Department salaries by 37,994 and expenses by 500 and to decrease public Buildings Department salaries by 7,000 7,026 and to reduce Group insurance by a 161,000 416

21:47 and that’s part of the same motion. degrees Yeah, great. That’s it. That’s it. Okay, perfect. All right. outstanding so I’m going to put it to a vote. second all in favor We have we have Alexa. That’s right Alexa. Yeah, I’m here outstanding. Okay, we’ll do a roll call vote if you wouldn’t mind doing that. Yeah. animator Darkness

22:19 an singer in favor in favor Okay, great. Okay, the second motion I’d like to entertain is the harbor Enterprise fund to increase expenses. By 126 due to an increase in the general government assessment from 14,081 to 14,207.

22:46 in favor

22:54 in favor Thank you. Thank you and just for everybody listening and I was able to connect with Alicia just about an hour before this meeting to get these updated numbers that we can now review in full. So Thatcher I have. My own summary on screen and what I can do is kind of walk through Department by Department that roll up into the extent. We think we need to drill down into the detail. I’m happy to do so for anybody. That’s that’s listening in here. So we’ll start with the moderator expense $100 hasn’t changed in a long long time. I don’t believe

23:39 probably not much to talk about on the moderator.

23:45 Um, so the next one I have in my list is the select board apartment.

23:56 Did you want to go through the select board? Yeah, let me I’ll highlight sort of the significant items for your

24:05 So this in the salary section, it’s the same positions Town Administrator. Administrative or executive secretary what title let’s see Jen. It was a senior Clark and Becky Carin who is the planner? Make up the staff and in the select boys office. So one one issue of note is Becky is planning to retire. Unfortunately for us it within the fiscal year. So one of the adjustments we that vote was to calculate the vacation buyout we had to add that in vacation bio, but the other significant item is there are two I guess

24:51 new positions that we’ve been talking about several folks spend time about as what I Define in my case in particular of creating a human resources direct deposition as you may know there’s also a warrant article to create a human resources department. So in the warrant article, should that pass at town meeting? It would create a human resources department. There are two folks currently in the finance department payroll and benefits would slide over and be members of the the human resource department. And within the budget here is is

25:36 includes the salary for a Human Resources Director position. And so if both both cases are past we would have an HR department. We would be able to go out at the beginning of the fiscal year and and search and higher full-up HR certified compliant person to do a number of things one just your general HR functions to to consolidate all of the HR work records management under, you know, one person specifically trained for that take the load off of the department heads from from having to do that. They would be that HR Direct it would work with the department heads and be a resource for the department heads and

26:24 would carry a lot of that HR load. Um, the other significant thing is is we have this fiscal year two Union contracts that are expiring that need to be negotiated. But even more significantly the the Public Employee committee agreement the peck as I call it section 19 of those call it this is a committee it was passed Tom meaning some years ago. It’s an employee committee that negotiates our health plans. and benefits that is a You know 12 to 15 million dollar line item that we’re going to be negotiating for having a HR person. HR person at the table with us is crucial

27:12 that HR person is going to be managing all those benefit plans and health plans and such. So that’s the reason for why I think it’s critical that that we do this. So the next thing is how we paying for this we’re adding some positions. I estimate a salary in here at 110,000. It’s a I talked to some of my HR professionals that I know and other communities such to get up. What’s a what’s a fair number for a salary and there’s also benefit costs that would be incurred as well. So what we’re doing is We’re paying for it by taking by reducing the health the group health insurance line item.

27:57 I’m reducing it by 150,000. To offset and that’s probably more than generous more than I need to offset the salaries and benefits of hiring a new person. I obviously chose the health insurance the group Insurance line item because the person being hired will be managing that line item. And so their first task is to you know recoup or save more than enough than what the cost is. So I’ve tied the two positions together. I think it’s critical that we do it. in addition we’re looking to pull the trigger soon on new software a new general ledger software, but it’s not only just general ledger software. It’s cash management.

28:45 It’s collections. It’s payroll. It’s one of my missing. Is one of the module well the HR and payroll, I guess components of it. By utilizing the software. It has a particular HR component to it that we will digitize and put all of our HR records and such basically digital online and manage it that much better. So I’m tying all these things together the I guess the bottom line is that the impact on the bottom line of what I’m doing is net zero at least all else be an equal. The other position is sustainability coordinator.

29:30 Which will be focused on one a the green Marblehead committee has been working on a net zero plan. It’s it’s a follow-on to the the other environmental plans that the towns put in place. So having a sustainability coordinator will want be the individual that’s specifically trained in knowledgeable in those areas of energy reduction carbon footprint print reduction. All those all those initiatives and will be the person test to implement the the plans and programs that that there’s been a lot of work to put in place.

30:18 One of the benefits of the Town direct benefits of having to sustainability coordinator is to generate Energy savings make us more energy efficient, which will save money in addition. There is a lot of state and federal money that’s being pumped in for green initiatives. So this individuals going to be tasked with bringing in more money to to help pay for all of these initiatives and programs. So it’s both bring in more money save money. So financially we think highly confident. It’ll be a net when the way I’m paying for that position is throughout the town’s budgets and all the

31:05 various departments are energy line items. As well as there’s the energy reserve line items. And so what I’ve done is I’ve reduced by a hundred and 5,000. I projected the cost of our energy costs and projecting a 30% increase. The schools are projecting 35. I went a little more conserved 30% cost increase for our energy. What I’ve done is I reduce that. Estimate down by a hundred and five thousand to cover the you know, estimated salary of 85 plus plus benefits. So again paying for the position by reducing elsewhere in the budget to be at least a net zero cost on the bottom line. So

31:52 those are the significant changes and in this area pretty much everything else. Steady As She Goes I yeah is pretty much close to level funding with some trimming here and there.

32:09 So with respect to the Human Resources Director, it’s your expectation that somebody would come in with that title to a town. Like Marblehead would have significant experience negotiating these type of PEC contracts. Yes, and the intent is to hire somebody. That has an experience and yeah, yeah, I think you know with such a big year coming up and that being such a large volatile line item in our budget. That’s something that we definitely want to make sure we have the best people that are the most prepared that have set up that table with that on their resume. So I would hope that the the job description would have experience with that negotiation right in it. Anybody else have questions at the moment?

32:55 And and just to clarify both when we will get to the kind of other general fund to review later, but both the level service and reduced budget line items for insurance and energy have been reduced. So it’s not one of these with and without with an override where it’s you know, it gets reduced if if the health insurance would would come down assuming that this person was not hired because in this presentation these two positions are funded in both the level and a reduced budget. Just want to clarify that and in my liaison committee review. and then yeah, it looks like the rest of the

33:41 adjustments are for Thatcher’s adjusted salary that has already happened in the contract and then Becky retire. Yeah Okay. Does anybody have questions about the select board budget?

33:57 Yes, can you just repeat you said that the new positions were covered? So that was not going to be part of? So it’s it’s included in both when we get there. We’ll be in both the level and the reduced the reduction to those line items. So it’s not when we get to those line items. You’ll see better. If that makes sense.

34:19 finance committee

34:28 We’ve it’s been reallocated to the finance department.

34:33 Just

34:35 one adjustment was for the

34:40 I don’t know when my copies it’s it’s paperwork and things like that. So we looked at the historic and yeah, I was part of the requests. It’s come down 2500 dollars from last year. So just based on history. Yeah, because we have it right and The intent is the longer term is to not necessarily have a budget for the finance Community but be supported through the finance department. So if there are any travel expenses for whatever reason any kind of explain is just be from the finance department. yeah, so when we get to the finance department’s budget, you’ll see a line item for the the clerk position which we haven’t had for a few years. Although Kyle’s done a great job the last few weeks. So, thank you Kyle.

35:27 Reserve fund is just our general Reserve fund that we have made to transfers this year already. It’s stays at 144,000 which is been consistent with I feel like the prior five years or so and we’ve never used it all I don’t believe so. All right finance department. So finance department.

35:57 so the change there is what one is. Department head. We you know, the current salaries based on contract that we put in place for the new Finance director. I think as I said just like what me I I I can’t attest to the prior year numbers again. There was you know turnover and personnel and changes. So it seems to be some gyrations and in numbers to cover and plug holes. So Don’t ask me about how they derived at the current the former numbers. I’m focused on the other current year. So it’s just strictly based on the contract that’s in place. What we’ve also changed we did a little bit of title changing where you have

36:43 the department head. That’s the finance director and then we’re division head. So your town accountant your town Treasurer and your payroll administrator or each the heads of a division, which is a subgroup of the department. So we’re trying to as we go through the budget try to make things clearer simpler to understand it’s a work in progress is much more to be done. But as as we take find the opportunity will we make those adjustments so

37:18 pretty straightforward on the salaries on the expenses

37:24 again, just some trimming of line items the other significant note again as I presented to the select board

37:35 What we’re trying to do in the the budget presentation or in the in the line items and finance department is example is separate out those line items that are relevant to the running of a finance department salaries and expenses of having a finest Department. What we pulled out are the big cost centers like Debt Service and other things that are not really the department. They’re a separate cost center and separated those out the finance department manages those line items, but we don’t want them to be rolled up as a department. You know cost. So we’re trying to again make it simpler and clear budget presentation. Now when I when

38:21 we’ve done that in the the spreadsheet that we’re using. When we’ve moved to line items to different places, we’ve grabbed the history along with it so that we’re not creating a disjointed changes from if you want to look at from year to year. If you look at any financial documents from past years, you’ll probably see the bottom line drastically different but for everything that we put together, we we brought the prior year numbers along with the current year numbers. We move things to different parts of the budget that makes sense to everybody.

38:59 Yeah, so there’s a large line item for the information technology for Clear gov and yeah, Springbrook, so maybe just explain that a little bit Yeah. So our big part of our initiative is the upgrade and our financial information systems that has been a huge challenge. I know for me that the reason I’m still working from spreadsheets is you know, the the general legislator we have it’s doing the job from an accountant’s perspective. It’s tracking every in and every out. What the software does not do well it probably was great nearly 90s, but today it’s not so hot for the rest of us to pull

39:44 out information to manage our own areas to have clarity as to where we are to you know, Year date budget all those things. It doesn’t do well and so over the years. It seems that a lot of department heads have just they do their first year export put it in Excel and work from that and so the effort is to get all our finances into a what I call an Enterprise Financial. System that has all the components like I mentioned the collections cash management all those things but the system is designed to talk to each other and share information. So there’s a cost to to doing these upgrades. Most of these are software services that that the information is cloud-based.

40:33 We don’t have to maintain the software. We are just a user with our user logins having access to the information in the cloud. It takes a lot of pressure off our Network our service and such. So you’ll see it cost increase as we migrate. From from the different tools that we’re using to more of an enterprise-based tool. Yeah, I know and speaking with Alicia her and her team are very excited about these as well as Michelle from the school Finance team. So it seems like we’re moving in the right directions with respect to cleaning up our finance processes and presentation.

41:12 Yeah, Eric. Mr. Ministrator as a result of bringing this new system into place would you anticipate that it would reduce some of the administrative burden on the various departments on the finance department and increased transparency for the taxpayers of Marblehead? Oh, yeah. So so one of the modules clear gov which you’re all familiar with because I asked for the request that’s a specifically a budget building software. So rather than relying on spreadsheets that you know all over the place, it’s it’s designed for municipalities building budgets. But one of the components to it is the transparency module where we can push the information out through our web

41:58 page and any any Resident anybody can go in and look at the information and it’s live data, you know as we update it updates, so in addition, you know to the point just building these spreadsheets and buildings presentation and then having to do punch list changes and all that is because we’re you know, We’re running off Excel. You’ll have error problem formula errors, you get a fix and and things have changed on the Fly the click of as one of the examples.

42:38 Again, it’s designed that as we build a budget we can run scenarios different. Different components but it will also produce the budget book for us. Now. We are still building up the data in the clear gov as we’re doing the budget so our our goal for this year and and Alicia coming up board is a big help because she has prior experience working with clear up is is to build the budget books using clear golf. Next year as we’ve we’re fully implemented on the clear gov the department heads will then be able to put in their requests and and do all the Budget Building within the clear system. And so we’ll be able to build the budget from scratch. I think that the key takeaway in

43:26 just my experience of doing this I spent so much time. Formatting and building formulas in less time looking at the content and in the goal is with clear govern other software systems the department heads all of us will spend 98% of our time. Looking at the Quality and the content of the data rather than trying to manage. The system that contains the data and that’ll be a big change as we go into next year. Thank you. Any other questions on the finance line?

44:04 Sure.

44:06 patient I just want to make sure I understood correctly the line item that says division head is actually multiple positions. Three multiple people. Yes. Yes. Yeah. and Again, as we move forward on the on the budget, we’re going to try to make that more clear. There’s only so much we could clean up this year. So we’re but we recognize the same issue as We’re learning the budget as we were building it and had the same questions. Okay? Town Council and a reduced service situation is level-funded. There’s a small and I just wanted to clarify this top side summary for those following Along online kind of shows. Fiscal year 23 budget adverse reduced Services

44:54 the change so that’s reduced Services roles in the article 30 and then off to the side. It’s also showing a level service request and what would potentially go into the override that will be discussing next week more in depth. So it looks like there’s you know level-funded. However, there’s 10,000 in an overhead scenario due to probably the negotiations and whatnot. Yeah, there’s gonna be the negotiating, you know, relying on legal counsel for a whole lot of number of things we We have limited control over that expense in the sense that the work comes to us. We get into you know, lawsuit or grievances are things that dictate how much we have to spend so or an inflation hedge for those costs

45:41 Parking Clerk, pretty small line item there seems to be a small reduction with level versus reduced.

45:53 Information technology looks like there’s a little bit of room there. So only an increase to the extent that an override comes through.

46:02 I don’t have any questions on the Parking Clerk. planning board again, very small line item level-funded public buildings there were some changes. to this pretty late, but Pretty level service requests not a large increase. It doesn’t look like

46:25 0.12% over last year police. So this is one of our larger sub-departments that roll up into this group of budgets. So police and again trying to get to a reduced budget a balanced budget as I was calling it level the police department. As the chief will say it’s you know, three point something million in salaries and 200,000 and expenses. It’s it’s people and Where the cuts that line in the level reduced changes is eliminating there were two or three. I forget the number how many vacant?

47:11 We reduced officers. There were two that were yeah two so they were two positions that were that are currently yes. I currently vacant. So what we’ve done is is reduce the funding for that and then there for every position there’s equipment. There’s training there’s overtime. There’s there’s the other expenses are associated with each individual. So those are all reduced and that’s the brunt of the reductions in the police department to get to the balanced budget number. And I recall in the liaison meeting that that department consists of approximately 32 at the moment that fair. So for two to come out of that as a fairly substantial decrease when it comes to analytics percentage-wise,

47:58 it does look like the overall budget in a reduced Services actually coming down from what was approved last year and an override budget or level service would be a 4% increase which I think is probably more typical for the police department three to four percent.

48:19 Temp the factors of the chief do any of these numbers involve.

48:26 purchasing a body cameras those there are no principles. you want to answer the the Chiefs gives the chief answer.

48:41 Good evening. And thank you. So body warrant cameras are generally being funded by grants. So we would be seeking an application for a grant to get it going. There’s a process to that negotiated in the last unit contract a while ago that the union was agreeable. So we have the place holder ready to go. It’s really about the administration and the upkeep of data the administration of producing the videos themselves that has really stalled the the process and that has become burdensome and I’ll just give you an example of that. We have one administrative staff and we cover records the cover HR we cover all of these other things and this is quite a big administrative Duty that I have to fit in dedicate the

49:29 videos on top of things easy. Totally. It’s it’s almost a person Okay. Thank you.

49:39 It’s like to highlight, you know in our conversation. I think we shared in the notes probably not as detailed, but it seems like the police department here is is pretty. Pretty level for a long long time. We’re probably one of the lowest on the North Shore with respect to employees in the department per population. Is that the statue provided? It is in so I say this in that the citizens should be confident that the that we’re providing good service. We’re not at levels that don’t produce service that allow us to respond to calls do investigative work have an SRO. All right. Those are some of the main ones that we do we we can do that per capita or about 1.6 and if we’re in comparable to other Essex County cities and towns

50:26 We are one of the lowest of novelists per capita, right? So there are there are things that affect that right how busy you are in the like but yes, we are lean. Yep our numbers. And I just wanted to clarify one one number. So the reduced Services budget is a one percent decrease over last year and then the level Services as a 3.1% increase. over last year

50:57 Oh, yeah, you’re right. You’re at the 4% the percentage of override cut. Yes. Sorry about that. The 4% is the percentage of cuts divided by the level service requests. That’s right.

51:13 Okay. I don’t know if we have any other questions for the police.

51:20 Thank you. Another one of the larger departments that roll up into this group of budgets is the fire.

51:32 So quick highlights and the chief clubs in cases any particular questions two things going on. Financially two different directions one fire department also stepped up with significant cuts of dollars. Again. The approach was by not funding three things three vacant positions. A firefighter and then again the associated overtime training equipment costs to go with it to reduce it. however on the flip side

52:13 The calculations for overtime in last year’s budget. The numbers didn’t add up to what they should have been there was some kind of error.

52:24 Last year, so we had to do some interview or transfers to cover. So we fixed that. So there was a they were cuts on one side, but we had to make sure that we were funding the overtime at the proper calculated amount in that budget. So ultimately, you know salaries the cuts are a total 216,000 and the button. Yeah and all the cuts were in that salaries line item. So it’s 216,000. We reduction that if would be restored to fund those positions should an override pass. How many?

53:11 people in the department employees

53:15 40 42. So again, we’re talking about three. Cut of three positions out of 42 that’s pretty significant.

53:30 Reason 42nd person so I’ll fair enough. Yeah. So again, it’s it’s similar to the police in terms of the the override amount or the cut amount is about 4% of the request of a level service how to run our fire department. So again in a very challenging Financial year with our fiscal cliff being hit the fire department has has stepped up to do what they can but let’s you know, we’ll see what where things play out. Anybody have any questions about the fire? I’m just a question Patrick and maybe this is for the chief. I know there are metrics about what how many firemen you need for a certain number of I don’t know if it’s units or population. How does this cut affect?

54:17 Where we should be relative to whatever your accreditation. expectations are I’m sure it’s below the numbers but chief.

54:28 Yeah compared to standards and certification. I’ve been doing this for a while. I’ve done it both ways. I’ve had full Staffing and I’ve run with overtime. I chose to keep you overtime intact. What the overtime does give me flexibility because we run full Staffing is 10 firefighter per shift we can run down to nine. With the overtime. I’m still gonna run down to that minimum staff and and be able to change to keep Franklin Street open it from happens. So are you I mean, are you are you below whatever benchmarks we’re supposed to have for a fire department in the town. I mean you have in terms of Staffing relative to the size of Marblehead. Oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean I’m gonna be

55:15 holding off on those three positions. So yes. So that would keep you at three positions would keep you at level you should be.

55:27 But we’re not gonna suffer because again, we will keep that Staffing for shift where it should be.

55:34 So you’ll keep it through overtime. That’s correct. So that’s it in public. Safety how much you’re saving? I guess. I’m right. I mean how much we saving by there is a savings because I was a higher those three positions. Those are just bodies for almost a year because it’s almost a year wait for the Academy. So they they can work but they only work of EMF. They cannot work a structural firefighting. So they sit down you still have to hire back the overtime for those lack of positions.

56:02 So it’s a it’s a calculation that it’s a balance because the body’s At straight time but they have benefits or you bring people you’re already paying for hmm at time and a half and it basically there’s a range you don’t want to be too low. It drives your overtime way too high. You know. What have more than enough bodies because then you’re carrying the the Sally’s and the benefit costs along with it. So it’s it’s situational. It’s a balance and as the chief say he’s been doing that Balancing Act for a while. So managing it to the to the right numbers.

56:43 Thanks. Thank you. Thanks. Chief. Any other questions on fire before move building inspector inspection?

56:58 I know this was one where we had some kind of late shifts. Yeah, it’s just trying to You know we missed the body in the department. The salary is just trying to get the numbers.

57:11 calculated for the amount of

57:16 kind of for all the personnel and

57:20 getting straight because he has full-time. Inspectors he has some part-time folks that come in. So it was just getting the math right was the reason for the adjustment. Yeah, and I believe we discussed

57:34 Historically the department head may have used some consultants in the past and it’s something that you know. Could potentially lead to some some good revenues and whatnot. However in there is a cut here to not fund that kind of budget for that. Yeah, well, there’s right this department brings in over a million dollars in revenue on a yearly basis. their revenue generator and they’re fully tasked as far as being mean, you know being out in the street out into the The presidential and commercial buildings doing inspections enforcing in you know zoning enforcement Building Code Enforcement. They’ve

58:20 got plenty of work probably could use more help than what they have. The other challenge I’ve talked about with this department. They are both.

58:35 inspectional Services I use that title from title using other communities where they’re function is enforcing building codes and zoning laws out on the streets. We also use them for the buildings. maintenance our facilities which most places would be a separate Department separate body so so our inspectors are Qualified trades people they’re helping to maintain the buildings and and John Albright director is facilities manager as well as Building Commissioner in my sense. That’s two separate related, but two separate departments being staffed by the same people. We’re not going to try to fix that this year, but I just call it as a different type of structural deficit

59:22 in that we get folks basically holding down multiple jobs.

59:29 And and so the point here coming back is the workload is tremendous on both parts of trying to keep up so having and again, having the funds to be able to bring in helping we need help to make sure that we’re meeting all the requirements of the inspections and getting the those tasks done. Yeah, so Although it may not have been a funded position. I think it might have been bucketized there last year, but it feels to me like there’s Manpower being cut here in a no-over ad scenario. Yeah to a department that probably needs it. So again another you know, when I look at, you know, the positions

1:00:14 being cut tonight another one that kind of equates to one to an extent.

1:00:22 Does anybody have any questions for the building inspection?

1:00:27 All right. I think we have a few smaller ones here. So weights and measures level funded 250 dollars soon. No questions. animal inspector 2400

1:00:40 engineering has small increases just salary contractual obligations Public Works.

1:00:51 Probably talked a little bit about Public Works. so Public Works is actually consists of Highway Department tree department and drains. So this is part of the effort of consolidating those functions under Amy accused for doing a great job of pulling together building a a team. So again, if you were to look at other financial documents from the past, they were broken out. We’ve we’ve rolled them in together brought the history with it. I’ll let Amy explain any of that or answer any questions. There are any on some of the the Staffing changes? Basically, what would be missing in a reduced Services as a heavy equipment operator?

1:01:37 It was formally a what was the level it’s a downgraded? Yeah. Yeah, so goes from a leader position to yeah.

1:01:55 But other than that, it’s it’s bringing those departments together. I think the win there is in the productivity.

1:02:04 You know that doesn’t show on the on the on the financial sheets. It shows it’ll show as more more production out on the streets.

1:02:17 And so Amy’s the department head for this department now he hasn’t this year. So. from a benefits perspective saving some money there not enough override type scenario, but right and then so just to clarify that the heavy equipment operator line. That is a position that is a position that if you go right past that would be filled. Yeah, if it doesn’t it remains vacant. Okay.

1:02:47 Yeah, other than that. Compared to fiscal year 23 the reduced budget is fairly level-funded with I think the hot top is another area where we had a small with and without override difference. any questions on Public Works snow removal maybe just clarified why it needs to increase. So so movable that’s traditionally be a fun a hundred thousand here Marblehead. That’s a line item that that cities and towns are legally allowed to overspend. For obvious reasons and then if you overspend you either have to transfer funds by before the end of the fiscal year or you’re allowed to carry the deficit roll it over to the the next year right now.

1:03:34 We’re carrying about 200,000. Roll over of snow and ice deficit you are legally authorized to overspend so long as you do not cut the appropriation from prior year. And we were announcing going through the the numbers for building the budget. Last year, there was some overtime payment of overtime payment to employee they get charged to that line item which brought it to 102,510 inappropriations. So couldn’t go back to the hundred thousand that would be a cut and I like round numbers. So I just moved it up to $105,000. in the longer term I would rather have the snow and ice budget get closer

1:04:20 to some actual average so that we don’t have a deficit. to carry over but that’s a an issue will deal with it another budget cycle.

1:04:34 Council on Aging

1:04:39 so I think Yeah, Lisa’s here. If there’s any particular question this one I said the other day. This is a challenging budget because they run so many programs that also have grant funding and other sources of funding. Um, so it’s a real challenge China trying to track one of the things we’re doing. That’s that’s pushing up the numbers here. I’ve been on the bottom bottom line. There are programs that they run. that hopefully has never guaranteed tea Year from year, but typically get covered by grants, but the grants don’t come in at the beginning of the year. It’s not a hundred percent certainty. So what we want to do is to maintain continuity

1:05:26 of the programs is to put them in the budget to have them have them as part of the budget so that they can move forward the programs and then Lisa and her folks will apply for the grants and any grants that they receive will offset those costs, but it it just Provides her more certainty in the planning and programs and not being concerned about a program suddenly not getting the funding from grant money and having to shift funds around. Let’s fund the programs up front and then reduce our costs through any grants that we receive.

1:06:12 Okay any questions on console on Aging?

1:06:17 Veterans Services fairly small increase year over year I think it’s just contractual contract. Yeah. Well, it’s not a contract. It’s non-union, but it’s a All the non-unions I’ve put in at 2% which is equal to what all the unions are getting also. Memorial and Veterans days, I think you said That’s what they requested. Yeah for this. abandoned Flags And then general fund other this is the item we’ve talked about twice tonight. I think we kicked off with retirement. The retirement line is highlighted earlier and a new budget in terms of how we vote but not new expense lines. It’s just

1:07:03 taking line items out of other budgets and putting it into this general fund other as it’s kind of a clear picture as to some of our most volatile and largest costs.

1:07:15 So anything that’s considered a town wide expense. So not having Associated to a particular Department. There are particular departments that manage these. But it’s a Tom white expense. So with respect to the level to reduce change, I guess I’ll just go the three big ones. I see are Medicare health insurance.

1:07:42 And energy Reserve. I know we touched on them a bit. So the Medicare is driven by Dollar number employees times the rate that Alicia has in her head, and I don’t so 1.45. Thank you per employee. So that’s just a straight math calculation.

1:08:06 And so when when we’re talking about a difference between a level service budget and a reduced budget, obviously over the last few meetings here including tonight. We’ve we’ve seen some reductions going on on a with and without scenario. So it’s safe to say that part of the way. This was looked at obviously line items that can vary but conservative estimates were made that obviously in a non-over ad situation. There’d be less people to potentially take on some of these benefit lines. Yeah, and also point out that Medicare in the insurances. We we are carrying the cost for both the town and the schools. So they’re both covered on the town side. Yeah, so all employees and to me and that’s where I’m going with this is the health

1:08:54 insurance line. We’re talking 257,000, right? And as last week, I think the school’s positions that would potentially go and be going into the health insurance plans have come down to the tune of salaries of north of 1 million dollars. And then tonight. I think if we add them all up. It’s somewhere in the six to seven hundred thousand dollar range. So to me as a finance Committee Member, this is a pretty conservative estimate as to a reduction to a very volatile line item, right because if I take 1.7 1.8 million total I would think that costs would be somewhere between 20 to 30 percent. I know it depends on the number of people within there but just on average and that’s that’s closer to maybe 10 to 15%

1:09:41 So that’s how I’m comfortable with this after reviewing after the liaison meeting. But again as thatchers mentioned many times and we’ve talked about for years. I think it’s pretty good Financial practice to stay conservative in this even with the override scenario given its volatility and given that this year coming up as a is a crucial year in the peck agreements and negotiations. Anybody have questions or thoughts on that as those are kind of my independent thoughts.

1:10:18 Okay, and then the health Reserve I’m sorry the energy Reserve. Yes, you mentioned and this is what I was saying earlier Michael is that Thatcher has reduced the level. Remember those two new positions are increased on the level service side as well. So Thatcher has reduced the level service request for that as well. But then we also expect there to be additional savings is what I’ve Been Told. That fair. Yeah, so the idea is Sustainability coordinator job is to manage our energy costs. as well as implementing other programs But ultimately that would be managing that that line item. As well as the energy line items that’s embedded in the various departments.

1:11:03 And then the last item here. So our stabilization fund which for back-to-back years has been funded at 250. It was created to fiscal years ago. In an override scenario would be funded Good Financial practice in a non-over ad scenario would not. Can you just kind of speak to the you know decision that was made to come up with that? Yeah, so it’s it’s just Trying to tighten up the bottom line. And so there are two line items here the kind of have a similar relationship. There’s the opeb trust. Which has been funded at $250,000. That’s a that’s an obligation of of. Other public employee benefits, right? So

1:11:50 so that’s an obligation with a schedule for a payments in which we need to pay. So I maintain that in both scenarios of 250,000 in the reduced budget and in the level Services budget the stabilization fund.

1:12:09 A little bit differently. That’s that’s building up the reserves in a reduced budget. I put that off to to just cut the bottom line by 250,000 and an override it would to continue. You said the best practice of continually adding to us stabilization fund to to get it up to Target levels that we’ll talk about more going into next year. Yeah. So more of a general concept here is that You with all the various departments on the town side are tasked with coming up with reduced budgets that keep services. As great as possible knowing that

1:12:54 there needs to be cuts. And this was part of that analysis to say we’re we have this opportunity to You know in a non-over ad scenario fund the stabilization accountant and and and you’ve taken that opportunity to not reduce Services elsewhere to be able to do. So. Yeah. We said a friend in this whole process that wherever we go in the cuts. The goal is to minimize the impact on our services. It might be counterintuitive of trying to justify a reason for an override but it’s to me it’s about credibility in that the numbers we’re putting together are, you know real numbers that we need to get the job done. So even with a reduced budget, it’s it’s the decision made were to make

1:13:41 sure that we can deliver the all the critical services that we’re expected to deliver. And so things like stabilization funds are the ones that we grab.

1:13:56 as part of that decision-making process Eric

1:14:01 how much is currently in the stabilization fund 500,000 so in a reduced budget? For the next year 500,000, but if the override is passed that number would increase to 750 750. Thank you. Yes, which is not nothing. Yeah, no. I’m sorry the energy reserved. Can you remind us what what that funds? so

1:14:31 the way the way this has been structured so the different departments that are responsible for facilities have line items in there budgets for heating electricity oil basically all the utilities the approach has been taken to cap those numbers within the Departments and then have a reserve fund so that when they fully expand. their line item Then they go and they hit the these energy Reserve funds and and as I’ve discussed with a select board, I think we’re going to take a different approach next year probably still have you’ll still want to have a reserve fund. But but the objective is to as accurately

1:15:17 as possible to calculate the energy costs within the Departments. I mean part of the goals. Of having a budget and finances and tracking is to to really understand. What’s the true cost for providing? I’ll put on DPW what does it really cost to have a DPW in this time? And that should include all the costs of heating and and power to the to their buildings. But I also have an expectation that by doing that. The department has need to manage those costs. And in part of managing those costs it may be that they have to put forth energy saving programs, you know improvements to the buildings. Those are the things that we should be doing to manage

1:16:03 our energy costs rather than just having that external pot of money that we hit when when we run out within the department. So it’s just a different philosophy but it the goal is to have to be able to identify the true cost of each of the functions but also to put upon the department heads to actually manage those costs actively and having a sustainability coordinator will make that more successful. That’s probably a challenging number to meet though, isn’t it? 160,000 reduction. I mean if it’s utility costs in one year, it’s your you may not meet that you don’t sustainability. And then I assume that it has to get paid in any case. Yeah other reserves would have to pay that. Yeah, even with or without doing that.

1:16:49 Offset for the position, you know, if these costs if things really go up and cost we just have to grab from other parts of the budget to to backfill.

1:17:02 so I’ve totaled up the select board unless anybody has any other questions on the other General the select board departments here before we vote that though. We’re gonna vote it separately. But I know that Harbors technically roll up. We’re gonna vote them separate because it’s an Enterprise, but maybe we want to cover Harbor quickly.

1:17:25 I don’t know if Mark is here. You want it? Yeah.

1:17:37 Mark what are you good?

1:17:44 So Harbors as you know is an Enterprise funded Department. We are going to try to maintain a level funded budget. numbers you see in the increases in salaries and in our department head system department head and Senior Clerk just so you understand as assistant Department had a true people. This is two positions. It’s a deputy and a facilities manager. That’s that’s why that rolls in two different.

1:18:17 Positions and then the other increase coming down to our operational part of things. Is the health insurance that was a big number for us to increase? So everything else that we put in there was was level funded for last year. So if you go to the bottom line in our expense our operations We’ll run around that. 26,000

1:18:42 yeah, and so like water and sewer Like Pat and Amy went through the the harbor funds funded by receipts. Sexually essentially has the same thing with the pilot program where it reimburses the town for its benefits paid for on its behalf. So it’s an Enterprise fun. It doesn’t impact the tax rate per se. They have questions on Harbor. Okay. Thanks Mark. Next one. Alright, so I know you know that was a long kind of segments, but I you know, there’s a lot of departments and we wanted to in such a crucial year to take our time with that one. So What I’m gonna do, I think historically Pat is make a motion to approve.

1:19:29 And then do I have to do every every number that rolls up into it, right? Typically. Yeah. We’re always done that department by Department. Okay. So what I’ll do is I’m gonna make one motion and I’m gonna go through each department saying the number and then I’m gonna do the total and then we’re gonna go around the table so doesn’t have to be a separate right? Yeah, just I would take a while so definitely identified by the number. Yeah, right. So I like to make emotion to approve the select board departments fiscal year 24 reduced service request for the moderator of a hundred dollars. For the select Board of 808,939. For the finance committee.

1:20:15 3,210 the reserve fund 144,000 for the finance department, 1,733,059 Town Council 112,000 Parking Clerk 12,650 planning board 1,675 public buildings 247,81 police 4,722,556 fire $5,198,241 building inspection 607,675

1:21:02 weights and measures $250 animal inspector 2400 dollars engineering 204,330 Public Works. 1,817,047 snow removal 105,000 Council on Aging 389,613 Veterans Services 123,919 dollars Memorial and Veterans days 7,550 and general fund other 22 million 64,230 for a grand total of 38 million 306,247

1:21:51 second emotion temp Hi Pat, in favor Alec. Yes. Yeah, Molly. Yes Mike. Yes, Eric. Yes, Tara Michael. Yes. Thank you Thatcher. And thank you. Everybody else that participated very helpful.

1:22:12 health and waste

1:22:20 I’m sorry, we need to do a vote on the Harbor you can you can sit there. Sorry. Tim

1:22:28 it’s actually good. We got to do a quick float on the Harbor. Oh, sorry, I forgot.

1:22:37 So quick float on the Harbor. I forgot that we need the vote that’s separately this year. So the harbor entered Enterprise fund. like to make a motion to approve the fiscal year 24 request of 1 million 84,512 Tim I I guess cam yes Molly. Yes Mike. Yes, Eric. Yes, Tara. Yes, Michael. Yes. Sorry about that. Good evening. How’s it going? Very well, Andrew Patty director Public Health. I see everybody this evening, too.

1:23:16 Hold up the budget. Do you want to do health or waste first health health? Okay. Great. So very straightforward. They’ll Department budget is pretty small. Obviously, we have contractual obligations for employees and regular increases for other non. And then you employees as far as the health department expenditures. We have this is where we actually have seen some Cuts some very minor Cuts but the biggest one that is gonna be coming is through the mental health Counseling Center. So we are reducing that budget budget generally is $60,000. We’re going down to 49,600. We recognize that the Townsend financial difficulty and we’re looking for, you know participating with

1:24:03 this besides that we do have a small we’re level-funded essentially across the board, but you know, we had looked for some increases and legal, but we’re keeping you know, Reducing that a little bit total reduction budget for that one is 12,662 dollars. So how many I know that the department heads is split between health and weight how many people are kind of designated for so we have 2.75 full-time equivalent employees for the health department. If you look to the national standards to the national accreditation for health departments for community of 20,000. You’re supposed to have 17.9 full-time equivalents.

1:24:49 for health Tara I meant to turn it over to you as well as the Charlie is on. Thank you. So on the chair of committee and Molly Tates and Mike Daniela are also on the subcommittee with me and as you can see from the budget, there’s there’s not a lot of discretionary spending in the health department. The increases are primarily around salary and contractual and the reduction in the mental health counseling, you know, there was a lot of discussion about particularly at this time that that is as there are mental health crises just across Society. It’s very difficult to see a cut there but it is it is really the one item that there’s the possibility of discretionary change

1:25:37 and that’s why there’s a cut there and if an override were to pass it would then be funded. The 60,000 which is what has been fun in the past. The other thing we did discuss is that at one time that was a larger line item in the budget. It has over a series of many years been cut. So just for people to understand that historically and not for this year, but I’m glad that Andrew raised we did discuss about I think recent years Public Health has become so much more prominent in everybody’s View and what our staffing level is relative to what might be considered for accreditation. Not a discussion for this year, but just a longer

1:26:24 term consideration around Public Health

1:26:30 is very helpful. Does anybody have questions about the health before we move to waste?

1:26:38 Okay. Waste much larger than the health budget much larger than the health budget. I have two driving factors. We have collection costs so curbside collection of recycling and trash and then disposal costs. So that’s all you’re Solid Waste Recycling and your yard waste air, you know material that those are really your driving costs. You’re we’re estimated Solid Waste Disposal cost for next year is just over 1.5 million dollars. So you’ll see the 725 on 491 coming from the budget. There will be an additional 862,000 that will be used from the waste revolving account. We’re very lucky that we have this waste revolvement account

1:27:26 set up many years ago to kind of stabilize waste costs. We bring in over a million dollars in commercial waste a year. We’re able to use that to offset the Total Disposal fees and stuff like that. And just so we always talk about collection. Costs we’re very fortunate to have a very good collection contract currently. We’re in year seven that expires in September of 26th. We will see a very large increase in that collection cost somewhere around a half a million dollars in the near future. So we just want to make sure everybody’s aware of that. Other than that really, you know straightforward. There’s not a lot of reductions that you can’t can have in this department. So just some minor reductions and some increases but pretty straightforward.

1:28:13 Tara thank you, Andrew, you know as Andrews described it there’s there’s not a lot of flexibility in this budget. I think one thing that is valuable to understand is you see the full cost around waste collection and Disposal there are some revenues that are generated that you don’t see here. So one light on line item is the purchase of the recycling bins which in this budget is $8,000, but the recycling bins are then sold to residents at Cost but so that entire line item has an offsetting Revenue, there’s no net cost to the town. And so this budget I

1:29:01 think is lean for the services provided and it actually I think portrays the cost a little bit higher than our experience overall in the town since there are offsetting revenues and similarly Town stickers go into the revolving fund but disposal costs are related to people bringing things to the transfer station who have purchased a sticker. And that same question as wastes are health. I’m sorry number of employees in the in the department. Ah, so five just five. Yeah, five full-time employees. Okay, and I am interested a little bit more about the revolving fund. Yep, the general idea of us hitting our Fiscal Cliff For All

1:29:48 departments to the extent revolving funds can at any time in the future continue to offset increase in costs as opposed to the general fund given our proposition two and a half Paradigm. I know that that’s a revolving fund that’s been growing. It is part of that to reserve for this change in contract in the future. No, or I guess what is no so essentially the revolving account has been growing but it has reached a plateau and we’ll Plateau out over the next couple of years really. So we’ve we are allowed 50 tons a day permit through Dep, which equates to a total of 15,000 tons a year? We will we’re anticipating doing 13,500 tons

1:30:35 next year of solid waste. That’s really the maximum amount. We can do given our hours of operation, you know, obviously can squeeze a little bit in here and there but that’s really about our about our maximum taken into account the amount of material that comes from Curbside and then what the residence bring in from with their stickers, we’re kind of plateauing out and maximizing out on our solid waste. So unfortunately we’re coming to a period where we can’t always rely on our waste revolvement account to help with all the costs of the waste department, right? Yeah, it’s just kind of a general point to the extent I think, you know to work with Thatcher and Alicia and team because our structural challenges are not just going to go away. So it applies to all

1:31:21 departments and it’s something that I think we should all be looking at. Yeah, and and waste is a really important piece because as our landfills disappear in the state of Massachusetts our costs will only increase and they’ll increase drastically with recycling going, you know, kind of by the wayside as far as we’re not making revenues off of recycling anymore. It’s more that we’re paying out the current costs to do a ton of recycling. So commingle current curbside costs. It’s 95 dollars a ton. Next year will be paying 11742 for trash. So we’re pretty cost comparable on disposable costs. We’re both recyclables and trash coming into the future.

1:32:04 I don’t have any other questions for health or waste. Does anybody on the committee? I think the liaison like Tim just a quick question. Out of the ways coming into the transfer station. Yep. How much of that what percentage roughly 35,000 foot would you say is out of town commercial so out of town commercials? Well, so we only I don’t look at about as out of town. I look at his commercial and what spring brought in from Resident and curbside. Um, so at it’s you know commercial Tony’s just over 5,000 tons. Okay, so a little lesson up there. Yeah. Yeah, it can very you know, 5,000 and up and you know, but yeah, it’s it’s about a third. Okay.

1:32:51 Yep, Eric. You you mentioned that a lot of Revenue comes in through the revolving account. Yep in the reduced Services budget. Are you utilizing 100% of that revolving account Revenue?

1:33:08 In this year no. Well, so no, we we anticipate commercial revenue is about a million dollars a year. There’s approximately 1.8 million dollars in the revolving account. Currently. We’re asking that we use 862,000 for solid wastes. We’re asking to use additional funds for the transfer station projects this year. We had 400,000 allocated for building, you know, rehabbing the existing transfer station facility. We’re not going to be spending that money currently because we’re not into construction. We need to push that to next year because this is a revolved in account and I can’t overspend and it has limits. So I’m pushing essentially 600,000 into

1:33:54 next year. So $400,000 from last year looking to spend an additional $200,000 to deal with essentially additional costs or inflation. Really. Thank you. Yep, so good practice to keep funds in this revolving account as much as possible. But also using it to address things that would otherwise need to be raised through taxes if they weren’t available through the revolving fund, correct, sir. Yep. Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. Again, I don’t have any other questions. I think the liaison group did a great job of sharing notes, and we appreciate you guys coming. I don’t know if you want to make the motion. I know the numbers have been moving so I can do it if we’re not certain. I can okay, okay.

1:34:43 I like to move that we approve we’ll do them separately, right? Yes, approve the health. Reduced Services budget of 303,879. So

1:34:58 Tim Approve Alec. Yes, Kim. Yes, Molly. Yes Mike. Yes. Hi, Eric, Tara. Yes, Michael. Yes. waste

1:35:12 I move that we approve the waste reduced Services budget of two million 625,84 second. Yeah that approved Alec. Yes Cam. Yes, Molly. Yes, Mike. Yes, Eric. Yes, Tara. Yes, Michael. Yes. Thank you very much all three of you.

1:35:37 I can park.

1:35:47 How’s it going? Yeah, not too bad self. Yeah, good. Thanks.

1:35:53 Molly yes, so I was the the lead on this one along with Tara and Mike Janko. Um, we met with Peter in with Jamie and with Derek, um, we just as some sort of an overview on this budget. This is one of the smaller departments that will not be facing some of the cuts that the other departments have and just as further context. Um, this department has is very lean in 2020, I believe or 2019. They took a 10% cut during covid to which was a removal of a clerk and I’ve had level services for a long time. So it’s one of the budgets where there’s not as much room. To cut overall their budgets

1:36:39 driven by salary contractual obligations That Grew about six percent. So 2% growth plus changes in Step Up, um supplies and materials. Increase this year. We’re grass seed fertilizer paint. Groundskeeping tools and office supplies and repair and maintenance and other services. So, you know one thing that we we did discuss with this budget is there are a lot of areas even though there will not have Anything in the override there are things that certainly could be a part of it. So we to part-time clerk positions had been discussed in our larger group to help cover some of the administrative costs that are being or past their card by the department

1:37:27 and then additionally we discuss that there’s no custodial Services the take place right now in the in the rec center. So that’s covered by current employees and volunteers. So just wanted to cover some highlights and I’ll let you take over the rest. Yeah, pretty much. The increases that we got we’ve been, you know mentioned in over the last few years fertilizer cost paint cost grass seed. The paint costs actually went up $30 on a five gallon bucket of paint and that’s paint all athletic fields for high school sports youth sports.

1:38:12 the on the temporary positions that we were looking for. Well, mostly you know that we Did away with our senior clerk to help the town out back and fy20? I believe it was and Jamie and I tried to try to keep up with it, but with the growth of our department a little bit. It’s just coming too much for us. So we would look like to look at putting those in. part of the override

1:38:43 and there was also the cleaning services. I actually got a price on the cleaning services for a private company to come in. To do this at night community centers probably one of the heaviest used buildings now that the Council on Aging and that’s growing over the last few years. and then we’re going to cost for that but The just under 29,000 for the year for a private company to come in at night five days a week to properly clean the building. How many employees are in this department? We have seven full-time employees. I’m on my maintenance staff, Jamie and I and then we have a full-time.

1:39:28 Recreation person that we pay out of our revolving fund to the new position this year.

1:39:35 Yeah. And is that the main revolving fund is the recreation the that’s the only nothing out of the general fund pays for recreation other than Jamie’s salary.

1:39:51 Other source of Revenue so the the department covers or I think about 250,000 in Revenue to the general fund that comes through the float storage.

1:40:07 Pack permits beef stocking receipts each packing. Yes. So the beach parking receipts are those split between the town and yeah Monday through Thursday the town gets all of it and then on Friday through Sunday, we get 15 of the $20 and that’s used for that’s used for the beach at the beach or we have, you know, we’ve changed the way we operate the beach. So if we needed, To pay somebody money, you know that that would come out of that for sale take a couple of years ago. The finance committee allowed us to take some money out of those Beach receipts and news about elsewhere to take up for yeah. I remember shortcomings that we had out of our budget. Yeah. I was it was a net cut. But yeah to ease the pain a bit. I think I was on the liaison group back

1:40:52 then. Yeah those I think that was approved to tell meaning to for that. Yeah. And how are the how are the beach fees collected is it truly still cash? I haven’t paid there because in a while obviously being a resident right now. We’re still we still just States. I haven’t guys looked at I we have talking about just a beach sticker for local residents. where they wouldn’t have to pay for a facility sticker if they would just because some people that just come to the beach and we thought that might be a way to help, you know looking we’re looking to explore other options of collecting fees at the beach for out of town people. Okay? Yeah, it’s difficult to figure out the best and most efficient way to do that electronically.

1:41:41 You know so that we don’t take a reduced amount of money right by paying the fees to the to the company. That’s the service. Were probably going to look at next year raising the the beach parking for out of town residents. So it would more closely fall in line with adjacent communities. Yeah, and and I don’t know how I don’t think it’s at that material from what I’ve seen in the revolving accounts, but same point as I just made with health and waste as we we’ve hit our fiscal cliff. Yeah, every dollar counts to the extent we can work with Town leaders to come up with ways to reduce the Reliance on the property tax levy with with two and a half Paradigm. You know, that’s greatly appreciated everybody’s in it together. And and

1:42:28 I think I think there’s can be some creative ways in the upcoming years to be able to address this. Does anybody have any other questions just one thing? We also discussed in our lives on meeting is the potential for you know user fees, which you know, it’s not something that’s on the table necessarily at the moment. But something that has been discussed. I don’t know if you’d like to speak to we’ve discussed it like and it would be like the thing of Last Resort for us to add an additional burden to the taxpayers by having each kid or participant pay, you know, essentially a tax or user fee to play on the fields. It’s tough times for everybody right? Not just not just us as Town people, but you know the Use use athletic groups

1:43:15 and other users they try to keep their costs pretty late and we don’t want to add an additional burden on to that. So it’s a kind of the thing of Last Resort for us to think if we can get away from it or not do it. Excuse me.

1:43:30 Thank you. Tim I just like to say that the grass over Crossing police station came out great this year. Thank you. Thank you.

1:43:40 I don’t have any other questions for rec and Park Golf. Anybody else does? Think you have the final members Big Ideas. Um, I’d like to make a motion for the Recon Park fiscal year 24. appropriation of 941,000,798 second Tim I Pat approve Alec. Yes Cam. Yes, Molly. Yes Mike. Yes, Eric Tara Michael. Yes. Thank you very much. Thanks.

1:44:18 Just a few left. I promise.

1:44:22 Library

1:44:32 he

1:44:36 oh, are you good? Thanks. Very nice you how are you?

1:44:44 So do you have The point slides or the oh, I do. Yeah. Sorry about that.

1:44:52 I think I got the revised ones even. if

1:44:58 So I can kind of navigate for you. Just okay. Yeah, that’s that’s You want to go to the next? Oh, I’m not sharing new share. Here we go. Okay. Well anyway, thank you for having us here tonight. To go over all of this the next slide shows a little snapshot of just the basics salaries expenses the total. So basically our reduced service budget. Is actually a level funding budget. And this ensures certification and meeting guidelines for our state need. When you look at some of the things going on with if

1:45:44 you go to the next slide, please. So salary budget includes that 2% Cola increased plus the scheduled increases. There are a couple of things that we did to adjust the budget.

1:46:02 For example, we there was a part-time position that we reduced to 22 hours per week per person. They share one line and that gave us a little bit of a reduction. We hired an adult Library a new adult librarian. It’ll lower step level recently. The previous librarian had been there for about 25 years. So that was a reduction and then we just did our adult page position. We range anywhere from four to five pages over the years. Yeah request that you speak up. Sure. Yeah, maybe the microphone is that is this an amplification microphone or is it just recording? No. Okay, so that’s not going to help us. Okay. All right. So anyway with the adult page position we waver between four and five

1:46:49 traditionally. So right now we’re at four, so we adjusted that. Line to be more in keeping with what we’re actually doing and what we actually need.

1:47:00 So next slide, please.

1:47:03 our expected having to do with our expense budget which Really? There’s no changes from the previous year with a minor exception for a small fee that is tacked onto it has to do with the town website, but this reduced service budget actually eliminates. A small amount that we ask for for technology.

1:47:29 You know, we over the last three years. Our technology needs have actually grown due to you know, our communication needs. So we actually were able to use the line that we have for. R&m computer we pretty much went right through that for PC support Securities Zoom license computer equipment, but then we had to spend another 8600 on that. On technology for website plugins and various things. We also had to use some of our state aid for copy machines. So and website Website Maintenance is covered by our private fund. So maintenance and utilities are fairly low, but

1:48:16 as you know, you know, we’re in a borrowed building as part of our mou with the Marblehead school department. We are supposed to cover most of the maintenance so that line we’re not really changing because we need to keep that building going. so in the next slide I’m gonna take a little bit of a detour and explain some of the complex relationships that we have. With the organization’s listed here. On the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners the Massachusetts library system and Noble which is our Network all of those relationships kind of relate to our materials and why we spend what we do.

1:49:02 and all of these organizations create the framework of the library, so without these without the participation of these Libraries or these Library organizations. We do not exist. So if the next slide, please

1:49:20 and so now I just want to get into a little bit about the certification requirements. So the mblc is the agency that Organizes all of the requirements for certification and to be certified each year a municipality and its Library must meet its Municipal appropriation requirement. Otherwise known as Mar. It must meet the minimum standards of free public library service, which is for our population 20,000. It’s 50 hours per week. And that’s why we you know, having 23 employees makes that possible and I’d say historically over the last 17 years that’s been about what we’ve had somewhere between 21 and 23 depending on how many pages we have.

1:50:07 And then we also submit annual reports to show compliance with these. measures and then I can go on there’s more a lot more to to the public service requirements. But those are sort of the basics.

1:50:27 the next slide sort of gives us a little bit of a snapshot as to what’s going on with all of this state aid and certification and so on and how things relate to each other and

1:50:41 Statistics and you know materials and the number of out-of-service hours per week. So if you go to the next slide. Which is actually my last informational slide then we get into the actual. the question that you might have about what’s going on with the materials budget, so

1:51:05 As we go through this, you know, our requirement is as you can see it’s 1.241 and that’s mistake there on that slide. So I apologize but our total appropriated Municipal income must exceed the mar. Which is the average of the last three years of Municipal Appropriations to library operations plus 2.5% So the materials it needs to be 15% of the of the Tammy which is the total appropriate of Municipal income. That comes to 142 or that actually comes up to 198,518. But our materials budget is only 142,000. So,

1:51:53 how do we how do we get to that number that requirement? It’s a combination of private funds and that state aid comes into play there. So it’s all related and our award for the state aid is about 34,000. Most of it is applied to the budget for the materials. Um, and so one thing to keep in mind though, when you’re looking at all of these numbers and the balance of all the requirements that the state aid formulas are based on a three-year average and a reduction in any of the main funding areas would jeopard is our standing in fiscal year 25. So and that’s when we go back to the news space. So next year this time will be finalizing the details to move back to 235 Pleasant Street.

1:52:41 Yep. Oh, yeah. Yeah, and so that’s my slide presentation. Great.

1:52:52 Yeah, so yeah, I’ll just kind of so if you Sure, all these. Line items were covered. But again, it looks like you know can weigh in but it looks like contractual obligations on the on the wages side. You mentioned how many folks in your department 23 23 and then on the expense side is basically level-funded. It’s it’s a hundred and forty dollar change, right and it sounds like some

1:53:22 requests have come out out of both A reduced and a level which is the same. From prior years and if you have anything to add as the um King Kim covered it. Well, I think just the key the key points are you we would damage ourselves and our library if we reduce the funding below what the state requires for certification not just in terms of losing state aid, but also being involved and there’s typical lending, right? So I so there really isn’t a lot of flexibility with either Staffing or the materials budget and do want to reinforce that Tara and micro on that subcommunity with me. So feel free to comment that we were we took note of the fact that they are committed to raising private funds to meet the materials budget requirements. So they’re not just relying on Town Aid or

1:54:09 town support and state support. They’re relying on private funds and So it’s about as lean as it can be and I think when you move into the new facility and you made the case that you really need more than even an override amount of money in the technology line item because you have a changing environment with you know, with use of Technology by residents and other ways in which you’re trying to connect with people marbleheads. So Celine budget and hopefully the override will provide a little support if it passes but I think it’s still is going to require revisiting with all the investment. We’ve made as a town in the new building for you not to have adequate technology. I think will be a real shame so

1:54:55 Yeah, I think I think that late case out pretty well terrorism like that very very quickly. Could you just give us an overview when you use the word materials? Yeah, we’re talking books. Yes, mostly print materials magazines. Um, yes periodicals, but the digital materials are paid through by a private fund the second century fun when she may be familiar with they’ve supported the library for many years and they do support our overdrive fees which covers all of the ebooks and so on. Thank you. welcome just to add to it Cam said and Kim had shared with us about the technology budget which which is an area for potential future investment is

1:55:41 that The library needs the technology. I think for two purposes to serve. Our town one is related to people engaging with the materials electronically. In the other is that the library serves as a community resource for people to go there to access a quick technology whether that be using The copier, right? The library is sort of like the last place in town. You can go to use a copier. Or people who want to come and use the computers Beyond searching the card catalog. So the technology Is a service to the town both in supporting

1:56:28 materials, but also as an access point for all Town residents. Do you first do you foresee in future years with the new space meeting additional employees? Yes, I could see that I think at a certain point in 2008. We lost a part-time custodian that we shared with the police department and I do think we’ll need extra custodial help. We probably could use an additional, you know, Library assistance to help us run the library when we plan to open for later hours because we’ve been closed until 8, we’re gonna open until 8:00, but we traditionally were open till 9:00. So yes,

1:57:15 I could see the addition of some part-time assistance. Yes. One of the point I just want to make make clear to you. You had to weed out 46,000 volumes to move to their temporary space. So there’s a lot of replacement. Yes books and materials that is going to be required. Yeah, so I think the move is also caused some disruption that oh, yeah, and you know, we might we’re building back the collection so that it’s relevant new fresh, you know, and so that we’ll have good books on the shelves, you know things that we really want to see there. To terrifying it’s really about technology would make it technologically advanced and support the community

1:58:01 as much as we can. And a lot of the stuff will be paid for by the renovation like a lot of the TVs and the new computers. So we’ll have a good start when we take this building over next year, but we will need to add to that and maintain it over the years. major looking forward to okay.

1:58:20 Anybody have questions further questions?

1:58:25 Or do you have the numbers? I’m rather have you do it? Okay, that works sure. So I’d like to make a motion to approve the fiscal year 24 reduced budget request. Of 1,318,290. person That I approved Alec. Yes Camp. Yes, Molly. Yes Mike. Yes, Eric. Yes, Tara. Yes, Michael. Yes. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.

1:59:08 We have Town Clerk and elections left. to pretty small Department Are you doing good? How are you? Good. Thank you. Which one do you want to start with first? Let’s do town clerk first because that’s one chocolate. I have it on screen, too. step increases and 2% for the salaries Okay. Everything else folks in the department. Two people in the department. That’s it two people in me. Yes, and then we have a the dog program it got increased because we didn’t pay for it before and somebody else system is charging us now. So that’s $1,000 postaging crease

1:59:55 in the Jews went up by 50. Dollars a share. So that’s town clerk an elections is under you as well. That is under me as well. I always wondered okay you want that one as well? Okay, let’s do it. Then. We’ll vote them both. Alright, that’s gonna removing Target because of the vote by mail and the in the early voting so base and So it’s like every other year you have. You have the presidential primary you put that in your every two years the state. We don’t have a state election or November election this year. We will when I come back the following year. So we kind of take the money in we put it in one year. We take it out the next. So see yeah, everything’s gone

2:00:41 up. The postage has gone up. We had to get a postage meter. To mail these ballots. Yeah. They are saying they may reimburse us. They won’t reimburse us for the town. So it’s going to be required. I also think going forward we’re going to need. an extra employee to help us with those with the elections because three people is not enough. And that’s what I have. Okay. Yeah, I mean two smaller departments very small increases contractual obligations on the wages side for the one apartment. I don’t have any other questions.

2:01:22 I’ll make the Motions Tim since I’ve got the numbers. Okay, so thank you. So for town clerk first, I like to make a motion to approve. fiscal year 24 reduce budget of 223,956

2:01:39 second Tim I approve Alec. Yes Cam. Yes, Molly. Yes, Mike. Yes, Eric. Yes, Terra. Yes, Michael. Yes. And then election, I’d like to make a motion for the fiscal year 2024 reduced budget of 61,779 dollars. Tim I Pat approved Alec. Yes Kim. Yes, Molly. Yes Mike. Yes, Eric approved Terra. Yes, Michael. Yes. Okay. Thank you very much all the Departments. Thank you. Yes, thank you. So we’ve now voted all the Departments that roll up into article 30. Um that we generally review and vote on. I’ll open

2:02:25 up the floor to public comment.

2:02:30 Maybe Kyle if you could help with hands online.

2:02:40 Sarah Hi, how are you good? Thanks. Thank you for all your work. I’m Sarah gold nine Reed Street. Also a member of the school committee and former employee at the Marblehead Counseling Center. So I’ll just start there that it’s really sad for me to hear that that budget is being cut because they do use that whole thing to pay for and help out mental health treatment for the people in this town that’s directly where that 60,000 goes and it never made it all the way through the year before the pandemic. So it’s it you know, I know there was a lot of cuts tonight and none of them are easy, but just to sort of you know, I I think that’s a great segue into what my takeaway is that I’m a bit frustrated because it feels as though sometimes the

2:03:25 hand isn’t talking to the foot and I don’t mean this as a criticism to this board. I absolutely know how hard it is to sit in the seats that we sit in. It’s just an observation more.

2:03:39 Last week we heard about. A department that couldn’t make a cut because it was going to be 20% of their department. And tonight we hear that you know police is taking a 6.25% cut in their Staffing that fires a 7.14% cut in their Staffing and it’s just kind of striking to me that as we look at the Town we’re able to Put it into more granular levels. So I wanted to give a little bit of a glimpse into that for the school side of things and I think maybe in the future it may be helpful for our Liaisons to the schools for you to attend other meetings so that we you can get to know our departments that make up the

2:04:25 full school department a little better because it seems like it seems like the schools are just lumped into this one, but we’re really many many departments making up a large Department. We are going to be eliminating in our in our fiscal cliff budget four and a half percent of our special education positions. almost 7% of our educational para and tutor positions 8.3% of our high school English teacher positions 10.4% of our paid non-intermural athletic coaches 15.3% of our high school science teachers if we add in the para there. It’s a 21.4% reduction in that department.

2:05:12 20% of our district library media Specialists our librarian positions all so if the tutor gets or the parent gets eliminated. It’s a 33.33% reduction to our library Department.

2:05:27 20% of our fifth grade teacher positions will be eliminated. And 38 almost 38 and a half percent of our lunch pairs. Those people do the monitoring on our lunches if that those positions get eliminated. Our school counselors will have to step up and be the monitors eliminating their ability to do lunch groups, which is a great way to keep kids in classrooms and functioning. So I just needed to really present some of those more granual looks because I think they’re really important numbers so that we all really understand the DraStic cuts that are happening across the Departments within our town. Thank you.

2:06:17 Hi James, this and tomorrow. Thank you again for all the work. It’s been a long road. I do want to kind of follow up with Sarah said very disappointed on the mental health piece. I know there’s Cuts but that’s a that was a surprise frankly.

2:06:36 So I was very encouraged at the select board meeting last week. We found out there actually be no layoffs. In fact adding a couple positions, which was great news and Juxtaposed to the school department where not only are we filling positions but people are being laid off Town employees are being laid off. and

2:06:59 I guess looking the way the select board did it. Is the secret sauce was? The GIC taking some money out of the GIC I think about 400,000 which made sense because I’m struggling with the GIC number because when I look at the prior year actuals in the fall when you’re budget. There’s a big difference. So I think the actuals for fy22 are like 11.4 where I don’t know I think 14.6 or so was budget for the fy23 when GIC was only going up about 5.4 percent and then I look at I think so, I think

2:07:45 What the taxpayer and voters going to really want to see is what fy23? GIC actuals are your 10 months in so you’ve got that and see what the the next two months look like and what’s budget it. I know it’s important to have a cushion. It just seems like the cushion is too big in light of the fact that we’re actually having very serious devastating cutbacks. I’m gonna guess my math says the GIC is probably going to be less next year the actuals less than 13 million, but you’ve got I think 146 budgeted. I think you really really need a sharpen the pencil on that and like I said the last two years the increases been about five point

2:08:31 four and five point seven percent and there’s all this talk about, you know, the negotiations the contract but that’s the next year. That’s the following year and we don’t carry money over. So that’s really I can’t figure the math out on the GIC. It just seems like traditionally that was sort of the Free Cash Generator and that’s great for past years, but this is

2:08:56 When Sarah’s people losing their jobs and you know, she hit the nail on the head. She connected to the dots. Of the mental health cuts and you know the AIDS in the lunchroom when a kid is having a behavior problem. That’s that’s real stuff. So anyhow, we’re pretty far down the road. Thank you for the help. I think it’s been a good job. That’s just the part. It seems like we we help things together on the town side, but it fell apart on the school side, and I just I’m gonna need to understand that GIC number could just seems to conservative and I guess for my standpoint I’m an aviation designer in we need to be safe and conservative. But at a certain point you’d be too safe the plane won’t fly because it’s too heavy.

2:09:42 So anyhow, thank you very much. Thank you again for your work. Thank you. I I just want to make a comment that I mean, I think it’s pretty well known that there’s some cushion on the the GIC side. I think Thatcher’s mentioned that past Town administrators have mentioned that it does appear that this year. We’ve taken a closer look at it. Although I don’t know that it’s the year to necessarily drop it completely from my perspective and and that’s just kind of a response to to that comment as well. But I do agree that it’s something that like everything else that we talked about navigating it in our new fiscal cliff that we’ve hit that something that we need to continue to Monitor and and Thatcher’s doing everything he can with the new software and the new, you

2:10:27 know team really with Felicia here as well. Thank God. She’s here to really kind of come up with exact budgets by department and better ways to forecast in the future and hopefully to the extent that any anything comes back then that can only help next year as we enter another year into our fiscal deficit.

2:10:50 nobody Okay. Okay.

2:10:57 That’s all I have for tonight then welcome to adjourn second on favorite. Thank you everybody for a long night you.

2:11:11 know nothing

2:11:40 That’s not boring at all. Are you so yeah, that was a school to serve refugee camps and remote Village activities funded by a shake in Dubai since we were foundation. So it’s a terrible tough together school. I mean security understands that he’s providing a service but I mean, they’re trying to reinforce really countries

2:12:08 it’s poor creditors fit on us. They put it out today and they called us and they said most expensive or not choosing to be presidents. But because you said you didn’t even know if this thing was possible to a credit and we required another visit. We said we want to come a year ago and meet with you. So I would just accepted we don’t even know what you’re doing and they said everybody else said I know it was like I don’t know what we’re doing. We should be glad that you said that they

2:12:49 funny like I mean, we just put together what we thought we had to do. We weren’t really, you know wasn’t like we were Desperate to get it, but we wanted to do it but it was such a novel thing and so aggressive and we were really trying to understand how they were going to get into all these countries how they were going to access these Villages. How are they going to happen? So very content what they’ve done and this year after two years. They have 300,000 kids already and seven countries.