2003-04-03 School Committee Minutes - Finance Committee

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READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts Joint Session Board of Selectmen, FinCom. School Committee April 3. 2003 CALL TO ORDER Matt Cummings called to Board of Selectmen to order at 7:40 in the auditorium of Parker Middle School. The purpose of the meeting is to present the financial condition of the Town, provide a history of Reading's changing financial condition and listen to impact statements. Mr. Fiore serves as moderator. He stated he would take questions from the audience, answer a -mails received before 6:00 p.m. and answer call -in questions. The School Committee and the Finance Committee did not have a quorum. School Committee members present were Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden and Mr. Russo. FinCom members present were Ms. Martin, Mr. Grimes, and Mr. McDonald. Selectmen present were Mrs. Woods, Mr. Hines, Mr. Shubert and Mr. Cummings. Town Finance Director, Beth Klepeis gave an overview of the Town's financial situation. She explained that it is very difficult to run the Town on a 2' /z% increase each year. Increases in costs are always greater than 2' /z %. Employee benefit costs have skyrocketed. Reading's Bond rating was down graded in January of 2003. Town Manger, Peter Hechenbleikner gave an overview of Town services and a summary of the major FY04 Budget reductions. Dr. Harutunian gave a presentation describing the impact on the schools. There would be a loss of 51 teaching positions, 5.54 custodian positions and possibly the entire athletic program. Mr. Dahl stated that it would be hard to imagine a college application with no sports, drama or extra - curricular activities. Elaine Webb, parent, stated people believe cuts will not happen. Mr. Hechenbleikner stated the cuts would happen without an override. Rebecca Lieberman, parent, Joshua Eaton School, asked if there were other ways to raise revenue in the town besides taxes. Mr. Hechenbleikner told her that they raised the fee for access to the compost area and parking lots. They raised the fee for construction permits by 50 %. Fees are on the high side already. They cannot raise them much more. Superintendent Harutunian stated the school department would be starting an all -day kindergarten program in the fall. They would be charging user fees for activities and charging other towns for entrepreneurial programs. Mrs. Klepeis stated the need for everyone to be aware that state aid will be less than the governor's budget. Usually it is more. You cannot turn a fee into a tax.