[Speaker 1] (9:16 - 9:18)
on rates. Instead, they voted on plan redesign.

[Speaker 1] (9:19 - 9:21)
The one change that they made, which was a significant one,

[Speaker 1] (9:21 - 9:24)
was to remove GLP ones from what they're offering,

[Speaker 1] (9:25 - 9:27)
which will necessarily lower this number.

[Speaker 1] (9:28 - 9:33)
You know, this is at the high end of the projection and it's one that will come down over time as we get better information.

[Speaker 1] (9:34 - 9:36)
as they vote on their final plan,

[Speaker 1] (9:36 - 9:39)
and then as we, you know, match it up against our census,

[Speaker 1] (9:39 - 9:48)
which employees are taking which plans. That's something that I know last year it was provided closer to May 1st, and I would anticipate the same, but as GIC sets their final rates,

[Speaker 1] (9:49 - 9:52)
we will also come back to you to refine these numbers and give everyone a better sense of where we are.

[Speaker 1] (9:54 - 9:55)
Debt service is $7.6 million,

[Speaker 1] (9:56 - 9:58)
which is up 2%. Pension is 6.7 million,

[Speaker 1] (9:59 - 9:59)
up 4.

[Speaker 1] (9:59 - 10:01)
up 4.1% in state assessments.

[Speaker 1] (10:01 - 10:06)
Drop down almost 18% primarily due to the reduction in the charter school assessments.

[Speaker 1] (10:10 - 10:19)
A couple things I'd like to note is that indirect costs are funded through water and sewer user charges and reimbursed for the general fund to offset overhead that supports those operations.

[Speaker 1] (10:19 - 10:21)
And then the solid waste line is shown.

[Speaker 1] (10:22 - 10:31)
is the subsidy. Uh the total fund right now I think it's about a hundred and eighty thousand dollars. Is that right? And the revenue from the bags and the rest is the subsidy. So

[Speaker 1] (10:32 - 10:34)
moving on to the next slide.

[Speaker 1] (10:35 - 10:36)
So the revenue overview,

[Speaker 1] (10:36 - 10:39)
a few key points that I wanted to highlight as folks take a look at this slide.

[Speaker 1] (10:40 - 10:52)
The budget was developed consistent with the direction that we had discussed last fall to use conservative revenue estimates per the fiscal policy and to use excess levy capacity where needed rather than rely on aggressive assumptions.

[Speaker 1] (10:53 - 11:04)
We were looking at level service in this first recommended budget and we're open to feedback both tonight and going forward anywhere that you think we should be taking a harder look at numbers or figuring out ways that we could manage.

[Speaker 1] (11:04 - 11:04)
managed differently.

[Speaker 1] (11:06 - 11:11)
We're proposing to use $2.8 million of excess levy capacity to balance the budget.

[Speaker 1] (11:11 - 11:16)
to meet the fiscal policy. That leaves an estimated $1.6 million in remaining excess capacity,

[Speaker 1] (11:16 - 11:22)
something I'll address more when we get to the compliance summary at the end. On state aid, we budgeted based on the governor's budget,

[Speaker 1] (11:23 - 11:23)
as I mentioned,

[Speaker 1] (11:23 - 11:27)
which reflects nearly 2.4% increase,

[Speaker 1] (11:27 - 11:33)
2.9% growth in Chapter 70 funding and a 2.5% growth in the unrestricted government aid,

[Speaker 1] (11:33 - 11:36)
which goes to our government administration.

[Speaker 1] (11:36 - 11:40)
Local receipts are projected using our financial policy standard,

[Speaker 1] (11:40 - 11:48)
no more than 90% of prior year actuals, and the slight decrease you see reflects that discipline that we've applied to this presentation.

[Speaker 1] (11:51 - 11:52)
On the expenditure overview,

[Speaker 1] (11:53 - 11:55)
I want to highlight a couple of things again.

[Speaker 1] (11:55 - 11:58)
The single largest pressure we have this year is health insurance.

[Speaker 1] (11:59 - 12:02)
We budgeted 14.5% increase,

[Speaker 1] (12:02 - 12:04)
which is approximately 1.18 million.

[Speaker 1] (12:04 - 12:06)
I do anticipate that will come down.

[Speaker 1] (12:07 - 12:09)
But to plan conservatively,

[Speaker 1] (12:09 - 12:10)
Patrick and I, as we talked about this,

[Speaker 1] (12:10 - 12:23)
did not want to be in a situation where it ended up being on the higher end and we told you something tonight that was not reflective of what we could accurately forecast or that we would be coming back in a few weeks saying,

[Speaker 1] (12:23 - 12:25)
you know, there's a crushing number that's come out from GIC.

[Speaker 1] (12:25 - 12:28)
We see this as an opportunity to dial back down,

[Speaker 1] (12:28 - 12:33)
reduce excess levy use or allow for any other changes that may develop over time.

[Speaker 1] (12:33 - 12:34)
Um, did you have something to add, Patrick?

[Speaker 1] (12:35 - 12:36)
Okay. I didn't know if you

[Speaker 1] (12:37 - 12:44)
So they've not yet been voted on by the GIC, as I mentioned, but we will continue at each select board meeting as we have information,

[Speaker 1] (12:44 - 12:48)
we will update it and be working closely with FinCom as well as these numbers become better refined.

[Speaker 1] (12:49 - 12:51)
The budget fully funds the town's

[Speaker 2] (12:51 - 12:51)
Your retirement

[Speaker 1] (12:51 - 12:57)
pension obligation in accordance with the approved funding schedule that's gone before PRAC and has been voted on by the retirement board.

[Speaker 1] (12:57 - 13:03)
The pension appropriation remains on track to address its unfunded liability ahead of the schedule set by law, though.

[Speaker 1] (13:04 - 13:13)
On solid waste we've increased the budget to a holding number of fifteen percent in anticipation of additional contract costs. Our current contract is up for renewal

[Speaker 3] (13:13 - 13:14)
That's a big deal.

[Speaker 1] (13:14 - 13:29)
and neighbouring communities have seen significant increases and so again it's something where we want to try to reflect as best we can where we think we may end up uh with the hope and anticipation that we'll do everything we can to lower that number as we move closer to the the final budget that goes before town meeting.

[Speaker 1] (13:31 - 13:41)
Um our goal there both with JIC and with trash is to conservatively estimate and manage risk where we can so we don't give a rosy picture tonight that is not reflective of where we may end up.

[Speaker 1] (13:43 - 13:55)
Continuing on expenditures the capital improvement program is consistent again with our policy target of funding capital at approximately ten percent of the operating budget and the debt and service increases by two percent from FY26.

[Speaker 1] (13:56 - 14:08)
Looking at the operating budgets, the town budget increases 7.7 percent or 3.2 million. That's inclusive of the solid waste subsidy and enterprise fund indirect costs.

[Speaker 1] (14:08 - 14:14)
The school department budget increases 3.96 percent or approximately 1.35 million.

[Speaker 1] (14:14 - 14:16)
Non-appropriated expenses,

[Speaker 1] (14:16 - 14:21)
state assessments and the overlay reserve are budgeted separately and not included in the appropriation totals.

[Speaker 1] (14:22 - 14:22)
Patrick,

[Speaker 1] (14:23 - 14:25)
do you want to speak to the school department number?

[Speaker 4] (14:28 - 14:32)
Yes. So in the line item budget for you,

[Speaker 4] (14:32 - 14:37)
the school department general fund appropriation is increasing,

[Speaker 4] (14:37 - 14:41)
I think, 4.6% in the budget book.

[Speaker 4] (14:42 - 14:43)
Last year.

[Speaker 4] (14:44 - 14:59)
The school department budget was supplemented with $200,000 from free cash for a utility reserve, and that's non-recurring. So um that's there's a little bit of a just difference there because we're not accounting for that funding source this year. Um

[Speaker 1] (15:02 - 15:05)
So we just wanted to highlight that that was something that as we started to circulate

[Speaker 4] (15:05 - 15:05)
Coming

[Speaker 1] (15:05 - 15:06)
things

[Speaker 4] (15:06 - 15:06)
out, yeah.

[Speaker 1] (15:06 - 15:10)
was hi was a question that we received you have a have a question, Doug?

[Speaker 5] (15:10 - 15:12)
Yeah, I'm sorry that didn't quite help me understand because I was

[Speaker 5] (15:13 - 15:17)
Then the percentage shows up differently in different places, that's what you're getting at.

[Speaker 4] (15:17 - 15:17)
Yes, yep.

[Speaker 5] (15:17 - 15:21)
This is three point nine six versus the four six, I saw it as four some place.

[Speaker 4] (15:21 - 15:22)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 5] (15:22 - 15:24)
Um but that's the explanation.

[Speaker 4] (15:25 - 15:39)
So last year's general fund appropriation plus the utility reserve compared to this year's general fund appropriation is a three point nine six percent increase. If you take that two hundred thousand dollars of one time money away, it's four point six.

[Speaker 5] (15:41 - 15:41)
That

[Speaker 1] (15:41 - 15:41)
It

[Speaker 5] (15:41 - 15:43)
200,000 moves it that much?

[Speaker 4] (15:43 - 15:44)
Yep.

[Speaker 1] (15:48 - 15:52)
And so it's really looking at overall spend last year compared to overall spend this year.

[Speaker 4] (15:52 - 15:53)
Exactly.

[Speaker 6] (15:54 - 15:56)
Patrick, do you have a microphone? I just can't see it.

[Speaker 6] (15:57 - 15:58)
Oh, okay, great.

[Speaker 4] (15:58 - 15:58)
It's a little

[Speaker 6] (15:58 - 15:58)
Just

[Speaker 4] (15:58 - 15:58)
guy.

[Speaker 6] (15:58 - 16:00)
wanted to make sure folks at home could hear you.

[Speaker 4] (16:00 - 16:00)
Yep.

[Speaker 6] (16:00 - 16:01)
Thank you.

[Speaker 5] (16:02 - 16:02)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (16:05 - 16:13)
Moving to the operating budget and we're obviously happy to stop for questions if you have them. I'd love to be able to get through this and then answer them, but happy to stop if folks have questions as we go.

[Speaker 7] (16:13 - 16:18)
Wait, doesn't that school number also include the Essex number in there besides?

[Speaker 4] (16:22 - 16:24)
Not the number on on the slide that was just up, no.

[Speaker 1] (16:29 - 16:33)
So there the school department budget that they present, when we in the line items,

[Speaker 1] (16:34 - 16:39)
Ethics is there, but it's separate and apart from the budget that's presented to the school committee by the superintendent.

[Speaker 7] (16:39 - 16:39)
Uh-huh.

[Speaker 1] (16:40 - 16:44)
So what I'm calling out here is just what was presented by the superintendent to the school committee.

[Speaker 1] (16:46 - 16:47)
Does that answer your question, for now?

[Speaker 7] (16:48 - 16:48)
For now.

[Speaker 1] (16:48 - 16:58)
Okay. So on the operating budget, um, you know, just looking at the distribution of increase, I thought it's something that's useful to consider um

[Speaker 1] (17:00 - 17:02)
Some of these slides are very small for me. I need my readers here.

[Speaker 1] (17:02 - 17:04)
I can't believe how far away this is.

[Speaker 6] (17:04 - 17:05)
Do you want me to pull it closer?

[Speaker 1] (17:05 - 17:08)
No, no, no, it's just funny that I look up at it and I can't see it.

[Speaker 1] (17:10 - 17:11)
Of the total increase,

[Speaker 1] (17:11 - 17:24)
the school department accounts for 33.7% of the increased health insurance represents 29.5% of the increase in town departments together when rolled up are 27.7%. Solid Waste represents 6%.

[Speaker 1] (17:25 - 17:45)
Um when you look within town town departments, that's another thing that's just a useful sort of quick view what's going on. Uh public safety is the largest contributor with an increase of sixteen point nine percent and that is reflective of the fact that it's two years with a settled contract, it's two years of COLAs, and everything else all rolled into a single year of expense.

[Speaker 1] (17:45 - 18:06)
Um yep, so it's uh nearly seventeen percent of the increase, but it's only eleven point six percent of the budget. General government is eight point three percent of the increase. That's i that's carrying salary reserves as well as added staff uh and full-time conversions that we've had over the last year. And then D-P-W_ facilities, library and community services represent, you know, a small fraction of the overall increases as you can see here.

[Speaker 1] (18:11 - 18:25)
A contextual note on my department budget's look higher than in prior years many departments are reflecting compounding impacts of recently settled collecting collective agreements agreements and in some cases that means the the equivalent of two years of COLAs as I just mentioned landing in a single budget cycle.

[Speaker 1] (18:26 - 18:36)
And so when we look at what contracts are left we have fire and library and then DPW which expires at the end of FY 26 and clerical which will be up again in FY 27.

[Speaker 1] (18:41 - 18:44)
This budget makes several deliberate personnel adjustments.

[Speaker 1] (18:44 - 18:50)
The net FTE impact is a reduction of 1.5 FTEs from FY26,

[Speaker 1] (18:50 - 18:53)
generating approximately $82,000 in savings.

[Speaker 1] (18:53 - 18:57)
The total budgetary impact of all personnel changes,

[Speaker 1] (18:57 - 18:57)
new positions,

[Speaker 1] (18:58 - 18:58)
restructured roles,

[Speaker 1] (18:59 - 19:03)
and salary adjustments is approximately $693,000, as is called out here,

[Speaker 1] (19:03 - 19:06)
exclusive of the end of employment costs and salary reserve,

[Speaker 1] (19:06 - 19:08)
which we keep in a separate part of the budget.

[Speaker 1] (19:08 - 19:12)
budget. The key drivers here include the ratification of the police CBA covering two years,

[Speaker 1] (19:13 - 19:16)
adjustment to public safety overtime based on historical trends,

[Speaker 1] (19:17 - 19:19)
and a number of staffing restructurings throughout the year.

[Speaker 1] (19:20 - 19:24)
The taxpayer impact of all those personnel adjustments is estimated approximately $153

[Speaker 1] (19:25 - 19:27)
dollars per year for the average homeowner.

[Speaker 1] (19:27 - 19:32)
I do want to just call out the public safety overtime based on historical trends.

[Speaker 1] (19:32 - 19:46)
In the budget detail you can see that we are raising the number that is recommended for the overtime line in both police and fire because the five-year historical averages are significantly above what we have been budgeting and

[Speaker 5] (19:46 - 19:46)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (19:46 - 19:52)
so we've been really using free cash for an operating expense and one-time funds for an operating expense.

[Speaker 1] (19:52 - 19:54)
spending expense which is something that

[Speaker 1] (19:54 - 20:10)
that, you know, Patrick and I putting this together, but you all approve it obviously it's not something that is a great practice and something that I would like to recommend unless it's recommended here for the first time. Do you have an idea what the total uh transfers are just so folks can get a sense of how big those transfers are

[Speaker 2] (20:10 - 20:10)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (20:10 - 20:10)
in overtime?

[Speaker 2] (20:10 - 20:18)
Um so between both police and fire over the last five years we've averaged almost two hundred and twenty two thousand dollars a year in

[Speaker 2] (20:18 - 20:22)
supplemental transfers into their departmental budgets to cover overtime.

[Speaker 3] (20:23 - 20:23)
Every

[Speaker 4] (20:23 - 20:23)
Combined

[Speaker 3] (20:23 - 20:23)
year for for

[Speaker 2] (20:23 - 20:23)
Every

[Speaker 3] (20:23 - 20:24)
fire

[Speaker 4] (20:24 - 20:24)
combined

[Speaker 2] (20:24 - 20:24)
year.

[Speaker 3] (20:24 - 20:24)
here?

[Speaker 4] (20:24 - 20:24)
yeah.

[Speaker 2] (20:24 - 20:24)
Yep.

[Speaker 4] (20:25 - 20:25)
Combined police fire.

[Speaker 2] (20:26 - 20:26)
Yep.

[Speaker 3] (20:26 - 20:28)
So a quarter of a million dollars every

[Speaker 5] (20:28 - 20:28)
So

[Speaker 3] (20:28 - 20:28)
year.

[Speaker 5] (20:28 - 20:31)
at what point are we going to talk about the philosophy behind that?

[Speaker 1] (20:31 - 20:32)
Yeah, I d Oh,

[Speaker 3] (20:32 - 20:33)
The behind is there

[Speaker 5] (20:33 - 20:33)
Is

[Speaker 1] (20:33 - 20:33)
the

[Speaker 3] (20:33 - 20:33)
a

[Speaker 5] (20:33 - 20:33)
it

[Speaker 1] (20:33 - 20:33)
overtime.

[Speaker 3] (20:33 - 20:33)
detail

[Speaker 5] (20:33 - 20:34)
the end or

[Speaker 3] (20:34 - 20:36)
slide for overtime or?

[Speaker 1] (20:37 - 20:41)
Uh no, I think there's a the police departmental and plu fire departmental. So

[Speaker 3] (20:41 - 20:42)
Oh, let's go

[Speaker 1] (20:42 - 20:44)
we can talk about it right now if you'd like.

[Speaker 3] (20:44 - 20:46)
Well, why don't we talk about it when we get to the their department.

[Speaker 1] (20:46 - 20:47)
Great.

[Speaker 3] (20:47 - 20:48)
That just gives the context.

[Speaker 5] (20:48 - 20:49)
I'm okay with that.

[Speaker 3] (20:49 - 20:49)
Okay.

[Speaker 5] (20:49 - 20:50)
Just one at a time.

[Speaker 6] (20:50 - 20:50)
Sure.

[Speaker 1] (20:51 - 20:51)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (20:53 - 20:53)
And

[Speaker 3] (20:53 - 20:54)
Well, slow down yet, Dick.

[Speaker 5] (20:55 - 20:55)
Keep going,

[Speaker 1] (20:55 - 20:56)
I'm

[Speaker 5] (20:56 - 20:56)
Dick.

[Speaker 1] (20:56 - 20:56)
rushing through as I am.

[Speaker 6] (20:56 - 20:59)
If you pause, you might never get back on track.

[Speaker 1] (20:59 - 21:01)
Come on Doug give me a little credit here.

[Speaker 1] (21:02 - 21:04)
So, going into departmental detail,

[Speaker 1] (21:04 - 21:05)
great segue,

[Speaker 1] (21:05 - 21:06)
Sheriff Alan.

[Speaker 1] (21:07 - 21:27)
You know, we'll start with administration and finance, it increases nine point five percent to four point two eight million. So I g I'll go through some of the drivers for each of these, um and then, I think the chairman mentioned this is a great time for us to talk about any particular department, and ask questions specifically. And Patrick and I will do our best to answer them now, and if not, we'll get you the information.

[Speaker 1] (21:28 - 21:34)
Uh so on administration and finance, property and casual insurance casualty insurance uh per our

[Speaker 1] (21:34 - 21:55)
Um uh broker we are budgeting a nine percent increase, which is approximately ninety three thousand dollars. That's consistent with market trends. It's property and liability. It's not simply that we have a building whether it's vacant or not vacant or or what it's it's liability for police, fire, employees, everyone out you know it covers the the full package. I dunno if there's anything that you wanna add.

[Speaker 2] (21:56 - 21:56)
Nope.

[Speaker 1] (21:56 - 21:56)
Okay.

[Speaker 2] (21:56 - 21:57)
Covered

[Speaker 1] (21:57 - 21:59)
The it. way you were looking at me I thought you might. Um

[Speaker 1] (21:59 - 22:02)
It also reflects staffing changes across the TA's office,

[Speaker 1] (22:02 - 22:02)
accounting,

[Speaker 1] (22:03 - 22:03)
assessing,

[Speaker 1] (22:03 - 22:04)
treasury,

[Speaker 1] (22:04 - 22:04)
and the clerk's office,

[Speaker 1] (22:05 - 22:07)
adding up to approximately $56,000.

[Speaker 1] (22:08 - 22:12)
Assessing we're still looking to bring on a full-time assessor, so that's reflected in here.

[Speaker 1] (22:12 - 22:14)
We have a new treasurer.

[Speaker 1] (22:15 - 22:15)
I'm sorry,

[Speaker 1] (22:15 - 22:17)
a new clerk and a new treasurer.

[Speaker 1] (22:17 - 22:21)
And then the accounting office is finally filling out as well with an assistant town accountant.

[Speaker 1] (22:22 - 22:27)
The police and fire entrance and promotional exams are being funded within HR,

[Speaker 1] (22:27 - 22:29)
which is part of administration and finance.

[Speaker 1] (22:29 - 22:42)
Since we left civil service, we have been sort of robbing Peter to pay Paul in different places to pay for the different exams and different background and everything else that we do to bring someone on and also for promotions. So we're trying to, again,

[Speaker 1] (22:42 - 22:49)
represent what it costs to operate the community by carrying a number here that is reflective of what we anticipate between the two departments.

[Speaker 1] (22:49 - 22:49)
Next.

[Speaker 1] (22:50 - 22:56)
Election expenses and poll worker funding is up as well to approximately up approximately $24,000.

[Speaker 1] (22:57 - 22:59)
This is just a reflection of the election calendar.

[Speaker 1] (22:59 - 23:07)
Next fiscal year has a state general state primary and then the normal spring election here in town as well as town meetings.

[Speaker 1] (23:07 - 23:08)
So again,

[Speaker 1] (23:08 - 23:11)
in speaking with our new clerk, we want to make sure we try to reflect that as best we can.

[Speaker 1] (23:11 - 23:15)
The salary reserve is up significantly to provide flexibility for collective.

[Speaker 1] (23:15 - 23:16)
for collective bargaining agreements.

[Speaker 1] (23:16 - 23:26)
As I said, we have two years of fire that are out right now, two years now for as we get into 27 for library and DPW will be coming open.

[Speaker 1] (23:26 - 23:29)
So that's all reflected in there.

[Speaker 1] (23:29 - 23:30)
End of employment costs.

[Speaker 1] (23:30 - 23:31)
Yeah.

[Speaker 6] (23:31 - 23:33)
Sorry, just for on the salary reserve,

[Speaker 6] (23:33 - 23:36)
on that number, $243,000, I looked through here,

[Speaker 6] (23:37 - 23:39)
what's the assumptions that are backing that number,

[Speaker 6] (23:39 - 23:40)
you know, for?

[Speaker 7] (23:41 - 23:43)
243, right at the number gun point.

[Speaker 1] (23:43 - 23:47)
So it's looking at the contracts that are open now and where we anticipate settling them.

[Speaker 1] (23:48 - 23:48)
I

[Speaker 7] (23:48 - 23:50)
I got that, but I mean like specific rate.

[Speaker 1] (23:50 - 24:03)
I don't think that we would wanna get into the specific percentages that we're carrying for each particular contract. It's w it's where we reasonably believe that we would be able to land on the open contracts and then on the ones that have two years, it's carrying two years worth of that expense.

[Speaker 7] (24:05 - 24:07)
Okay, I guess my next question was what was

[Speaker 8] (24:07 - 24:08)
the

[Speaker 7] (24:08 - 24:14)
The downside exposure of deep facilities and the fire engine exceeding expectation, but if we're not going to talk about percentages like this, I can't answer that either.

[Speaker 1] (24:15 - 24:24)
I think it would put us in a difficult bargaining situation for me to be expressing to you where we intend to land prior to us even having ground rules with DPW as an example.

[Speaker 6] (24:24 - 24:25)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (24:28 - 24:30)
Are there any other questions?

[Speaker 1] (24:32 - 24:32)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (24:33 - 24:38)
And then the end of employment costs for both town and school are down approximately $87,000.

[Speaker 1] (24:39 - 24:41)
IT is one I want to call out as well. It's down slightly.

[Speaker 1] (24:41 - 24:46)
We anticipate working with a new vendor on our managed service provider side,

[Speaker 1] (24:46 - 24:51)
which we anticipate will help us not only with operations on the town side,

[Speaker 1] (24:51 - 24:54)
but will result in savings over time as well.

[Speaker 1] (24:55 - 24:58)
Do folks have any other questions about administration finance before I move?

[Speaker 7] (24:58 - 25:03)
Just generally with all the change in staffing and, you know, turnover, et cetera, in the admin and finance group,

[Speaker 7] (25:03 - 25:05)
do we expect this year, 26,

[Speaker 7] (25:05 - 25:07)
to be close to budget,

[Speaker 7] (25:07 - 25:09)
be over,

[Speaker 7] (25:09 - 25:12)
I mean, I know we use some third party accounting services to fill the gaps,

[Speaker 7] (25:12 - 25:16)
or how do we expect that to compare to the actual numbers at the end of the year?

[Speaker 1] (25:17 - 25:18)
Patrick, do you want to jump in?

[Speaker 2] (25:18 - 25:22)
Yeah, I can just jump in. Eric, we're managing to budget.

[Speaker 1] (25:22 - 25:22)
Can you speak up?

[Speaker 2] (25:23 - 25:34)
We're managing to budget with all the changes that have occurred over the past year. Um we had an expected amount, for example the accounting services that you called out were winding those down as

[Speaker 7] (25:34 - 25:35)
Yep.

[Speaker 2] (25:35 - 25:39)
were staffed up. The assistant town accountant actually started today, which is great.

[Speaker 2] (25:39 - 25:42)
So um we're m we're managing to

[Speaker 7] (25:42 - 25:42)
Do you

[Speaker 2] (25:42 - 25:42)
budget.

[Speaker 7] (25:42 - 25:44)
expect to be close to budget at the end of the year?

[Speaker 2] (25:44 - 25:45)
That's my expectation.

[Speaker 7] (25:46 - 25:47)
Okay. Thank you.

[Speaker 5] (25:49 - 25:50)
So I have a question

[Speaker 2] (25:50 - 25:50)
Yep.

[Speaker 5] (25:50 - 25:51)
on the

[Speaker 5] (25:52 - 25:53)
Assessing department,

[Speaker 5] (25:53 - 26:04)
have we double-checked on the assessing department if we're still within a good range of being able to get an assessor?

[Speaker 1] (26:04 - 26:21)
We raised the the offered number and I think our biggest problem is that there are not a lot of people that are getting into assessing and so you know a at different points the remaining members of the Board of Assessors and others have

[Speaker 1] (26:22 - 26:27)
opined as to whether or not it might be worth getting someone else that is in a

[Speaker 1] (26:28 - 26:52)
Semi-retired role and have two part-time, but are both very experienced. There's also opportunities there I think over time, but not not I would not budget for it in FY 27 to look at a model that could be regionalized. And the examples there that I would point to for anyone that's interested is like Reading, Wakefield, Lynnfield share an assessor with full-time staff in each community. But the the sort of lead assessor is shared among the three communities and manage manages the individual towns.

[Speaker 3] (26:52 - 26:53)
We have like a thirty more

[Speaker 1] (26:53 - 26:53)
I

[Speaker 3] (26:53 - 26:54)
minutes.

[Speaker 1] (26:54 - 26:55)
had a discussion with him

[Speaker 1] (26:55 - 27:04)
not long after I started about what he would think would work and you know from his ideas the communities have to be very similar both in property and

[Speaker 1] (27:05 - 27:10)
And uses. And so, you know, there are a couple of towns nearby that are very similar to us in terms of highly residential,

[Speaker 1] (27:10 - 27:11)
limited commercial,

[Speaker 1] (27:11 - 27:12)
industrial.

[Speaker 1] (27:13 - 27:22)
But any conversation about that would take too much time for us to be building the budget around a hope of being regionalized. I would love to be able to come back to you all at some point in the future and say,

[Speaker 1] (27:22 - 27:27)
here's a proposal and here's how it would impact the budget. But for now, we're keeping,

[Speaker 1] (27:27 - 27:31)
we're carrying the salary that we, the salary range that we have listed.

[Speaker 1] (27:31 - 27:32)
As part of the department.

[Speaker 5] (27:33 - 27:50)
And I know um I brought this up I brought this up with you guys, but I am still concerned as far as the fire and the police entry entrance exams not being in their actual budgets. And as far as it's in their budgets that they move they can move it around, they actually don't move it around.

[Speaker 5] (27:51 - 28:11)
you the town accountant town town administrator does the moving around in those line items. Um so there's two things here is one is it's really this really shouldn't this be a reflection of what's actually happening in those departments and two I just really want to point out that when we left uh civil service

[Speaker 5] (28:12 - 28:19)
to go into non-civil service. It was made very clear to town meeting members that it would really it's minimal,

[Speaker 5] (28:19 - 28:23)
minute amount of dollars it was going to cost us to run any type of testing.

[Speaker 5] (28:23 - 28:38)
And forty nine five almost fifty thousand dollars is not a minute amount of money. So this is a a pretty serious expense. And I'm just wondering if it really should be sitting in H_R_ or if it should s be sitting in the appropriate

[Speaker 5] (28:39 - 28:44)
Funds so I just think it's just put a thought out there not that there has to be a decision tonight or anything

[Speaker 6] (28:45 - 28:52)
Well, uh tha that sounds logical to me and if we're virtually fully staffed, correct me if I'm wrong,

[Speaker 6] (28:52 - 28:58)
wh why do we need i how does forty nine thousand dollars compare to what we've spent in prior years? Or

[Speaker 2] (28:58 - 28:59)
How does it break down?

[Speaker 1] (28:59 - 29:03)
So something like promotional exams depend on the number of

[Speaker 1] (29:03 - 29:05)
folks that are looking to take it.

[Speaker 1] (29:06 - 29:10)
So a promotional exam at the police department, if there's, you know,

[Speaker 1] (29:10 - 29:25)
ten people that are past the years of service necessary and they all choose to take it, it's more expensive than if there's five. And the same is true for police, I mean for fire, you know, captain lieutenant exams where the number of exam people taking the exam drives the cost.

[Speaker 1] (29:26 - 29:29)
Looking at what the police department had come to us with

[Speaker 1] (29:31 - 29:38)
What the police department had come to us with, they anticipate a large number of employees that will all take the promotional exam at the same time.

[Speaker 1] (29:38 - 29:43)
So we're trying to carry a number that can be applied to either based on what's going on year to year,

[Speaker 1] (29:43 - 29:49)
and I would argue that it makes more sense and gives us more flexibility in both the police and fire side to keep it in.

[Speaker 1] (30:13 - 30:18)
that we're not anticipating right now and then we need to pull a new list for police or fire so

[Speaker 2] (30:18 - 30:21)
So how does this compare to prior year?

[Speaker 2] (30:21 - 30:24)
Any idea? $49,000.

[Speaker 3] (30:25 - 30:28)
The pro couple couple of the last three years

[Speaker 4] (30:30 - 30:31)
Yeah, I don't have that all that

[Speaker 1] (30:32 - 30:38)
so I know the police promotional exam is between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars that they intend to do next year

[Speaker 1] (30:39 - 30:47)
So that's nearly, you know, the entire budget, if we were just going to split it half and half for them without getting to new employees,

[Speaker 1] (30:47 - 30:51)
if there's lateral transfers or if someone retires that we don't, you know, we can,

[Speaker 1] (30:51 - 30:59)
we will get you the detail, but I know off the top of my head because I had the conversation with Chief Cassato that it's nearly $20,000 just for the promotional exam.

[Speaker 1] (31:00 - 31:06)
And so that's something that is anticipated and scheduled for next year. And we're happy to break it out for you and we can get it back to you.

[Speaker 2] (31:06 - 31:08)
And that's for contracts that

[Speaker 1] (31:08 - 31:08)
Correct.

[Speaker 2] (31:08 - 31:08)
are

[Speaker 1] (31:08 - 31:10)
It's a contract where you have an outside person come in and do the

[Speaker 2] (31:10 - 31:11)
Yes,

[Speaker 1] (31:11 - 31:11)
assessment.

[Speaker 2] (31:11 - 31:13)
we don't have an opening, we're holding a promotional exam.

[Speaker 1] (31:14 - 31:14)
Excuse me?

[Speaker 1] (31:15 - 31:16)
I didn't hear what you said.

[Speaker 2] (31:16 - 31:17)
Even if there's not

[Speaker 1] (31:17 - 31:24)
No, the promotional, it's because of anticipated promotion opportunities with retirements that they are aware of and vacancies that exist.

[Speaker 3] (31:25 - 31:29)
And isn't that's for every single level, like a sergeant, there'd be a promotional exam, a lieutenant,

[Speaker 3] (31:29 - 31:29)
and

[Speaker 1] (31:29 - 31:30)
There are different,

[Speaker 3] (31:30 - 31:30)
then

[Speaker 1] (31:30 - 31:30)
yeah.

[Speaker 3] (31:30 - 31:31)
the captains, So these are all three different

[Speaker 1] (31:31 - 31:39)
But as I said, it's driven by the number of people taking the exam. So I believe that that is the sergeant exam, not the lieutenant exam, but I might have it flipped in my head.

[Speaker 3] (31:39 - 31:39)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (31:39 - 31:42)
I want to get you the details to make sure I'm telling you the right thing.

[Speaker 2] (31:42 - 31:43)
For sure.

[Speaker 5] (31:45 - 31:45)
Like

[Speaker 2] (31:45 - 31:46)
I have a different question on this page,

[Speaker 5] (31:46 - 31:46)
Okay,

[Speaker 2] (31:46 - 31:47)
not on

[Speaker 5] (31:47 - 31:47)
so

[Speaker 2] (31:47 - 31:47)
that

[Speaker 5] (31:47 - 31:47)
I

[Speaker 2] (31:47 - 31:47)
item.

[Speaker 5] (31:47 - 31:53)
do see, I see that originally I was thinking Marilyn made a very strong point about putting it in the budget,

[Speaker 5] (31:53 - 31:56)
but now I do see the flexibility available for you guys.

[Speaker 5] (31:57 - 32:12)
to sort of share that line based on the exams that come forward. So I don't have a problem keeping it where it is in H_R_ but it would be good if we just had some detail over the last three or five years.

[Speaker 4] (32:12 - 32:13)
Yep, we can provide that.

[Speaker 1] (32:13 - 32:16)
And if okay would also be what we anticipate next year.

[Speaker 2] (32:16 - 32:16)
Yeah, I do

[Speaker 5] (32:16 - 32:16)
Yes.

[Speaker 2] (32:16 - 32:16)
have

[Speaker 1] (32:16 - 32:16)
Both.

[Speaker 2] (32:16 - 32:17)
a point.

[Speaker 1] (32:17 - 32:17)
Both.

[Speaker 2] (32:17 - 32:17)
Yeah, that's

[Speaker 5] (32:17 - 32:17)
Yeah, yeah,

[Speaker 2] (32:17 - 32:18)
probably most

[Speaker 5] (32:18 - 32:18)
that's

[Speaker 2] (32:18 - 32:18)
relevant

[Speaker 5] (32:18 - 32:18)
fine.

[Speaker 2] (32:18 - 32:19)
if they're very clear

[Speaker 5] (32:19 - 32:19)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (32:19 - 32:21)
on who is potentially retiring and

[Speaker 1] (32:21 - 32:21)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (32:21 - 32:21)
you know.

[Speaker 3] (32:21 - 32:25)
Yep. Well, the other last question is that if we're running tests

[Speaker 3] (32:26 - 32:42)
if we're running tests so if the fire dep the fire department the police department are both responsible for running their tests and they're also spending overtime funds for running their tests then I would just think that whatever it's going to cost for this action that it should all be glum clumped together.

[Speaker 3] (32:43 - 32:47)
So we know the real cost of being outside of civil service.

[Speaker 1] (32:47 - 32:48)
Okay.

[Speaker 5] (32:50 - 32:52)
The overtime is still gonna be carried in the overtime number.

[Speaker 5] (32:52 - 32:55)
You just want it pulled out so that when we're talking about the value of what it costs us

[Speaker 3] (32:55 - 32:55)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (32:55 - 32:56)
accurate.

[Speaker 3] (32:56 - 32:56)
Yep.

[Speaker 5] (32:56 - 32:57)
Okay.

[Speaker 3] (32:58 - 32:59)
You got it?

[Speaker 2] (32:59 - 32:59)
So

[Speaker 3] (32:59 - 32:59)
Okay.

[Speaker 2] (32:59 - 32:59)
it

[Speaker 3] (32:59 - 33:11)
Well and also so it's recognized I mean because i if if you're asking a department to take something else something on new which we have asked them to do it's important to really see you know how much of their overtime is being

[Speaker 5] (33:11 - 33:12)
Hmm?

[Speaker 3] (33:12 - 33:12)
calculated in that.

[Speaker 2] (33:14 - 33:17)
I just had a question about the kind of the math in the last two.

[Speaker 2] (33:17 - 33:22)
So when it says it's going up 94.4% for salary reserve,

[Speaker 2] (33:22 - 33:23)
what

[Speaker 2] (33:25 - 33:28)
does that mean that we have basically no salary reserve last year? I don't...

[Speaker 4] (33:29 - 33:39)
Well, the biggest driver is that we're carrying two years of, you know, an open agreement for fire.

[Speaker 2] (33:39 - 33:40)
I get that part.

[Speaker 2] (33:40 - 33:40)
Yeah,

[Speaker 2] (33:40 - 33:42)
just the 94% increase.

[Speaker 2] (33:42 - 33:44)
Does that mean like we had...

[Speaker 2] (33:44 - 33:44)
Yeah,

[Speaker 4] (33:44 - 33:44)
If we

[Speaker 2] (33:44 - 33:45)
that's

[Speaker 4] (33:45 - 33:45)
compare

[Speaker 2] (33:45 - 33:45)
the worst

[Speaker 4] (33:45 - 33:45)
it to

[Speaker 2] (33:45 - 33:45)
option.

[Speaker 4] (33:45 - 33:47)
after we reallocate the salary reserve

[Speaker 1] (33:48 - 33:49)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (33:49 - 33:50)
It's probably just the basic.

[Speaker 4] (33:50 - 33:55)
We'll normally be starting with the salary reserve number and then sometimes when we present the contract, we move it to the appropriate

[Speaker 1] (33:55 - 33:56)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (33:56 - 33:56)
line item Yeah, so

[Speaker 2] (33:56 - 33:59)
So the salary reserve was like 135 or something before,

[Speaker 2] (33:59 - 34:00)
and so that's that's okay.

[Speaker 1] (34:01 - 34:01)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (34:01 - 34:07)
And then the end of employment is actually a negative going down 40%.

[Speaker 1] (34:07 - 34:07)
Correct.

[Speaker 4] (34:11 - 34:19)
Yes, so we have not transferred any funds out of salary reserve yet this year, because that would take an action of town meeting and we haven't brought the CBAs to them.

[Speaker 2] (34:20 - 34:21)
And that was our explanation.

[Speaker 4] (34:21 - 34:21)
Yeah,

[Speaker 2] (34:21 - 34:21)
That was our explanation.

[Speaker 4] (34:21 - 34:24)
yeah. Okay.

[Speaker 3] (34:25 - 34:26)
What was last year's salary reserve number?

[Speaker 4] (34:28 - 34:31)
Two hundred and fifty seven thousand dollars and six hundred eighteen.

[Speaker 2] (34:32 - 34:32)
Oh wait a minute, now

[Speaker 5] (34:32 - 34:32)
And

[Speaker 2] (34:32 - 34:33)
I'm confused

[Speaker 5] (34:33 - 34:33)
the that's

[Speaker 2] (34:33 - 34:33)
again.

[Speaker 3] (34:33 - 34:33)
the So that's

[Speaker 5] (34:33 - 34:33)
percentage

[Speaker 3] (34:33 - 34:34)
how is that a

[Speaker 5] (34:34 - 34:34)
can't

[Speaker 3] (34:34 - 34:34)
ninety percent

[Speaker 5] (34:34 - 34:34)
be rate then,

[Speaker 3] (34:34 - 34:35)
increase?

[Speaker 5] (34:35 - 34:35)
right?

[Speaker 3] (34:35 - 34:35)
It's not in this

[Speaker 4] (34:35 - 34:36)
That's

[Speaker 3] (34:36 - 34:36)
what we're asking.

[Speaker 4] (34:36 - 34:36)
in the.

[Speaker 3] (34:37 - 34:38)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (34:38 - 34:38)
Unless

[Speaker 3] (34:38 - 34:38)
So that maybe

[Speaker 5] (34:38 - 34:38)
this is

[Speaker 3] (34:38 - 34:39)
it's a typo.

[Speaker 5] (34:39 - 34:43)
the amount that's going up and not the amount it yeah, that's the amount that's going up, approximately two hundred and forty

[Speaker 2] (34:43 - 34:43)
Yep.

[Speaker 5] (34:43 - 34:44)
three thousand dollars.

[Speaker 4] (34:44 - 34:44)
You Okay.

[Speaker 2] (34:44 - 34:44)
Yep.

[Speaker 4] (34:44 - 34:44)
got You

[Speaker 5] (34:44 - 34:45)
There it is.

[Speaker 2] (34:45 - 34:46)
So it's gonna be more like five hundred Yes, total.

[Speaker 3] (34:46 - 34:46)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (34:46 - 34:47)
that's right.

[Speaker 2] (34:47 - 34:48)
Okay, I got it, okay.

[Speaker 3] (34:50 - 34:51)
You got to the bottom of it, Sherlock.

[Speaker 2] (34:51 - 34:52)
Who are we got there?

[Speaker 5] (34:52 - 34:53)
S why attorneys shouldn't do math.

[Speaker 4] (34:53 - 34:54)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (34:54 - 34:55)
No, you that was good.

[Speaker 5] (34:55 - 34:56)
Ban a day.

[Speaker 2] (34:57 - 34:58)
Are there others?

[Speaker 4] (34:58 - 34:59)
No.

[Speaker 1] (35:01 - 35:01)
Okay.

[Speaker 3] (35:01 - 35:02)
Okay.

[Speaker 2] (35:02 - 35:11)
Not not in the nitty-gritty. I mean we're kind of I feel like we're kind of going down into the depths before we talk about the overall But so just hold on that for now

[Speaker 1] (35:11 - 35:13)
We can do whichever you want.

[Speaker 1] (35:13 - 35:15)
I just meant on that slide before we keep going.

[Speaker 3] (35:15 - 35:15)
Go

[Speaker 1] (35:15 - 35:15)
Okay.

[Speaker 3] (35:15 - 35:16)
ahead, go ahead.

[Speaker 4] (35:16 - 35:16)
Please proceed

[Speaker 5] (35:16 - 35:16)
Please.

[Speaker 4] (35:16 - 35:17)
Okay

[Speaker 1] (35:17 - 35:19)
So community and economic development,

[Speaker 1] (35:19 - 35:25)
it's a decrease of 2.6%. So within that is the health department,

[Speaker 1] (35:25 - 35:27)
the full-time public health nurse,

[Speaker 1] (35:27 - 35:29)
we're transitioning to a contract role.

[Speaker 1] (35:30 - 35:39)
I've talked with the public health director and he's provided a tentative budget for what that could look like and that's where we are here.

[Speaker 1] (35:39 - 35:43)
This reflects the service model change, not a reduction in the public health capacity,

[Speaker 1] (35:43 - 35:44)
just so it's clear.

[Speaker 1] (35:45 - 35:51)
Offsetting that partially are modest salary and staffing updates in the building department and community development.

[Speaker 1] (35:52 - 35:52)
Plus,

[Speaker 1] (35:52 - 35:57)
I think it's the $3,000 expense for code books that are required for the building department as well.

[Speaker 5] (36:00 - 36:14)
I want to note too that the change in the health department was also brought forward to the board of health from the chair it was discussed with the chair so just so everybody's aware there's gonna have an election

[Speaker 3] (36:14 - 36:15)
there'll be no hate mail tomorrow?

[Speaker 5] (36:15 - 36:15)
I

[Speaker 3] (36:15 - 36:15)
Is that what

[Speaker 5] (36:15 - 36:15)
mean

[Speaker 3] (36:15 - 36:15)
you're saying?

[Speaker 5] (36:15 - 36:18)
listen I can't guarantee that I don't know

[Speaker 1] (36:18 - 36:19)
So for public services,

[Speaker 1] (36:19 - 36:22)
which includes facilities,

[Speaker 1] (36:22 - 36:23)
DPW, cemetery,

[Speaker 1] (36:23 - 36:25)
the increase is 2.3%.

[Speaker 1] (36:25 - 36:49)
The notable items here are electric utilities which are up approximately 10%, facilities preventative maintenance which is up and it's an investment in the proactive upkeep to offset and it's offset by the reductions in the extraordinary maintenance contracting which is basically a shift by max to move from break fix to trying to stay ahead of these things.

[Speaker 1] (36:52 - 37:03)
So that's the contracted consulting and then snow and ice is level funded, but obviously we'll have further discussions about that throughout the rest of this fiscal year. Um but we're keeping that number the same for budgeting purposes.

[Speaker 5] (37:04 - 37:05)
We know where snow and ice is now.

[Speaker 4] (37:06 - 37:06)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (37:06 - 37:07)
Do we wanna know?

[Speaker 5] (37:07 - 37:07)
We don't.

[Speaker 5] (37:07 - 37:08)
I do wanna know.

[Speaker 4] (37:08 - 37:09)
It's over budget.

[Speaker 5] (37:09 - 37:12)
'Kay. I b how much, Patrick?

[Speaker 1] (37:12 - 37:12)
I I think

[Speaker 4] (37:12 - 37:12)
Um

[Speaker 1] (37:12 - 37:13)
yeah, I think they were looking for an order of magnitude more.

[Speaker 4] (37:13 - 37:19)
Yeah, we we we authorised them to run over a hundred thousand dollars so that's the order of magnitude.

[Speaker 4] (37:20 - 37:21)
And counting.

[Speaker 5] (37:21 - 37:22)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (37:25 - 37:26)
So moving

[Speaker 5] (37:27 - 37:28)
I do plenty of surfing.

[Speaker 1] (37:30 - 37:31)
on to public safety.

[Speaker 1] (37:32 - 37:35)
This is proposed at $9.27 million,

[Speaker 1] (37:36 - 37:41)
an increase of 7.9%. The largest driver here is the ratification of the CBA for the police.

[Speaker 1] (37:42 - 37:46)
Because we had budgeted at FY25 levels and FY26,

[Speaker 1] (37:46 - 37:48)
this represents a catch-up year of two years of rate increases.

[Speaker 1] (37:50 - 37:57)
The overtime budgets for both police and fire are up approximately 20%. This is based on the historical trends in our actual experience.

[Speaker 1] (37:58 - 38:04)
The idea here is that we should not be paying for what I consider an operating expense with one-time funds.

[Speaker 1] (38:05 - 38:08)
If we were not making these transfers on an annual basis,

[Speaker 1] (38:08 - 38:18)
we would not have raised this, but we want to make sure that we are accurately representing what it costs to run and man the public safety here in town as best we can.

[Speaker 1] (38:18 - 38:33)
Again, the Lynn Dispatch Agreement represents an increase as well of approximately 45,000. And on the positive side, we're consolidating police and fire administrative roles into the single shared position that Diane moved to,

[Speaker 1] (38:33 - 38:36)
which saves approximately $44,000.

[Speaker 1] (38:36 - 38:39)
There's also firefighter step increases,

[Speaker 1] (38:39 - 38:43)
which are included here in approximately $74,000. As I mentioned,

[Speaker 1] (38:43 - 38:46)
we also have the open contract with them.

[Speaker 1] (38:47 - 38:48)
You want to jump in?

[Speaker 2] (38:48 - 38:52)
I don't know. Let Mary Ellen go first if she wants to tee off on it first.

[Speaker 3] (38:53 - 38:54)
All right, you chicken.

[Speaker 3] (38:55 - 38:56)
What? I'll do it.

[Speaker 2] (38:56 - 38:57)
I'm happy to go.

[Speaker 3] (38:57 - 38:58)
Just don't get the party again.

[Speaker 3] (38:59 - 39:06)
So going to the overtime budget, yes, we have historically had to add to the overtime. However,

[Speaker 3] (39:06 - 39:10)
what we have also had historically is

[Speaker 3] (39:11 - 39:15)
For the past five years we've been significantly under-staffed.

[Speaker 2] (39:15 - 39:15)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 3] (39:15 - 39:36)
And by being under-staffed we've had to put a lot of pressure on that overtime budget. The other thing that we've also done is we've renegotiated these contracts so that Manning is now in a different category and it does give the chiefs a little bit more latitude on how Manning is being handled. I think that adding

[Speaker 3] (39:37 - 39:44)
more money into the overtime budget is a mistake. I think what we should do is we should

[Speaker 1] (39:51 - 40:17)
Hold on, let me just go back up. I think we should leave it level, and I think we should spend more time with uh focus on management and to really see what our the real needs are, to really really articulate and to get some real empirical data on what is needed and from there make a decision next year on what to do with that overtime number. I think we're just um we're premature right now.

[Speaker 1] (40:18 - 40:21)
Well, that's what I have to say on overtime.

[Speaker 2] (40:21 - 40:21)
Mm.

[Speaker 3] (40:22 - 40:24)
Sorry, Alan. Is that a comment?

[Speaker 3] (40:24 - 40:24)
Oh, I'm sorry.

[Speaker 2] (40:24 - 40:25)
No, go right ahead, please.

[Speaker 3] (40:25 - 40:35)
Or is that comment you just made, is that for the overtime staffing model, is it more around covering like training,

[Speaker 3] (40:35 - 40:39)
sick leave vacancies or whatever? Or is it minimum safe staffing?

[Speaker 3] (40:40 - 40:49)
What's behind the comment from the historical perspective? I think you just said like it just didn't have enough folks and that's what they were relying on the overtime.

[Speaker 4] (40:49 - 40:50)
Come s

[Speaker 5] (40:50 - 40:50)
Nick,

[Speaker 4] (40:50 - 40:51)
Do you you want to take that?

[Speaker 1] (40:51 - 40:52)
want to answer

[Speaker 4] (40:52 - 40:52)
You can

[Speaker 1] (40:52 - 40:52)
my

[Speaker 4] (40:52 - 40:52)
go.

[Speaker 1] (40:52 - 40:53)
question?

[Speaker 4] (40:53 - 40:54)
Sure, go ahead.

[Speaker 1] (40:55 - 40:58)
So to answer that question,

[Speaker 1] (40:58 - 41:06)
we were short, we've been short-staffed by many, many employees. So what you have to do is you have to

[Speaker 1] (41:07 - 41:32)
have you have to have people out there if you even have to have quite a bit of forced labor you have to force police officers I'm not sure about fire but I know that you have to force police officers to come in on overtime and that that starts ringing up ringing up your bill when if you're going to have a full staff or close to full staff

[Speaker 1] (41:33 - 41:40)
You're not going to have to tax into your overtime budget as much. The other question is from a management standpoint,

[Speaker 1] (41:41 - 41:48)
how is overtime being given out? Are there times when we have situations where it doesn't have to be overtime?

[Speaker 1] (41:48 - 41:56)
Are there times when the staffing should be staffed differently? I mean, are there different levers that can be used? I think that...

[Speaker 1] (41:57 - 42:06)
We just need a good solid year to really understand it and get some real empirical data as to what is this overtime really needed.

[Speaker 1] (42:06 - 42:13)
I think the line item for overtime on training is the same, isn't that the same in this budget for overtime?

[Speaker 1] (42:13 - 42:16)
In the budget there's different line items for overtime.

[Speaker 1] (42:17 - 42:38)
I think for the training over time you can actually calculate you can get a good number on what you're going to need for that so then when you go to the fire fire is different because fire is mandated by the equipment so you have to have X amount of people on a quit on on the equipment and that's I just think there has to be some

[Speaker 1] (42:39 - 42:44)
another level of management and some empirical data, and then at that point make a decision.

[Speaker 3] (42:45 - 42:51)
I, I agree. I think I think it also goes like the question like is it cheaper to have uh more additional FTEs versus the overtime.

[Speaker 3] (42:51 - 42:54)
Two hundred and twenty seven thousand dollars could be add another FTE.

[Speaker 1] (42:55 - 43:03)
So we d we did that study. Um Tim Dorsey did that study um about s ten five years ago, six years ago.

[Speaker 1] (43:04 - 43:07)
And it came out to an even number,

[Speaker 1] (43:07 - 43:31)
Sender McNerney, about fifteen years ago. They did the same study and it came out to even, um whether or not what whether or not to add more or to um go with overtime. And at the time I know when Senator McNerney's finance committee did it, uh the police department preferred having the overtime. I I know when Tim did it, it was

[Speaker 1] (43:32 - 43:34)
It was just level and it wasn't it wasn't worth adding more.

[Speaker 3] (43:35 - 43:35)
Oh.

[Speaker 6] (43:35 - 43:37)
So I would just say on the take

[Speaker 6] (43:39 - 43:46)
get back to the original question like during the winter fire as an example, we run eight there's eight s scheduled employees,

[Speaker 6] (43:46 - 43:50)
but one can go on sick time

[Speaker 3] (43:50 - 43:50)
Sure.

[Speaker 6] (43:50 - 43:58)
vacation without triggering overtime because seven is minimum adding to the point that Mary Ellen was making about being able to run the two pieces of equipment. Um

[Speaker 6] (43:59 - 44:27)
I think there may be a difference of opinion between rank and file and management when you say the police wanted it versus like I think it is something that is not necessarily an expectation but folks you know believe that they between details and overtime or whatever else can achieve whatever level of income that they might plan to make so I think from our from our standpoint giving the tools necessary and accurately reflecting the cost is what we're trying to do.

[Speaker 6] (44:27 - 44:46)
Um to your point Mary Ellen, to both try to manage better but also accurately reflect the cost and not rely on um free cash knowing that it's an expense that has repeatedly come up. The other just the nature of both jobs as well as one person going out I_O_D_ can significantly

[Speaker 6] (44:46 - 45:01)
mess up the entire schedule and cause a significant problem when it comes to overtime. So it's we're talking about sort of a quote-unquote best case where there is not a long-term significant IOD, but just what can we do to better manage the resources that we have in the time that we need. So I'd like Katie.

[Speaker 3] (45:01 - 45:08)
No, so I guess I'd just say I I'm sure we all love our police and our fire and

[Speaker 3] (45:11 - 45:22)
I just, I wholeheartedly agree with Marilyn. If I understood correctly, you in terms you said level funding. You you mean level to what we did last year or like there should be no overtime in the budget?

[Speaker 1] (45:22 - 45:23)
Uh well we did last year.

[Speaker 3] (45:23 - 45:24)
Or we did last year.

[Speaker 1] (45:24 - 45:24)
Yeah.

[Speaker 7] (45:25 - 45:27)
You're just saying pull out the the additional

[Speaker 1] (45:27 - 45:27)
Pull out

[Speaker 7] (45:27 - 45:27)
increase.

[Speaker 1] (45:27 - 45:27)
pull out

[Speaker 7] (45:27 - 45:28)
The additional

[Speaker 1] (45:28 - 45:28)
the increase.

[Speaker 7] (45:28 - 45:28)
two twenty

[Speaker 1] (45:28 - 45:28)
Yeah,

[Speaker 7] (45:28 - 45:29)
seven.

[Speaker 1] (45:29 - 45:29)
pull out the increase.

[Speaker 3] (45:29 - 45:31)
Yeah. Yeah, um I

[Speaker 1] (45:31 - 45:33)
You know if if yeah, pull out the increase.

[Speaker 3] (45:34 - 45:35)
I think at least.

[Speaker 3] (45:35 - 45:37)
I agree with that.

[Speaker 7] (45:37 - 45:37)
Yeah.

[Speaker 3] (45:37 - 45:46)
Because we really are on the verge for the first time at least in my short tenure of being virtually fully staffed, if I understand correctly.

[Speaker 1] (45:47 - 45:47)
Yeah.

[Speaker 3] (45:47 - 45:49)
Um so

[Speaker 3] (45:50 - 45:55)
I do think we need a kind of bottoms up analysis.

[Speaker 3] (45:55 - 46:03)
Uh really I wanna kind of, you know lend my support to you, Nick, working with, you know, both the chiefs.

[Speaker 3] (46:05 - 46:32)
if it even takes a little outside consulting or something in terms of optimization how this how this works because that would pay dividends for many years if we found there's you know various ways to make sure that we're covering in creative ways if we find out that there's no other way around it at least we really know but just kind of putting this in here I understand you know

[Speaker 3] (46:33 - 46:51)
on one level why you did it, because you wanna avoid that free cash draw later. Um but I'd be willing to risk a little bit of that this year for with you know your leadership with the Chiefs to really get that granular analysis clear.

[Speaker 3] (46:52 - 46:53)
Because it's just been floating for

[Speaker 7] (46:53 - 46:53)
Hmm

[Speaker 3] (46:53 - 47:00)
years. And every year it's kind of been like well we have a lot of openings, so we can't really have figured out. Well now we've got an opportunity.

[Speaker 9] (47:01 - 47:13)
I feel like philosophically I align with what Doug and Mary Ellen are saying, which is because we've been so short-staffed, even level funding over time is an increase to them right now because now they have full staff.

[Speaker 9] (47:13 - 47:23)
So from that perspective, just having it at what it was last year should be matching it with some sort of.

[Speaker 9] (47:24 - 47:46)
managerial training or some I don't know if there's a better way to be keeping time of this overtime over a year over the year I do understand that there may be like a three to six month period of time where like we're getting into that and that may create some overage but that would be de minimis compared to what we are typically doing

[Speaker 9] (47:47 - 47:48)
Um,

[Speaker 9] (47:48 - 48:07)
so I would cons I would possibly consider a small percentage of increase based on just that philosophy rather than, you know, taking the entirety of the 227 and putting it in their budget. I do agree though, like the rhetoric has to be made to the chiefs and to,

[Speaker 9] (48:07 - 48:12)
you know, file and rank that this, we cannot be funding overtime through free cash.

[Speaker 9] (48:12 - 48:14)
We don't have that luxury anymore.

[Speaker 9] (48:14 - 48:16)
It doesn't make financial sense for us to have.

[Speaker 9] (48:17 - 48:23)
to be consistently doing that, it's now become a policy and it's a bad one. And we need to write it, correct it.

[Speaker 7] (48:23 - 48:24)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (48:24 - 48:24)
Yeah,

[Speaker 7] (48:24 - 48:24)
You wanna

[Speaker 1] (48:24 - 48:24)
it so becomes

[Speaker 7] (48:24 - 48:25)
go?

[Speaker 1] (48:25 - 48:36)
almost like a performance, sorry David, um more of a performance management tool for the T_A_ to use with the chiefs because they are now more directly responsible for that line item,

[Speaker 7] (48:36 - 48:36)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 1] (48:36 - 48:49)
right, because police is now fully fully staffed, right. So to me, just looking at it, I mean if I I'm not sure the methodology utilizing the historic trends plus twenty percent in this case because

[Speaker 1] (48:49 - 48:56)
Last year was a significantly different staffing situation than what they're going to be looking at for next year, right?

[Speaker 1] (48:56 - 49:02)
So, because they are fully staffed. So I don't know that that 227 makes a whole lot of sense to me in that respect. So I, I

[Speaker 1] (49:03 - 49:04)
wholeheartedly agree with

[Speaker 7] (49:04 - 49:04)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (49:04 - 49:05)
Marilyn here.

[Speaker 6] (49:05 - 49:06)
No.

[Speaker 9] (49:06 - 49:09)
I think too we we negotiated successfully and

[Speaker 3] (49:09 - 49:09)
I just did a new.

[Speaker 9] (49:09 - 49:10)
closed out the police contract

[Speaker 1] (49:10 - 49:11)
Yeah, it's

[Speaker 9] (49:11 - 49:11)
like

[Speaker 7] (49:11 - 49:11)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (49:11 - 49:12)
a good time to do

[Speaker 9] (49:12 - 49:12)
it's

[Speaker 1] (49:12 - 49:12)
this.

[Speaker 9] (49:12 - 49:29)
a good time for us to have the we're at the table together it seems like we're moving in the right direction in in that house so like it's not just the chiefs it's actually the entire department agreeing that philosophically the town has to move in this direction and that that may see

[Speaker 1] (49:29 - 49:30)
We need less their support.

[Speaker 9] (49:30 - 49:31)
over time but

[Speaker 9] (49:31 - 49:39)
If you want us to keep investing in, you know, the services that they want, the increases that they want, the steps that they want, like this is how we're gonna get

[Speaker 2] (49:40 - 49:40)
Mm

[Speaker 1] (49:40 - 49:40)
We need

[Speaker 2] (49:40 - 49:40)
-hmm.

[Speaker 1] (49:40 - 49:44)
to have a little bit of savings so that we can be doing that on the go forward.

[Speaker 3] (49:45 - 49:54)
Yeah, I don't need to beat the dead horse. I'll ask, I'll ask, I'm generally in support of what my colleagues stated. My question was really on the Lynn dispatch agreement,

[Speaker 3] (49:54 - 50:02)
which is up 16%. Is is that a function of capital and expenditure capital investments that are being made in the city of Lynn?

[Speaker 3] (50:03 - 50:08)
How long do we have on that agreement? And are there other opportunities where we may be able to regionalize outside of

[Speaker 4] (50:09 - 50:12)
Set up different setups that we should be looking at and not just

[Speaker 4] (50:14 - 50:16)
hooking our wagon up to Lynn.

[Speaker 5] (50:16 - 50:26)
The only other regional one that exists that I know of to answer that question, David, in this area is uh Middleton House one that has a handful of communities that sort of go north and east from there.

[Speaker 3] (50:26 - 50:26)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 5] (50:26 - 50:34)
Um I don't know what their capacity is or what the cost would look like, but we can certainly look into that as well in addition to trying to close out the conversations with Lynn.

[Speaker 4] (50:34 - 50:42)
Well one of the things that really struck me was when the chief was here he said that when the police chief was here he said that eighty percent of the

[Speaker 4] (50:43 - 50:52)
Calls that come in, come into the police department, come in to the five nine five one one one one number.

[Speaker 4] (50:52 - 51:01)
And twenty percent go to nine one one. So out of all the calls that are coming in, only twenty percent is going to that

[Speaker 6] (51:02 - 51:02)
Dispatch.

[Speaker 4] (51:02 - 51:07)
LIN dispatch, and I just think we've got to really look at this a little bit a little bit differently.

[Speaker 5] (51:12 - 51:20)
And just to make sure I'm clear on what you just said, Patrick, is the like that full basically forty five thousand because we're assuming another kind of capital

[Speaker 5] (51:21 - 51:23)
increase within that?

[Speaker 7] (51:23 - 51:26)
Unclear. So we're assuming that that could occur. That could work

[Speaker 4] (51:26 - 51:26)
Portion

[Speaker 7] (51:26 - 51:26)
out.

[Speaker 4] (51:26 - 51:29)
of that. So the contract itself doesn't cost forty five thousand.

[Speaker 7] (51:29 - 51:29)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (51:29 - 51:31)
This is potentially on top of what we pay.

[Speaker 5] (51:31 - 51:32)
It's the encoding.

[Speaker 4] (51:32 - 51:32)
Am I understanding that?

[Speaker 1] (51:32 - 51:34)
It's a combination between sorry, go ahead.

[Speaker 7] (51:35 - 51:35)
Yeah.

[Speaker 7] (51:35 - 51:37)
So the forty five thousand dollars is the

[Speaker 7] (51:38 - 51:42)
increase we're carrying in the operating budget. And that would be that based

[Speaker 4] (51:42 - 51:42)
Alright.

[Speaker 7] (51:42 - 51:49)
off of, you know, what we had this year for an assessment, which included money towards capital improvements for the entire dispatch.

[Speaker 4] (51:49 - 51:49)
Okay.

[Speaker 5] (51:49 - 51:50)
Right, so I don't quite understand

[Speaker 7] (51:50 - 51:50)
Yep.

[Speaker 5] (51:50 - 51:53)
if every year we're assuming fifty thousand dollar

[Speaker 4] (51:53 - 51:54)
Increase.

[Speaker 5] (51:54 - 51:56)
increase for then

[Speaker 5] (51:59 - 52:05)
Then you already have that high base and now you're saying it's gonna be not just fifty thousand, but like nineteen

[Speaker 4] (52:05 - 52:06)
Another fifty?

[Speaker 5] (52:06 - 52:06)
forty,

[Speaker 4] (52:06 - 52:06)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (52:06 - 52:07)
forty five. I love that.

[Speaker 9] (52:07 - 52:07)
Yeah.

[Speaker 7] (52:07 - 52:15)
The total proposed increase is forty four thousand, inclusive of any like capital that needs to be in that agreement that would

[Speaker 1] (52:15 - 52:15)
You

[Speaker 7] (52:15 - 52:15)
be funded

[Speaker 1] (52:15 - 52:16)
might think in that if

[Speaker 7] (52:16 - 52:16)
this we budget.

[Speaker 1] (52:16 - 52:18)
needed fifty thousand, we'd be short.

[Speaker 4] (52:19 - 52:21)
Well, what's a dollar what's the dollar amount on

[Speaker 7] (52:21 - 52:21)
No,

[Speaker 4] (52:21 - 52:21)
the line items?

[Speaker 7] (52:21 - 52:26)
that would be included in the forty four thousand increase. Our baseline already includes fifty thousand.

[Speaker 1] (52:26 - 52:27)
Yeah, okay.

[Speaker 4] (52:27 - 52:31)
What we're saying it's a forty four thousand dollar increase

[Speaker 10] (52:31 - 52:32)
Assessment, yeah.

[Speaker 4] (52:32 - 52:33)
alright?

[Speaker 3] (52:33 - 52:33)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 4] (52:33 - 52:35)
What what is that line item what is it is

[Speaker 5] (52:36 - 52:37)
Three hundred twenty eight thousand

[Speaker 4] (52:37 - 52:38)
three twenty eight.

[Speaker 10] (52:38 - 52:38)
twenty eight.

[Speaker 7] (52:38 - 52:38)
Yep.

[Speaker 4] (52:38 - 52:39)
It's a lot of money.

[Speaker 7] (52:39 - 52:45)
And I don't wanna get like two lots in the number because obviously this agreement is upcoming and has to be negotiated

[Speaker 10] (52:45 - 52:45)
Of course, yeah.

[Speaker 7] (52:45 - 52:45)
and that'll

[Speaker 10] (52:45 - 52:46)
Yes,

[Speaker 7] (52:46 - 52:46)
come before you

[Speaker 10] (52:46 - 52:46)
negotiated,

[Speaker 7] (52:46 - 52:47)
all.

[Speaker 10] (52:47 - 52:47)
yep.

[Speaker 5] (52:48 - 52:48)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 4] (52:48 - 52:48)
Alright.

[Speaker 5] (52:49 - 52:52)
But I think you've given us fair direction not only to look at this, but

[Speaker 4] (52:52 - 52:52)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (52:52 - 52:57)
understand what its usefulness is versus by the state on an annual basis.

[Speaker 5] (52:57 - 53:02)
That is benefits that are given to veterans who qualify and need that support.

[Speaker 5] (53:02 - 53:04)
Library step increases here.

[Speaker 5] (53:05 - 53:17)
Again we have an open contract but this represents the you know anticipated step increases that we have and then senior center longevity and call increases represent a very minimal increase as you can see here.

[Speaker 4] (53:19 - 53:32)
Can you just talk on that, the senior increase there because it's very minimal and it's a little bit deceiving. It's really higher than that but we have a retirement coming up.

[Speaker 5] (53:32 - 53:35)
Right, so we have a planned retirement coming.

[Speaker 5] (53:36 - 53:41)
Right now we have I know at least one employee who's interested in addition to the fact that we'll be posting it

[Speaker 5] (53:41 - 53:50)
So this sort of represents where we are based on those conversations we had there was discussion about actually adding an FTE there that

[Speaker 5] (53:50 - 54:00)
was something in my recommended budget I did not include an Administrative role because we were working very hard to limit or eliminate expansion where possible

[Speaker 5] (54:02 - 54:06)
Is there a specific dollar number that you think we're missing there?

[Speaker 4] (54:06 - 54:13)
No, it just it says uh it says the increase is one point one percent and it's it's only one point one percent because somebody's

[Speaker 11] (54:13 - 54:14)
Other retirement.

[Speaker 4] (54:14 - 54:18)
retiring, it's it's really higher than higher than that, right?

[Speaker 5] (54:19 - 54:22)
Well, if if Heidi were staying, it would be higher but since she isn't

[Speaker 5] (54:23 - 54:27)
That I the staffing there is primarily part-time

[Speaker 4] (54:27 - 54:27)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (54:27 - 54:34)
and volunteer. So that that is the increase to those that will be remaining as of the beginning of FY27.

[Speaker 4] (54:35 - 54:35)
Right.

[Speaker 12] (54:35 - 54:36)
The role going away

[Speaker 4] (54:36 - 54:36)
That's

[Speaker 12] (54:36 - 54:36)
or

[Speaker 4] (54:36 - 54:37)
the dollar increa

[Speaker 12] (54:37 - 54:37)
No,

[Speaker 4] (54:37 - 54:37)
that's

[Speaker 12] (54:37 - 54:37)
but

[Speaker 4] (54:37 - 54:40)
the dollar increase that's the dollar increase, not the percentage increase.

[Speaker 12] (54:41 - 54:43)
Yeah, but if we want to replace with somebody else, I'm not sure I understand

[Speaker 5] (54:43 - 54:44)
We're carrying

[Speaker 12] (54:44 - 54:44)
Yeah

[Speaker 5] (54:44 - 54:45)
her salary.

[Speaker 5] (54:46 - 54:48)
So not an increase to her salary.

[Speaker 5] (54:49 - 54:50)
So, is that

[Speaker 12] (54:51 - 54:51)
Yeah.

[Speaker 4] (54:51 - 54:53)
Yeah, I just don't want people to look at this and say, what?

[Speaker 4] (54:53 - 54:57)
Seniors are only getting 1%? It's just the budget is only having to go up 1%.

[Speaker 5] (55:04 - 55:10)
Education, uh briefly the school committee requested um the approximately $1.3 million increase.

[Speaker 5] (55:11 - 55:16)
Notably, no additional funding is proposed for the utility reserve. I just wanted to highlight that because we've talked about it quite a bit.

[Speaker 5] (55:17 - 55:35)
Uh and then the ASIC sect tech um assessment is showing an increase of approximately thirty one percent right now. That is, and correct me if I'm wrong, Jason, very much still up in the air based on how many students end up uh enrolling in this freshman class, incoming freshman class.

[Speaker 13] (55:35 - 55:37)
Well this is from last year's, right?

[Speaker 5] (55:37 - 55:37)
Yeah.

[Speaker 13] (55:37 - 55:40)
So next year's would be fluid,

[Speaker 5] (55:40 - 55:41)
Right.

[Speaker 13] (55:41 - 55:41)
I guess.

[Speaker 5] (55:43 - 55:43)
So

[Speaker 4] (55:43 - 55:43)
Would.

[Speaker 5] (55:43 - 55:44)
F_ by twenty seven,

[Speaker 13] (55:44 - 55:45)
Yes.

[Speaker 5] (55:45 - 55:47)
correct. And so

[Speaker 13] (55:47 - 55:48)
We could change. We don't know who's

[Speaker 5] (55:48 - 55:52)
We know there's the opportunity for more people to be going, we don't know how many will actually enrol.

[Speaker 5] (55:54 - 55:56)
And we talked about that, how the lottery had changed

[Speaker 4] (55:56 - 55:57)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (55:57 - 56:00)
to eliminate the interview process and a number of other things that

[Speaker 4] (56:02 - 56:04)
So let's talk a little bit about how this used to go.

[Speaker 4] (56:04 - 56:09)
So in years last year prior to this, it's now a lottery. Right.

[Speaker 5] (56:09 - 56:09)
Yeah.

[Speaker 4] (56:09 - 56:09)
So

[Speaker 4] (56:09 - 56:22)
It used to be anybody, any child interested would go through a series of interviews, the whole process, so you know you could have kids interviewing and applying but not necessarily have any interest in going.

[Speaker 4] (56:22 - 56:24)
All right, so they've totally changed that now

[Speaker 12] (56:24 - 56:24)
Oh

[Speaker 4] (56:24 - 56:25)
and it's

[Speaker 12] (56:25 - 56:25)
yeah.

[Speaker 4] (56:25 - 56:26)
it's entirely out

[Speaker 13] (56:26 - 56:26)
It does,

[Speaker 4] (56:26 - 56:26)
of there.

[Speaker 13] (56:26 - 56:29)
your grades, your attendance, all those things used to be sort of

[Speaker 4] (56:29 - 56:29)
Used to be

[Speaker 13] (56:29 - 56:29)
like

[Speaker 4] (56:29 - 56:30)
be factors. Now

[Speaker 13] (56:30 - 56:33)
major factors, your your interview, now they don't even interview. It's complete lottery system.

[Speaker 4] (56:34 - 56:34)
And

[Speaker 13] (56:34 - 56:34)
Siblings

[Speaker 4] (56:34 - 56:35)
and

[Speaker 13] (56:35 - 56:35)
included.

[Speaker 4] (56:35 - 56:36)
your grades don't matter? No.

[Speaker 13] (56:36 - 56:36)
Nope.

[Speaker 4] (56:36 - 56:37)
Wow.

[Speaker 13] (56:37 - 56:38)
Yep.

[Speaker 4] (56:38 - 56:50)
And that's primarily because it uh it could be subjective, it could be you know your answers in interviews and and such would be used against you potentially, right? So maybe discriminatory in nature. So they went to this new model.

[Speaker 14] (56:49 - 56:50)
model,

[Speaker 1] (56:50 - 56:50)
Mhm.

[Speaker 14] (56:50 - 56:59)
where it's entirely by picking a lottery number, right, where they're trying this for this year. But we had I think requested a lower number

[Speaker 5] (56:59 - 56:59)
Yes.

[Speaker 14] (56:59 - 57:04)
as low as possible, so wouldn't affect us budgetarily, but

[Speaker 1] (57:04 - 57:05)
But they didn't think that

[Speaker 14] (57:05 - 57:05)
seem to care

[Speaker 1] (57:05 - 57:06)
could be the same thing in

[Speaker 14] (57:06 - 57:06)
Right,

[Speaker 5] (57:06 - 57:06)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (57:06 - 57:06)
in

[Speaker 14] (57:06 - 57:06)
in

[Speaker 1] (57:06 - 57:06)
a

[Speaker 5] (57:06 - 57:06)
It's

[Speaker 1] (57:06 - 57:07)
bigger

[Speaker 5] (57:07 - 57:07)
true,

[Speaker 1] (57:07 - 57:07)
cities

[Speaker 5] (57:07 - 57:07)
yeah.

[Speaker 7] (57:07 - 57:07)
Yes.

[Speaker 14] (57:07 - 57:07)
argued

[Speaker 5] (57:07 - 57:08)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (57:08 - 57:08)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (57:08 - 57:08)
Yep.

[Speaker 14] (57:08 - 57:08)
yeah.

[Speaker 5] (57:08 - 57:10)
But it's a proportional school committee.

[Speaker 14] (57:10 - 57:11)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (57:11 - 57:13)
And so I've talked to other TAs who are also

[Speaker 5] (57:15 - 57:17)
concerned and looking at it, I'm sure Jason's

[Speaker 12] (57:17 - 57:17)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (57:17 - 57:24)
talked to other superintendents that are concerned and looking at it. Uh you know, the that's sort of our baseline. So it's if we have twenty eight

[Speaker 5] (57:25 - 57:28)
attendee or 28 applicants and they all want to go there they can all get in,

[Speaker 4] (57:29 - 57:29)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (57:29 - 57:38)
but we might have 32 applicants and only 14 want to go there, in which case those 14 would get you know like it doesn't mean that they're going to get 28 students out of our school system,

[Speaker 4] (57:38 - 57:38)
Sure.

[Speaker 5] (57:38 - 57:38)
but

[Speaker 4] (57:38 - 57:39)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (57:39 - 57:45)
that that is the minimum. But alternatively it could be if there's 35 applicants and other communities don't hit their number,

[Speaker 4] (57:45 - 57:46)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (57:46 - 57:51)
that they come back in they go back around in the pool of people that could not get in at their minimum number in each community.

[Speaker 5] (57:50 - 57:52)
in each community, as I understand that stuff,

[Speaker 13] (57:52 - 57:52)
Yeah,

[Speaker 5] (57:52 - 57:53)
that

[Speaker 13] (57:53 - 57:53)
and what they

[Speaker 5] (57:53 - 57:53)
area

[Speaker 13] (57:53 - 57:53)
did

[Speaker 5] (57:53 - 57:54)
thing.

[Speaker 13] (57:54 - 57:58)
not do in the past, not to bore you with this, but they used to if say you had

[Speaker 13] (57:58 - 58:07)
30 Swamp Scout kids apply and only 20 got in, they wouldn't just go back to the pool at large with everybody. Now they're going back to the Swamp Scout kids.

[Speaker 13] (58:08 - 58:10)
If they're not interested, then they go back to the pool.

[Speaker 5] (58:10 - 58:11)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (58:11 - 58:11)
Oh.

[Speaker 1] (58:12 - 58:13)
So there's a floor and a ceiling

[Speaker 14] (58:13 - 58:13)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (58:13 - 58:14)
basically.

[Speaker 14] (58:14 - 58:14)
And

[Speaker 4] (58:14 - 58:14)
There's

[Speaker 14] (58:14 - 58:16)
you could be affected by other challenges.

[Speaker 1] (58:16 - 58:16)
Yep.

[Speaker 5] (58:16 - 58:16)
there's no

[Speaker 13] (58:16 - 58:16)
Absolutely.

[Speaker 5] (58:16 - 58:17)
ceiling.

[Speaker 13] (58:17 - 58:18)
There's no ceiling.

[Speaker 5] (58:18 - 58:18)
But

[Speaker 1] (58:18 - 58:18)
Is it

[Speaker 5] (58:18 - 58:18)
there's only a floor.

[Speaker 1] (58:18 - 58:19)
28 was our ceiling,

[Speaker 1] (58:19 - 58:19)
no?

[Speaker 5] (58:19 - 58:20)
Oh yeah,

[Speaker 5] (58:20 - 58:21)
number of applicants is

[Speaker 1] (58:21 - 58:21)
Yeah,

[Speaker 5] (58:21 - 58:21)
a ceiling.

[Speaker 1] (58:21 - 58:21)
yeah.

[Speaker 1] (58:21 - 58:22)
Oh, okay.

[Speaker 5] (58:22 - 58:25)
No, no, so it's not 28, it's a number of applicants from the district.

[Speaker 5] (58:26 - 58:29)
The floor is 28 acceptances.

[Speaker 1] (58:29 - 58:30)
Okay.

[Speaker 14] (58:30 - 58:30)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (58:31 - 58:33)
Does that make sense to you now or

[Speaker 1] (58:33 - 58:33)
No,

[Speaker 5] (58:33 - 58:33)
no?

[Speaker 4] (58:33 - 58:33)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (58:33 - 58:33)
so there,

[Speaker 1] (58:33 - 58:35)
so if we have 50 people apply,

[Speaker 14] (58:36 - 58:37)
50 freshmen,

[Speaker 14] (58:37 - 58:38)
potential freshmen.

[Speaker 1] (58:38 - 58:41)
yeah then 50 kids could end up going?

[Speaker 5] (58:42 - 58:43)
It is

[Speaker 1] (58:43 - 58:43)
Depending

[Speaker 5] (58:43 - 58:43)
unlikely,

[Speaker 1] (58:43 - 58:43)
on whether everything

[Speaker 5] (58:43 - 58:45)
but yeah, within the

[Speaker 1] (58:45 - 58:45)
is

[Speaker 5] (58:45 - 58:45)
realm

[Speaker 1] (58:45 - 58:45)
shot.

[Speaker 5] (58:45 - 58:45)
of possibility.

[Speaker 14] (58:45 - 58:46)
Depending on what

[Speaker 1] (58:46 - 58:46)
Okay,

[Speaker 14] (58:46 - 58:46)
the terrain

[Speaker 1] (58:46 - 58:47)
sorry,

[Speaker 14] (58:47 - 58:47)
breaks

[Speaker 1] (58:47 - 58:47)
I just misunderstood,

[Speaker 14] (58:47 - 58:47)
out.

[Speaker 1] (58:47 - 58:47)
I did,

[Speaker 1] (58:47 - 58:49)
I misunderstood that the 28 was a ceiling,

[Speaker 5] (58:49 - 58:50)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (58:50 - 58:50)
that there's a minimum,

[Speaker 1] (58:51 - 58:51)
okay,

[Speaker 14] (58:51 - 58:51)
What

[Speaker 1] (58:51 - 58:51)
got it.

[Speaker 14] (58:51 - 58:52)
about the transportation number,

[Speaker 14] (58:52 - 58:53)
does that?

[Speaker 5] (58:53 - 58:56)
It's built into the assessment, I think, if I read that correctly.

[Speaker 14] (58:56 - 58:58)
And we only pay for who goes,

[Speaker 14] (58:58 - 58:59)
correct?

[Speaker 14] (59:00 - 59:02)
from our district like say 10 kids go

[Speaker 13] (59:02 - 59:03)
If 10 kids go, that's

[Speaker 14] (59:03 - 59:04)
That's

[Speaker 13] (59:04 - 59:04)
up all on them.

[Speaker 14] (59:04 - 59:06)
we're paying for we're not paying for 20 or 28

[Speaker 13] (59:06 - 59:07)
Right.

[Speaker 14] (59:07 - 59:07)
or whatever the number is

[Speaker 13] (59:07 - 59:11)
And if less than our seats go, so say 10 kids go out of the 28,

[Speaker 13] (59:11 - 59:14)
it's not like we're paying the difference.

[Speaker 13] (59:14 - 59:17)
That goes to the, if our kids don't go and a Peabody kid goes,

[Speaker 13] (59:17 - 59:18)
Peabody pays.

[Speaker 1] (59:18 - 59:18)
Right.

[Speaker 14] (59:18 - 59:18)
That's right

[Speaker 12] (59:18 - 59:18)
Yeah.

[Speaker 13] (59:18 - 59:23)
Because that was my number one concern actually when I went there that are we paying for the minimum seats no matter what?

[Speaker 14] (59:23 - 59:23)
Right

[Speaker 13] (59:23 - 59:24)
That's not the case.

[Speaker 13] (59:24 - 59:27)
So that was part of the argument too.

[Speaker 5] (59:28 - 59:34)
So then while we're on this page, um just for everyone's benefit, at least hopefully it's for everyone's

[Speaker 2] (59:55 - 59:55)
That's

[Speaker 1] (59:55 - 59:55)
so

[Speaker 2] (59:55 - 59:56)
on the um school budget presentation.

[Speaker 1] (59:56 - 59:58)
In the school budget sorry.

[Speaker 1] (59:59 - 1:00:00)
So on the admin,

[Speaker 1] (1:00:00 - 1:00:03)
even though it says it's an 18% increase,

[Speaker 1] (1:00:03 - 1:00:12)
basically there's, if I'm reading this right, there's no discretion basically in that,

[Speaker 1] (1:00:12 - 1:00:25)
in the sense that it's all driven by lane changes and salary increases that are already baked.

[Speaker 1] (1:00:26 - 1:00:29)
Is that a is that a correct reading of what I'm seeing here?

[Speaker 3] (1:00:31 - 1:00:32)
I'm not sure, but

[Speaker 1] (1:00:33 - 1:00:39)
Well it says administrative cost center percent increase because you look at it say whoa 18% wow you know what's going on.

[Speaker 1] (1:00:40 - 1:00:49)
It is driven by projected lane changes 62% of the increase and non-union salary increases and then it lists all the specific you know positions.

[Speaker 4] (1:00:51 - 1:00:51)
Page nine.

[Speaker 1] (1:00:51 - 1:00:58)
And I'm just trying to, you know, I don't want to overread it or I don't want to underread it.

[Speaker 3] (1:00:58 - 1:00:59)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (1:00:59 - 1:01:07)
Um I just want to make sure I'm reading it accurately and my my what I take away from it basically is like there there's no flexibility there.

[Speaker 1] (1:01:09 - 1:01:10)
Is that correct?

[Speaker 3] (1:01:10 - 1:01:16)
That looks correct to me. I would need Ms Stella here to say for sure just in case I'm missing something. But that's what it looks like to me as well.

[Speaker 5] (1:01:16 - 1:01:18)
Doug, we can email you tomorrow with

[Speaker 3] (1:01:18 - 1:01:18)
Okay.

[Speaker 5] (1:01:18 - 1:01:20)
a specific answer to that question. It's a very good question.

[Speaker 5] (1:01:21 - 1:01:21)
Well...

[Speaker 3] (1:01:21 - 1:01:22)
That's what it looks like.

[Speaker 1] (1:01:22 - 1:01:25)
And then the same thing kind of on the facilities.

[Speaker 1] (1:01:26 - 1:01:29)
You know, again, that was 6.75% increase,

[Speaker 1] (1:01:29 - 1:01:37)
but it seems to say that this is really driven by a gas supply contract and an electric supply contract.

[Speaker 6] (1:01:38 - 1:01:38)
Yes.

[Speaker 1] (1:01:38 - 1:01:44)
And so I walk away with the indication that it's basically these are already set,

[Speaker 1] (1:01:44 - 1:01:45)
they're fixed.

[Speaker 1] (1:01:45 - 1:01:49)
There's no creativity or anything else possible here.

[Speaker 5] (1:01:49 - 1:01:50)
You're correct.

[Speaker 1] (1:01:50 - 1:01:51)
It is what it is.

[Speaker 5] (1:01:51 - 1:01:52)
You're correct.

[Speaker 5] (1:01:52 - 1:01:54)
But again, we'll verify that

[Speaker 1] (1:01:54 - 1:01:54)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (1:01:54 - 1:01:54)
for you.

[Speaker 1] (1:01:55 - 1:01:55)
Okay.

[Speaker 7] (1:01:55 - 1:02:07)
Jason, do we have an a number on what is going to be generated from the solar and the geo like

[Speaker 3] (1:02:07 - 1:02:08)
I don't have that on me.

[Speaker 7] (1:02:09 - 1:02:11)
and okay so

[Speaker 7] (1:02:13 - 1:02:27)
That's a question is what what's what is the forecast for that and then what's the forecast for the actual cost? I mean we know that it was 196 for those specific periods, but there's a number of months that weren't included in there.

[Speaker 3] (1:02:30 - 1:02:30)
I

[Speaker 1] (1:02:30 - 1:02:30)
Yeah,

[Speaker 3] (1:02:30 - 1:02:30)
can look

[Speaker 1] (1:02:30 - 1:02:30)
it's

[Speaker 3] (1:02:30 - 1:02:30)
a fair into that.

[Speaker 1] (1:02:30 - 1:02:33)
point, 'cause if you have all this kind of going up,

[Speaker 1] (1:02:35 - 1:02:41)
You know, it it the whole point kind of was like well once we get that solar it's gonna be coming down and yet it's going up

[Speaker 2] (1:02:41 - 1:02:42)
Where's that going?

[Speaker 1] (1:02:42 - 1:02:45)
23% for the electric supply contract. It's kind of like what?

[Speaker 7] (1:02:46 - 1:02:46)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (1:02:48 - 1:02:49)
Maybe both things are true.

[Speaker 2] (1:02:49 - 1:02:49)
What

[Speaker 3] (1:02:49 - 1:02:49)
Yeah,

[Speaker 1] (1:02:49 - 1:02:49)
I

[Speaker 2] (1:02:49 - 1:02:49)
is

[Speaker 3] (1:02:49 - 1:02:50)
think,

[Speaker 2] (1:02:50 - 1:02:50)
it saying?

[Speaker 3] (1:02:50 - 1:02:50)
yeah.

[Speaker 1] (1:02:50 - 1:02:50)
mean?

[Speaker 3] (1:02:50 - 1:02:50)
The cost of everything's

[Speaker 2] (1:02:50 - 1:02:51)
It's

[Speaker 3] (1:02:51 - 1:02:51)
going

[Speaker 2] (1:02:51 - 1:02:51)
the cost

[Speaker 3] (1:02:51 - 1:02:51)
up.

[Speaker 2] (1:02:51 - 1:02:51)
of everything

[Speaker 3] (1:02:51 - 1:02:51)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:02:51 - 1:02:52)
is going up,

[Speaker 1] (1:02:52 - 1:02:52)
It's still but 23

[Speaker 2] (1:02:52 - 1:02:52)
so, but sure,

[Speaker 1] (1:02:52 - 1:02:54)
% and

[Speaker 2] (1:02:54 - 1:02:54)
but I mean,

[Speaker 1] (1:02:54 - 1:02:55)
you think that you're getting the

[Speaker 7] (1:02:55 - 1:02:55)
Well,

[Speaker 1] (1:02:55 - 1:02:55)
solar

[Speaker 7] (1:02:55 - 1:02:56)
we got

[Speaker 1] (1:02:56 - 1:02:56)
working,

[Speaker 7] (1:02:56 - 1:02:56)
solar.

[Speaker 1] (1:02:56 - 1:02:57)
you know, it shouldn't be

[Speaker 2] (1:02:58 - 1:03:00)
Yeah, I mean we should definitely understand

[Speaker 9] (1:03:00 - 1:03:00)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:03:00 - 1:03:00)
the differential,

[Speaker 1] (1:03:00 - 1:03:01)
Is that

[Speaker 2] (1:03:01 - 1:03:01)
but

[Speaker 1] (1:03:01 - 1:03:06)
the gross number or the, I don't know if that's a gross number, like, because the contract may go up, but we're making money off the solar.

[Speaker 2] (1:03:06 - 1:03:06)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (1:03:06 - 1:03:06)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (1:03:07 - 1:03:07)
All right.

[Speaker 1] (1:03:07 - 1:03:09)
I'm not sure how But sure. where's that money then?

[Speaker 1] (1:03:09 - 1:03:10)
Well,

[Speaker 5] (1:03:10 - 1:03:10)
That

[Speaker 1] (1:03:10 - 1:03:11)
then it would could be in the admin budget.

[Speaker 2] (1:03:11 - 1:03:13)
Could be factored in to this.

[Speaker 1] (1:03:13 - 1:03:17)
I just, you can't tell from the level Right, right. of detail. So that would be good to just, yeah, be super clear about.

[Speaker 5] (1:03:17 - 1:03:18)
Yeah, we'll definitely,

[Speaker 5] (1:03:18 - 1:03:19)
that's a great question.

[Speaker 5] (1:03:20 - 1:03:21)
We'll get answers to that.

[Speaker 2] (1:03:22 - 1:03:23)
Thank you.

[Speaker 7] (1:03:24 - 1:03:30)
So another question that I have is we have a 1.3 million dollar increase,

[Speaker 7] (1:03:30 - 1:03:43)
but the big question is as there was according to the 9-11 meeting you had 575,000 that was moved over into the Nahant revolving account.

[Speaker 7] (1:03:43 - 1:03:46)
So is this 1.3 million minus 575?

[Speaker 3] (1:03:51 - 1:03:52)
I did not realize we were going to be.

[Speaker 3] (1:03:53 - 1:04:00)
Answering questions tonight, we have the budget hearing on the 5th. We have a meeting with FinCom on the 12th, so I can't speak to that right now.

[Speaker 1] (1:04:02 - 1:04:06)
I think that what, as I understand what was proposed,

[Speaker 1] (1:04:06 - 1:04:09)
this is their cost to operate the school department.

[Speaker 1] (1:04:09 - 1:04:10)
And so,

[Speaker 7] (1:04:10 - 1:04:13)
Yeah, not not funding. Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (1:04:13 - 1:04:13)
yeah. So,

[Speaker 10] (1:04:13 - 1:04:14)
It's not

[Speaker 1] (1:04:14 - 1:04:14)
correct.

[Speaker 10] (1:04:14 - 1:04:14)
a net of any 365,

[Speaker 7] (1:04:14 - 1:04:15)
That's right.

[Speaker 10] (1:04:15 - 1:04:15)
75,

[Speaker 7] (1:04:15 - 1:04:16)
Yeah.

[Speaker 10] (1:04:16 - 1:04:16)
right.

[Speaker 7] (1:04:16 - 1:04:16)
Yep.

[Speaker 7] (1:04:17 - 1:04:18)
Good point.

[Speaker 1] (1:04:19 - 1:04:19)
So.

[Speaker 11] (1:04:20 - 1:04:21)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (1:04:21 - 1:04:22)
Moving on.

[Speaker 5] (1:04:22 - 1:04:26)
But I mean I think to Mary Ellen's point that that is still an open discussion

[Speaker 11] (1:04:26 - 1:04:26)
It is.

[Speaker 5] (1:04:26 - 1:04:43)
I mean we to your point Jason we had the general meeting we talked about a going forward plan to have some policies so we wouldn't be you know reacting to different levels of numbers I'm not sure where that is or but we we still haven't had a discussion about where that 575 stands today I don't think everybody really

[Speaker 5] (1:04:43 - 1:04:54)
in this group understands that or if we should consider if it's still there some discussion about using it to subsidize the general budget. I think those are the discussions we just need to have 'cause we haven't had them yet.

[Speaker 2] (1:04:54 - 1:04:54)
Mm.

[Speaker 1] (1:04:56 - 1:04:56)
Yep.

[Speaker 12] (1:04:56 - 1:05:01)
I was just speaking to the slides that we have in front of us tonight, but you absolutely agree with the larger point.

[Speaker 2] (1:05:03 - 1:05:07)
We will work to get that on either a joint agenda or

[Speaker 2] (1:05:08 - 1:05:10)
clear out a way to have that conversation because

[Speaker 2] (1:05:11 - 1:05:14)
I don't think we have everybody at the table here to have a fruitful

[Speaker 5] (1:05:14 - 1:05:14)
Yeah,

[Speaker 2] (1:05:14 - 1:05:14)
conversation

[Speaker 5] (1:05:14 - 1:05:14)
probably

[Speaker 2] (1:05:14 - 1:05:14)
tonight.

[Speaker 5] (1:05:14 - 1:05:15)
should be a joint meeting.

[Speaker 2] (1:05:15 - 1:05:16)
Yeah.

[Speaker 12] (1:05:16 - 1:05:22)
So this is just a rundown of the debt service, budgeted up two percent from FY 26,

[Speaker 12] (1:05:22 - 1:05:23)
long-term debt principal,

[Speaker 12] (1:05:23 - 1:05:30)
an interest are both decreasing, principals down 2.8, interest is down six percent reflecting the pay down of existing debt.

[Speaker 12] (1:05:30 - 1:05:32)
Short-term debt service is increasing.

[Speaker 12] (1:05:33 - 1:05:38)
Principal is up 156 thousand and interest is, is that right?

[Speaker 12] (1:05:38 - 1:05:39)
Interest is up 270.

[Speaker 1] (1:05:41 - 1:05:41)
Can

[Speaker 3] (1:05:41 - 1:05:41)
Um

[Speaker 1] (1:05:41 - 1:05:43)
you explain the last two please?

[Speaker 7] (1:05:45 - 1:05:45)
Short term?

[Speaker 12] (1:05:46 - 1:05:46)
Yes.

[Speaker 7] (1:05:46 - 1:05:46)
It's funny.

[Speaker 12] (1:05:47 - 1:05:58)
So we have a short-term note that the board actually approved on Monday, and those purposes that are maturing in March of next year will be required to make a principal pay down on some of those.

[Speaker 12] (1:05:58 - 1:06:00)
So that makes up the $156,000.

[Speaker 12] (1:06:01 - 1:06:05)
Those are items we've been borrowing on a short-term basis for three years or more,

[Speaker 12] (1:06:05 - 1:06:10)
and DOR requires us to start ticking down the payment just as if you had issued bonds.

[Speaker 12] (1:06:11 - 1:06:12)
And short-term...

[Speaker 13] (1:06:13 - 1:06:25)
Interests reflect new money that was issued on the note recently and a potential additional borrowing before the end of the year that will be needed for projects such as the ladder truck that are proceeding.

[Speaker 13] (1:06:26 - 1:06:29)
So this number will be fine-tuned downward,

[Speaker 13] (1:06:29 - 1:06:30)
I would anticipate,

[Speaker 13] (1:06:30 - 1:06:32)
throughout the budget process.

[Speaker 1] (1:06:32 - 1:06:34)
I think what's throwing me again here, Patrick,

[Speaker 1] (1:06:34 - 1:06:39)
so they're up 60 and 42 percent, meaning like just last year we...

[Speaker 5] (1:06:41 - 1:06:43)
Didn't do anywhere near as much of

[Speaker 7] (1:06:43 - 1:06:43)
Where

[Speaker 5] (1:06:43 - 1:06:43)
this.

[Speaker 7] (1:06:43 - 1:06:45)
is he said funding for short-term debt

[Speaker 13] (1:06:45 - 1:06:46)
and Right.

[Speaker 7] (1:06:46 - 1:06:46)
the It's long

[Speaker 5] (1:06:46 - 1:06:48)
just a short term versus long term.

[Speaker 7] (1:06:48 - 1:06:49)
He said

[Speaker 5] (1:06:49 - 1:06:53)
And the total debt service is only up two percent or something I think in total

[Speaker 13] (1:06:53 - 1:06:54)
Two percent.

[Speaker 5] (1:06:54 - 1:06:59)
But I think it's just shifting between long and short term that Pat was giving you that detail, but it's not up.

[Speaker 13] (1:07:00 - 1:07:06)
Yeah, we did not issue any long-term bonds this year, whereas previously we had been doing that the last couple years, so.

[Speaker 1] (1:07:07 - 1:07:10)
Unfortunately, the pluses and minuses on this slide don't come out to be even.

[Speaker 5] (1:07:12 - 1:07:14)
Not on the even. It's $100,000 out for something

[Speaker 1] (1:07:14 - 1:07:16)
It's that just simply is shifting from short

[Speaker 5] (1:07:16 - 1:07:16)
No,

[Speaker 1] (1:07:16 - 1:07:17)
to long term

[Speaker 2] (1:07:17 - 1:07:17)
but we

[Speaker 1] (1:07:17 - 1:07:17)
in

[Speaker 2] (1:07:17 - 1:07:17)
have much

[Speaker 1] (1:07:17 - 1:07:18)
terms

[Speaker 2] (1:07:18 - 1:07:18)
of the

[Speaker 1] (1:07:18 - 1:07:18)
the dollars.

[Speaker 5] (1:07:18 - 1:07:22)
short-term debt is increasing costs that that's, I mean, I think.

[Speaker 2] (1:07:22 - 1:07:25)
But the short-term debt is less than the long-term debt,

[Speaker 2] (1:07:25 - 1:07:27)
right? So when you look at the increase,

[Speaker 2] (1:07:27 - 1:07:31)
the increase is greater because there's less money there.

[Speaker 2] (1:07:31 - 1:07:31)
So okay.

[Speaker 1] (1:07:31 - 1:07:32)
Yeah,

[Speaker 1] (1:07:32 - 1:07:34)
I get that on that percentage, but even the dollars themselves.

[Speaker 2] (1:07:35 - 1:07:35)
Got

[Speaker 1] (1:07:35 - 1:07:36)
We're adding.

[Speaker 2] (1:07:36 - 1:07:36)
it.

[Speaker 2] (1:07:36 - 1:07:37)
Yep, got it.

[Speaker 7] (1:07:37 - 1:07:47)
The question I have is, so what percentage is this in our overall budget? It's 10%?

[Speaker 13] (1:07:48 - 1:07:52)
It's under 10%. It is 9

[Speaker 13] (1:07:54 - 1:07:57)
.7% of the proposed appropriative budget.

[Speaker 7] (1:07:57 - 1:07:58)
Okay.

[Speaker 7] (1:07:59 - 1:08:01)
And the rating agencies...

[Speaker 7] (1:08:03 - 1:08:07)
We'll have an it'll have a negative effect on us we go over ten percent is that true

[Speaker 13] (1:08:08 - 1:08:09)
So as

[Speaker 7] (1:08:09 - 1:08:09)
your guess right

[Speaker 13] (1:08:09 - 1:08:13)
we take on additional debt or liabilities with our pension liability,

[Speaker 13] (1:08:13 - 1:08:15)
you know, went sideways,

[Speaker 13] (1:08:15 - 1:08:18)
that would negatively impact our rating.

[Speaker 13] (1:08:18 - 1:08:30)
Whether or not it tips the scale completely depends because they weight all different criteria. So they'd have to, that's why they review all of our different aspects financially when we meet with them, not just that, but that's one metric.

[Speaker 7] (1:08:30 - 1:08:35)
okay so we have to be really concerned and diligent about what we're doing with this debt

[Speaker 7] (1:08:35 - 1:08:46)
debt number as it goes over the as it fluctuates around that 10% for the next five years because we've got five years left I think it's five years am I right there five years twenty

[Speaker 5] (1:08:47 - 1:08:47)
For what?

[Speaker 7] (1:08:48 - 1:08:51)
twenty thirty twenty what are we twenty thirty one or twenty thirty two

[Speaker 13] (1:08:51 - 1:08:52)
For

[Speaker 5] (1:08:52 - 1:08:52)
For what?

[Speaker 7] (1:08:52 - 1:08:53)
for retirement

[Speaker 5] (1:08:53 - 1:08:53)
Twenty

[Speaker 13] (1:08:53 - 1:08:54)
thirty

[Speaker 5] (1:08:54 - 1:08:54)
thirty and

[Speaker 13] (1:08:54 - 1:08:54)
one

[Speaker 5] (1:08:54 - 1:08:54)
pension?

[Speaker 13] (1:08:54 - 1:08:54)
twenty

[Speaker 5] (1:08:54 - 1:08:55)
Yeah.

[Speaker 7] (1:08:55 - 1:08:56)
thirty one right all

[Speaker 5] (1:08:56 - 1:08:57)
Twenty thirty two I think it is.

[Speaker 13] (1:08:57 - 1:08:57)
two

[Speaker 5] (1:08:57 - 1:08:57)
Alright.

[Speaker 12] (1:08:57 - 1:08:58)
fiscally at 20.

[Speaker 7] (1:08:58 - 1:08:59)
right so

[Speaker 5] (1:09:00 - 1:09:00)
That's two.

[Speaker 5] (1:09:01 - 1:09:03)
You're saying until then?

[Speaker 7] (1:09:03 - 1:09:06)
We've got a really big deal of what we're doing in this pocket here,

[Speaker 7] (1:09:06 - 1:09:10)
because we also have, we've got the middle school,

[Speaker 7] (1:09:10 - 1:09:13)
I mean, we've got some big things we're looking at as far as debt,

[Speaker 7] (1:09:13 - 1:09:15)
the middle school is one of them,

[Speaker 7] (1:09:15 - 1:09:16)
it was the big

[Speaker 13] (1:09:16 - 1:09:16)
Yeah,

[Speaker 7] (1:09:16 - 1:09:16)
one,

[Speaker 13] (1:09:16 - 1:09:18)
I think you're making a really good point.

[Speaker 13] (1:09:18 - 1:09:22)
I think we've invested a lot in our assets over right, the past

[Speaker 7] (1:09:22 - 1:09:22)
right.

[Speaker 13] (1:09:22 - 1:09:25)
five years, primarily through borrowing.

[Speaker 13] (1:09:25 - 1:09:29)
So our debt position is higher than it had been, you know, if you look five years.

[Speaker 1] (1:09:36 - 1:09:51)
So we've been in a mode of borrowing but as needs are still out there and our capacity is you know we're coming up to our policies we we need to look to you know prioritization one and two you know other funding sources.

[Speaker 1] (1:09:52 - 1:09:53)
Not just debt.

[Speaker 2] (1:09:53 - 1:09:57)
Can you send us the debt schedule of when things are falling off within the next seven years?

[Speaker 1] (1:09:57 - 1:09:57)
Yep.

[Speaker 3] (1:09:59 - 1:10:05)
And is, are these debt service numbers assuming what's in the capital plan?

[Speaker 1] (1:10:07 - 1:10:13)
So what's proposed in the capital plan and before FinCom now.

[Speaker 1] (1:10:14 - 1:10:20)
Those purposes will be borrowed for sometime next year. For debt service that will come on in FY '28

[Speaker 2] (1:10:20 - 1:10:21)
Next.

[Speaker 1] (1:10:21 - 1:10:29)
typically. That's the cadence. So that's one year behind. So we have the full, you know, thirty year projection and um

[Speaker 3] (1:10:30 - 1:10:36)
So reducing theoretically reducing the capital plan, do less borrowing

[Speaker 1] (1:10:36 - 1:10:36)
not

[Speaker 3] (1:10:36 - 1:10:39)
isn't actually going to help us in FY '27.

[Speaker 1] (1:10:39 - 1:10:41)
for this budget. Nope.

[Speaker 4] (1:11:02 - 1:11:04)
Yeah, can I just work from this for a second?

[Speaker 2] (1:11:04 - 1:11:04)
Go ahead.

[Speaker 4] (1:11:04 - 1:11:08)
Oh, we figured that out. Okay. So unemployment benefits, um

[Speaker 4] (1:11:09 - 1:11:10)
Where are we here?

[Speaker 2] (1:11:10 - 1:11:11)
Yes.

[Speaker 4] (1:11:11 - 1:11:17)
Uh pension is up four point one percent, which is approximately two hundred and sixty four thousand. The fully funds our obligation for this year.

[Speaker 4] (1:11:18 - 1:11:21)
The help sh health insurance is uh s the story, as I've mentioned a couple times here.

[Speaker 4] (1:11:22 - 1:11:27)
We have it at 14.5%. I do not anticipate that will be the final number,

[Speaker 4] (1:11:27 - 1:11:30)
especially with the plan design changes that were voted on last week.

[Speaker 4] (1:11:30 - 1:11:32)
But as we put this together,

[Speaker 4] (1:11:32 - 1:11:42)
we're very conservative to reflect the high end of both last year and the guidance this year was someplace north of 13 as the high point.

[Speaker 4] (1:11:42 - 1:11:46)
That will obviously come down now that they've eliminated GLP1s.

[Speaker 4] (1:11:47 - 1:11:50)
As that gets finalized, we will come back to you with more information obviously.

[Speaker 4] (1:11:52 - 1:11:59)
The enrollment table which we cannot see up here shows the shift in plan enrollment from January 25th to 26th. We'll post this online.

[Speaker 4] (1:12:00 - 1:12:26)
As well the most significant movement is a large migration from Health New England to Harvard Pilgrim, twenty four individual and seventeen family plans. The premium difference is approximately three percent for in individual and nine percent for the family. This contributes to the overall cost increase and it's independent of the overall rate adjustment. One of the things that we will be looking at here in addition is working with an outside consultant that can help us to potentially design a plan

[Speaker 4] (1:12:26 - 1:12:29)
To incentivize folks to move off of our health insurance,

[Speaker 4] (1:12:29 - 1:12:32)
we would come back to you with any proposals,

[Speaker 4] (1:12:32 - 1:12:35)
but that is one of our goals to look at all potential levers.

[Speaker 4] (1:12:35 - 1:12:37)
So whether it's cost share,

[Speaker 4] (1:12:37 - 1:12:40)
it's an incentive if you've been on for 12,

[Speaker 4] (1:12:40 - 1:12:40)
24,

[Speaker 4] (1:12:40 - 1:12:42)
36 months, whatever it's been,

[Speaker 4] (1:12:42 - 1:12:47)
that savings would be split in some way between the town and the employee with an incentive to move off.

[Speaker 4] (1:12:48 - 1:13:01)
Um we would also look at things uh other options that that have worked in other communities, they work with both G_I_C_ communities and uh communities that are self-insured. So we have sort of a full plate of different options that we can explore with them.

[Speaker 4] (1:13:01 - 1:13:06)
Step one is to scope something out with them and understand what costs look like, and that's a discussion we hope to have in the next couple of weeks.

[Speaker 4] (1:13:08 - 1:13:09)
Next is state assessments.

[Speaker 2] (1:13:10 - 1:13:10)
Just

[Speaker 3] (1:13:10 - 1:13:10)
So

[Speaker 2] (1:13:10 - 1:13:10)
a uh

[Speaker 3] (1:13:10 - 1:13:11)
quick quick question,

[Speaker 4] (1:13:11 - 1:13:11)
question.

[Speaker 2] (1:13:11 - 1:13:15)
let's go back to that for one second, let's just go back to so can we go back one slide?

[Speaker 2] (1:13:17 - 1:13:17)
Just one.

[Speaker 5] (1:13:17 - 1:13:17)
Benefits?

[Speaker 2] (1:13:17 - 1:13:23)
Yeah, yeah. So I think our average, I think I, when I came in and chatted with you guys about this,

[Speaker 2] (1:13:23 - 1:13:35)
our average increase for GIC over the past three or four years is roughly at ten percent. So hopefully, even though we're estimating fourteen point five, I think they just voted the new rates recently.

[Speaker 4] (1:13:35 - 1:13:36)
No, they were

[Speaker 2] (1:13:36 - 1:13:36)
Or

[Speaker 4] (1:13:36 - 1:13:36)
originally

[Speaker 2] (1:13:36 - 1:13:36)
have they not

[Speaker 4] (1:13:36 - 1:13:36)
scheduled,

[Speaker 2] (1:13:36 - 1:13:37)
voted the February

[Speaker 4] (1:13:37 - 1:13:37)
was

[Speaker 2] (1:13:37 - 1:13:37)
twenty

[Speaker 4] (1:13:37 - 1:13:38)
the 26th,

[Speaker 2] (1:13:38 - 1:13:38)
sixth or something?

[Speaker 4] (1:13:38 - 1:13:38)
they

[Speaker 2] (1:13:38 - 1:13:39)
Yeah.

[Speaker 4] (1:13:39 - 1:13:41)
had pushed back plan design from the 12th to the 26th,

[Speaker 2] (1:13:41 - 1:13:41)
Okay,

[Speaker 4] (1:13:41 - 1:13:41)
which necessarily,

[Speaker 2] (1:13:41 - 1:13:42)
so we're close in time.

[Speaker 4] (1:13:42 - 1:13:43)
we're

[Speaker 4] (1:13:43 - 1:13:44)
We're sort of one meeting behind, I think.

[Speaker 2] (1:13:44 - 1:13:45)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (1:13:45 - 1:13:47)
But they haven't posted their agenda for the March meeting yet.

[Speaker 2] (1:13:47 - 1:13:51)
So hopefully at least a couple points are shaved off of that in hope,

[Speaker 4] (1:13:51 - 1:13:52)
We think it will.

[Speaker 4] (1:13:52 - 1:13:53)
I just don't have a number yet.

[Speaker 2] (1:13:53 - 1:13:54)
typically is around 10.

[Speaker 2] (1:13:55 - 1:14:01)
The other piece is the incentivizing of employees to get off of our health insurance,

[Speaker 2] (1:14:01 - 1:14:01)
right?

[Speaker 2] (1:14:01 - 1:14:02)
And that's a push that a lot of

[Speaker 6] (1:14:03 - 1:14:22)
Towns, cities and towns, Melrose, Danvers, um they incentivise their employees to actually not take our insurance, and that's something that we've kinda lagged in in thinking about, but now is the time in in I think you're gonna do some investigative Yes. work there um to see where we could potentially have some savings, because I think that would that would help us.

[Speaker 2] (1:14:22 - 1:14:29)
You know I know we asked that question um when Doug and I were meeting with the past town administrator, we asked that question and I th

[Speaker 2] (1:14:29 - 1:14:35)
What we were told was that was looked into and that it it wasn't a benefit, but I'm glad we're gonna look again.

[Speaker 2] (1:14:35 - 1:14:53)
The the other thing is when we also when we were looking at this we talked about redesigning a plan to be more beneficial for town employees because there are things in the plan that people don't benefit from and yet the town is paying and the employees are paying. So

[Speaker 6] (1:14:53 - 1:15:00)
I'm just wondering if the consultant should also be talking to the union leaders to find out what they're

[Speaker 4] (1:15:00 - 1:15:00)
I can't

[Speaker 6] (1:15:00 - 1:15:00)
looking for.

[Speaker 4] (1:15:00 - 1:15:02)
include that as part of the scope. I think ultimately

[Speaker 6] (1:15:02 - 1:15:03)
I think that's ultimately

[Speaker 4] (1:15:03 - 1:15:04)
that's a a a

[Speaker 6] (1:15:04 - 1:15:05)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (1:15:05 - 1:15:12)
public employee committee or council. It's a it's a group that is made up proportionally of union representation.

[Speaker 4] (1:15:13 - 1:15:22)
So it it's something we could absolutely look at, but it's you know it requires fifty percent of all union employees in the town to go along with any decision like that.

[Speaker 6] (1:15:22 - 1:15:22)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (1:15:22 - 1:15:26)
So it's just it's a high barrier clear. Is

[Speaker 6] (1:15:26 - 1:15:26)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (1:15:26 - 1:15:26)
but it's definitely

[Speaker 3] (1:15:26 - 1:15:26)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (1:15:26 - 1:15:29)
something we would include in what we investigate and see what's possible.

[Speaker 3] (1:15:29 - 1:15:30)
And

[Speaker 6] (1:15:30 - 1:15:33)
And it's important to note this year with the GLP one elimination,

[Speaker 6] (1:15:34 - 1:15:38)
that's having a significant impact on health insurance costs, right?

[Speaker 4] (1:15:38 - 1:15:38)
Correct.

[Speaker 6] (1:15:38 - 1:15:39)
So hope.

[Speaker 6] (1:15:39 - 1:15:44)
hope that is something that I would suspect will drive GIC costs down as it is and

[Speaker 4] (1:15:44 - 1:15:45)
That alone could bring

[Speaker 6] (1:15:45 - 1:15:45)
Yeah.

[Speaker 4] (1:15:45 - 1:15:46)
it down a couple of points

[Speaker 2] (1:15:46 - 1:15:46)
Was was

[Speaker 4] (1:15:46 - 1:15:46)
for sure.

[Speaker 2] (1:15:46 - 1:15:49)
that in was GOP one in last year?

[Speaker 6] (1:15:49 - 1:15:50)
Yes.

[Speaker 4] (1:15:50 - 1:15:50)
Yes.

[Speaker 2] (1:15:50 - 1:15:51)
And what about the year before?

[Speaker 6] (1:15:51 - 1:15:51)
Yes.

[Speaker 6] (1:15:52 - 1:15:58)
So GLP-1s are the drugs you might be familiar with, the weight loss drugs, they're Ozempic, they're Manjaro,

[Speaker 6] (1:15:58 - 1:16:04)
those of that nature that health insurance and companies are now removing their coverage. They're extremely expensive.

[Speaker 6] (1:16:05 - 1:16:06)
So they're now,

[Speaker 6] (1:16:06 - 1:16:11)
you know, a lot of health plans are adjusting how they cover it and what the requirement is for coverage for their people.

[Speaker 6] (1:16:12 - 1:16:15)
So it's bringing costs down when they're taking those out as covered.

[Speaker 4] (1:16:15 - 1:16:17)
It's driving losses in private insurance,

[Speaker 6] (1:16:17 - 1:16:17)
Yeah,

[Speaker 4] (1:16:17 - 1:16:18)
never mind

[Speaker 6] (1:16:18 - 1:16:18)
for

[Speaker 4] (1:16:18 - 1:16:18)
employer

[Speaker 6] (1:16:18 - 1:16:18)
sure.

[Speaker 4] (1:16:18 - 1:16:19)
insurance.

[Speaker 4] (1:16:19 - 1:16:19)
insurance.

[Speaker 3] (1:16:19 - 1:16:19)
it's huge huge

[Speaker 4] (1:16:19 - 1:16:20)
Yeah.

[Speaker 6] (1:16:20 - 1:16:22)
so hopefully that will

[Speaker 3] (1:16:22 - 1:16:22)
Half

[Speaker 6] (1:16:22 - 1:16:22)
help us

[Speaker 3] (1:16:22 - 1:16:24)
a billion dollars for Blue Cross

[Speaker 6] (1:16:24 - 1:16:24)
yeah

[Speaker 3] (1:16:24 - 1:16:24)
right

[Speaker 7] (1:16:25 - 1:16:26)
Oh, sorry.

[Speaker 3] (1:16:26 - 1:16:26)
Mr.

[Speaker 7] (1:16:26 - 1:16:26)
Go ahead.

[Speaker 3] (1:16:27 - 1:16:27)
Schneider

[Speaker 9] (1:16:28 - 1:16:32)
I think last year we talked about leaving GIC. Is that still on the table?

[Speaker 9] (1:16:33 - 1:16:35)
And do we know if that's going to give a cost saving

[Speaker 4] (1:16:35 - 1:16:35)
or The

[Speaker 9] (1:16:35 - 1:16:35)
not?

[Speaker 4] (1:16:35 - 1:16:38)
contract expires at the end of June in 2027.

[Speaker 9] (1:16:38 - 1:16:39)
Okay.

[Speaker 4] (1:16:39 - 1:16:43)
It is one of the many things that we would ask our outside consultant to look at.

[Speaker 4] (1:16:43 - 1:16:47)
There's costs that come with that and we have to set up a trust to carry

[Speaker 4] (1:16:47 - 1:17:07)
you know anticipated expense and everything else but it's certainly within this the it's within the menu of things that they offer and we can include it in the scope in the beginning to understand what our costs are to bring them on to look at its incentivizing plan redesign and certainly you know what they're seeing in the marketplace about communities leaving GIC or planning to leave GIC.

[Speaker 9] (1:17:07 - 1:17:08)
And this consultant,

[Speaker 9] (1:17:08 - 1:17:09)
is that part of the budget?

[Speaker 4] (1:17:10 - 1:17:14)
We did not put money in there for this because it's something that we've been looking at.

[Speaker 4] (1:17:14 - 1:17:27)
like in the last couple of weeks as we've we've had some discussions earlier this year with them but we didn't have scope from them and we're now trying to get an actual price from them it's something that we would probably try to find money to pay for in the current fiscal year though

[Speaker 3] (1:17:28 - 1:17:29)
Okay.

[Speaker 3] (1:17:30 - 1:17:30)
But

[Speaker 4] (1:17:30 - 1:17:31)
Do any you

[Speaker 3] (1:17:31 - 1:17:35)
any change won't happen until FY 28-8,

[Speaker 6] (1:17:35 - 1:17:35)
Right.

[Speaker 3] (1:17:35 - 1:17:36)
right?

[Speaker 3] (1:17:36 - 1:17:37)
But it is the buyout?

[Speaker 4] (1:17:37 - 1:17:40)
Well no, bio would not need to wait.

[Speaker 3] (1:17:40 - 1:17:42)
Right, the buyout wouldn't wait, so I was getting point. It is supposed to

[Speaker 4] (1:17:42 - 1:17:42)
And

[Speaker 3] (1:17:42 - 1:17:43)
end at 2.

[Speaker 4] (1:17:43 - 1:17:49)
something like that would be funded by the savings. It would not be that we're looking, you know, a portion of the savings going to the employee.

[Speaker 3] (1:17:49 - 1:17:58)
So that's a short time frame obviously about that and putting in a proposal and everything for employees. We're hoping the consultant will help us structure that.

[Speaker 3] (1:17:58 - 1:17:58)
That True.

[Speaker 6] (1:17:58 - 1:17:59)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 4] (1:17:59 - 1:18:00)
that is the hope, yes.

[Speaker 3] (1:18:00 - 1:18:03)
Yes, and we'd definitely be paying out of this year's budget since

[Speaker 4] (1:18:03 - 1:18:03)
Correct.

[Speaker 3] (1:18:03 - 1:18:04)
yes, okay.

[Speaker 10] (1:18:04 - 1:18:07)
Is there a notice provision for the uh is it auto-renew?

[Speaker 6] (1:18:07 - 1:18:08)
G

[Speaker 10] (1:18:08 - 1:18:08)
Is

[Speaker 6] (1:18:08 - 1:18:08)
_I_C_

[Speaker 10] (1:18:08 - 1:18:09)
it a contract auto-renew?

[Speaker 6] (1:18:09 - 1:18:10)
G_I_C_

[Speaker 10] (1:18:10 - 1:18:10)
Yes.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:10 - 1:18:14)
well it'll auto-renew, if we don't tell them we have to notify That's the

[Speaker 3] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
The

[Speaker 6] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
them.

[Speaker 3] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
six

[Speaker 6] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
in the

[Speaker 3] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
second

[Speaker 6] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
next

[Speaker 10] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
I

[Speaker 3] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
in order

[Speaker 6] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
six

[Speaker 10] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
think

[Speaker 3] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
to

[Speaker 6] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
weeks.

[Speaker 3] (1:18:14 - 1:18:14)
make December

[Speaker 10] (1:18:14 - 1:18:15)
I think we

[Speaker 3] (1:18:15 - 1:18:15)
thirty

[Speaker 10] (1:18:15 - 1:18:15)
have a notice

[Speaker 3] (1:18:15 - 1:18:15)
first.

[Speaker 10] (1:18:15 - 1:18:15)
provision.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:15 - 1:18:16)
Stop at that.

[Speaker 3] (1:18:16 - 1:18:16)
December thirty first.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:16 - 1:18:17)
Yes.

[Speaker 4] (1:18:17 - 1:18:17)
December

[Speaker 10] (1:18:17 - 1:18:17)
Okay,

[Speaker 3] (1:18:17 - 1:18:17)
Okay.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:17 - 1:18:17)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (1:18:17 - 1:18:17)
thirtieth.

[Speaker 10] (1:18:17 - 1:18:17)
correct.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:17 - 1:18:18)
So

[Speaker 4] (1:18:19 - 1:18:19)
That the milestone.

[Speaker 10] (1:18:21 - 1:18:24)
12 31 26 is really the date we have to monitor.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:24 - 1:18:24)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (1:18:24 - 1:18:25)
Okay.

[Speaker 10] (1:18:25 - 1:18:26)
So that's what we're working towards

[Speaker 6] (1:18:26 - 1:18:26)
Right, we have to notify

[Speaker 10] (1:18:26 - 1:18:27)
is to push

[Speaker 6] (1:18:27 - 1:18:27)
them prior

[Speaker 10] (1:18:27 - 1:18:27)
and solidified.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:27 - 1:18:29)
to that that we're thinking about leaving.

[Speaker 10] (1:18:29 - 1:18:29)
Yeah.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:29 - 1:18:29)
Right.

[Speaker 10] (1:18:29 - 1:18:30)
Because

[Speaker 4] (1:18:30 - 1:18:30)
But

[Speaker 10] (1:18:30 - 1:18:32)
I I think there's no takesies backsies.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:32 - 1:18:33)
No.

[Speaker 3] (1:18:33 - 1:18:33)
Oh.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:33 - 1:18:34)
No, then because we

[Speaker 4] (1:18:34 - 1:18:34)
That's

[Speaker 6] (1:18:34 - 1:18:36)
that's what happened to us. We got hit with another three years.

[Speaker 3] (1:18:36 - 1:18:37)
Okay.

[Speaker 4] (1:18:38 - 1:18:38)
Okay.

[Speaker 6] (1:18:39 - 1:18:39)
Okay.

[Speaker 10] (1:18:39 - 1:18:40)
It's a comedian you guys.

[Speaker 4] (1:18:41 - 1:18:41)
Um,

[Speaker 4] (1:18:42 - 1:18:49)
state assessments have dropped, as you can see. Um the primary driver here is a large decrease in the education assessment.

[Speaker 4] (1:18:49 - 1:18:56)
It's the charter school um assessment that dropped the most and that's the charter going, is that right, Jason? And

[Speaker 2] (1:18:56 - 1:18:57)
What does that actually mean?

[Speaker 4] (1:18:59 - 1:19:04)
So, Patrick, on the it's the assessment is the charter going out, right, tuition?

[Speaker 1] (1:19:04 - 1:19:04)
Correct,

[Speaker 1] (1:19:04 - 1:19:04)
yes.

[Speaker 4] (1:19:04 - 1:19:05)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (1:19:05 - 1:19:06)
The Swampscott students enrolling in

[Speaker 1] (1:19:07 - 1:19:07)
Charter schools.

[Speaker 2] (1:19:08 - 1:19:08)
Mhm.

[Speaker 1] (1:19:08 - 1:19:08)
Elsewhere.

[Speaker 2] (1:19:08 - 1:19:12)
So it just means Swampscott students don't want to go to charter schools anymore?

[Speaker 4] (1:19:12 - 1:19:13)
They want

[Speaker 1] (1:19:13 - 1:19:13)
No.

[Speaker 4] (1:19:13 - 1:19:14)
to stay in our great

[Speaker 2] (1:19:14 - 1:19:14)
They want

[Speaker 4] (1:19:14 - 1:19:14)
schools.

[Speaker 2] (1:19:14 - 1:19:14)
to stay here?

[Speaker 9] (1:19:14 - 1:19:20)
Right. That's what I would say is that they want to stay in district for all the programs that we have put in place.

[Speaker 2] (1:19:22 - 1:19:23)
Excellent, there you go.

[Speaker 10] (1:19:23 - 1:19:23)
Night, child.

[Speaker 4] (1:19:23 - 1:19:24)
And then

[Speaker 4] (1:19:36 - 1:19:37)
Agnes Quito No, Control Board?

[Speaker 3] (1:19:37 - 1:19:37)
we're moving on,

[Speaker 2] (1:19:37 - 1:19:37)
Excuse

[Speaker 3] (1:19:37 - 1:19:37)
Beth.

[Speaker 2] (1:19:37 - 1:19:38)
me?

[Speaker 3] (1:19:38 - 1:19:39)
Nothing, he's kidding.

[Speaker 2] (1:19:39 - 1:19:41)
We can't we can't argue that one.

[Speaker 2] (1:19:42 - 1:19:45)
Um and getting into the Enterprise Funds. Sewer Enterprise

[Speaker 3] (1:19:46 - 1:19:47)
After control, like.

[Speaker 2] (1:19:49 - 1:20:15)
is up four point four percent as you can see here. Labour costs are actually decreasing due to staffing changes in normalisation of standai stand-by pay to match the five year average. Um we also remove some of the paving funding from this budget in anticipation of the increased chapter ninety funding that is moving its way through legislation right now. On the cost side, in water and sewer assessment is up seven point eight, approximately eighty thousand dollars.

[Speaker 2] (1:20:16 - 1:20:25)
Pension contributions are up 34% and interest repayments are up as well due to capital improvements at their plant.

[Speaker 2] (1:20:25 - 1:20:31)
This does not include the indirect cost reimbursements to the general fund which are funded through the rates as well.

[Speaker 2] (1:20:31 - 1:20:35)
And those are the things that go back to cover things like accounting,

[Speaker 2] (1:20:35 - 1:20:38)
HR and other things that we provide for the enterprise fund.

[Speaker 3] (1:20:40 - 1:20:42)
Did we qualify for the loan?

[Speaker 5] (1:20:42 - 1:20:43)
Hmm.

[Speaker 3] (1:20:43 - 1:20:44)
I s

[Speaker 6] (1:20:44 - 1:20:44)
That's not rough.

[Speaker 3] (1:20:44 - 1:20:46)
I sorry if loans.

[Speaker 6] (1:20:46 - 1:20:52)
Yeah, we did get an approval for, I think, 3.28 million S_R_F_ loan recently.

[Speaker 3] (1:20:52 - 1:20:53)
We got we just got that?

[Speaker 3] (1:20:53 - 1:20:54)
Yep.

[Speaker 6] (1:20:54 - 1:20:55)
Yep, we have the loan commitment.

[Speaker 3] (1:20:55 - 1:20:56)
Good.

[Speaker 3] (1:20:56 - 1:20:56)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 2] (1:20:57 - 1:21:09)
The water enterprise fund is up three point eight percent, similar to sewer. Paving funding has been lowered in anticipation of chapter ninety support. The largest cost driver is the assessment from the M_W_R_A_ which is up seven percent.

[Speaker 2] (1:21:10 - 1:21:16)
Pension contributions and principal repayments are both modestly increasing as well.

[Speaker 7] (1:21:16 - 1:21:22)
How are the pension contributions so different between the sewer and the water?

[Speaker 3] (1:21:23 - 1:21:23)
For people?

[Speaker 7] (1:21:25 - 1:21:26)
You know, these things are census driven.

[Speaker 6] (1:21:27 - 1:21:31)
Yeah, it's an actuarially determined contribution, so it's based on census and earnings,

[Speaker 6] (1:21:31 - 1:21:33)
how that is allocated.

[Speaker 6] (1:21:35 - 1:21:39)
I don't have a whole lot more detail to share on that, but we can talk actuary

[Speaker 2] (1:21:39 - 1:21:39)
Okay.

[Speaker 6] (1:21:40 - 1:21:41)
another time perhaps.

[Speaker 2] (1:21:44 - 1:21:58)
Um Peg is down. Um this is Joe's effort to stay within the um licence fees that we're getting. Uh we also have an open licence with Comcast right now.

[Speaker 2] (1:21:58 - 1:22:03)
In addition, just, you know, sort of environmentally within this world,

[Speaker 2] (1:22:03 - 1:22:09)
I think it's important that we think over time that this funding is slowly disappearing.

[Speaker 7] (1:22:09 - 1:22:09)
Disappear.

[Speaker 3] (1:22:09 - 1:22:10)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 2] (1:22:10 - 1:22:15)
So this is solely based on the cable license, so if someone is a cord cutter, does not pay for cable,

[Speaker 2] (1:22:15 - 1:22:22)
uses a streaming service like YouTube TV or Fubo or whatever but pays Comcast or Verizon for their internet,

[Speaker 2] (1:22:23 - 1:22:23)
we're not collecting.

[Speaker 3] (1:22:24 - 1:22:24)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 2] (1:22:24 - 1:22:27)
The legislature has looked at it through multiple um

[Speaker 3] (1:22:27 - 1:22:28)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 2] (1:22:28 - 1:22:30)
multiple cycles. It's not

[Speaker 3] (1:22:30 - 1:22:30)
Oh.

[Speaker 2] (1:22:30 - 1:22:49)
it's not something I think will move in any session just based on lobbying, but it's something that they've looked at repeatedly to see if there is an assessment that they can attach to uh internet service to try to make up for that. Uh over the longer term there are some communities Andover being an example where they're taking the government of PEG and moving it into government funded somehow.

[Speaker 2] (1:22:50 - 1:23:03)
And I know this is not something we're looking at right now, but it's something that we should all just keep in mind to make sure that meetings like this and other, you know, resources that are made available so the community can connect with government are are supported in a way that's meaningful.

[Speaker 2] (1:23:04 - 1:23:13)
It's just one way that, you know, out of multiple different models that communities are looking at over time to try to find ways to fund this. But, you know, Joe's aware of where we are and then obviously as we get the

[Speaker 2] (1:23:14 - 1:23:22)
Um next license with Comcast will have a better sense of what their capital uh commitments are over the life of the contract and also what they anticipate for fees. Do you have a question?

[Speaker 7] (1:23:22 - 1:23:24)
Yeah, I do. Um I do.

[Speaker 7] (1:23:23 - 1:23:40)
I know there had been legislation that was proposed on Beacon Hill regarding streaming and adding that 5% fee onto the YouTube TV and I just wasn't sure if Joe or yourself had an update as to where that stood as of today.

[Speaker 2] (1:23:40 - 1:23:42)
I don't know where in the legislature is,

[Speaker 2] (1:23:42 - 1:23:46)
but I believe this is the third session it's been, so it's been raised for six years,

[Speaker 2] (1:23:46 - 1:23:47)
five or six years,

[Speaker 2] (1:23:47 - 1:23:49)
and it never makes it.

[Speaker 2] (1:23:49 - 1:23:50)
to a vote.

[Speaker 2] (1:23:50 - 1:24:00)
So I can get the exact detail on where it is, the committee for third reading if it's in a committee wherever it is, um but it's something that has not moved over the last few sessions.

[Speaker 7] (1:24:00 - 1:24:01)
No, understood.

[Speaker 7] (1:24:01 - 1:24:18)
I d I'm yeah, and I I just shared the concern that we're reducing small capital equipping costs by, you know, a draconian amount, um understanding that we need to to live within, you know, the you know, the the budgetary constraints that we have because more people are cutting the cord, but I do share the concerns that

[Speaker 7] (1:24:19 - 1:24:22)
We need, this is an essential service, an

[Speaker 2] (1:24:22 - 1:24:22)
I think

[Speaker 7] (1:24:22 - 1:24:22)
essential need

[Speaker 2] (1:24:22 - 1:24:23)
we're

[Speaker 7] (1:24:23 - 1:24:23)
for the community.

[Speaker 2] (1:24:23 - 1:24:25)
lucky to have Joe,

[Speaker 2] (1:24:25 - 1:24:32)
and when you look at communities, like, he's certainly engaged in a way that many public access leaders are not,

[Speaker 2] (1:24:32 - 1:24:34)
the others will just sort of make sure it's on,

[Speaker 2] (1:24:34 - 1:24:38)
and so I know he's thinking creatively about it. We've talked about it since when I first started,

[Speaker 2] (1:24:38 - 1:24:43)
and he's connecting with other communities nearby and even down the South Shore to see what they're doing.

[Speaker 2] (1:24:43 - 1:24:46)
So I think we're very lucky to have him being the one that's working on it, but.

[Speaker 2] (1:24:47 - 1:24:53)
You know, he's also very aware that his his pie is shrinking year over year right now, so

[Speaker 7] (1:24:53 - 1:24:53)
Yep.

[Speaker 9] (1:24:54 - 1:24:56)
Uh the long and short of it is that

[Speaker 9] (1:24:58 - 1:25:06)
thankfully he feels like he can make this work. I mean, but there's obviously a major reduction in video interns and other things, but he's willing to

[Speaker 9] (1:25:07 - 1:25:08)
make this work.

[Speaker 2] (1:25:08 - 1:25:10)
He will do the best he can to make this work, yes.

[Speaker 2] (1:25:10 - 1:25:18)
I think he would prefer that we are funding at a higher level, like many departments, but this is certainly one that is more significant and its changes than than some others.

[Speaker 2] (1:25:22 - 1:25:26)
Solid waste enterprise fund. Um so I have this at

[Speaker 2] (1:25:27 - 1:25:31)
Holding a number of 15% as you can see here. The contract is up.

[Speaker 2] (1:25:31 - 1:25:56)
The contracts that have been awarded in neighbouring communities are slightly frightening in their increases, and we have been working and analysing quite a bit with the folks on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee to put together some uh a an R_F_P_ that focuses on both, you know, uh an option A for lack of a better phrase, that is continue to make sure that we get a great level of customer service like we do now and things go as they do.

[Speaker 2] (1:25:56 - 1:26:09)
they do, but also, you know, option B is add organics and then an a la carte to say there's a lot of things we're interested in and we want to understand what the pricing looks like, so that a final decision can be made, you know, anywhere in that on that horizon.

[Speaker 2] (1:26:11 - 1:26:21)
Just as it's highlighted here, the solid waste fund is not something that's self-sustaining. That's the place that the funds are parked from selling that extra bags. So it is something that we subsidise from the general fund.

[Speaker 2] (1:26:22 - 1:26:22)
Um,

[Speaker 2] (1:26:23 - 1:26:30)
we will continue to sort of update everyone as we have updates on a regular basis this and health care,

[Speaker 2] (1:26:30 - 1:26:34)
we would love to have both of them come in well below so that it gives us more breathing room.

[Speaker 2] (1:26:34 - 1:26:41)
Um, but I did not want to be in a situation where we're coming back to you the fourth week, or the third week of, uh, April saying, oh my God.

[Speaker 2] (1:26:41 - 1:26:52)
you know, both of these things went entirely in the wrong direction. What are we gonna do? So this is this is meant to represent a conservative estimate of where um we would like it to land and be able to move forward.

[Speaker 9] (1:26:53 - 1:27:03)
Um I don't like the fact that we're hanging out a fifteen percent rate increase for this going into contract discussions.

[Speaker 9] (1:27:07 - 1:27:10)
I think you shared various scenarios,

[Speaker 9] (1:27:10 - 1:27:17)
you know, some kind of nightmare scenarios, some other scenarios. Um I

[Speaker 9] (1:27:25 - 1:27:34)
think we all know that there are gonna be challenges in this contract, depending on what we wanna do and how it gets spread out over the contract and barrels and this and that, if it's automated, um

[Speaker 9] (1:27:44 - 1:27:48)
I mean, we haven't gotten to the punch line where, you know, this is the thing about this whole conversation,

[Speaker 9] (1:27:48 - 1:27:50)
the punch line is the last slide. I mean, it's just

[Speaker 9] (1:27:52 - 1:27:55)
something's got to give in here as far as I'm concerned.

[Speaker 9] (1:27:56 - 1:28:04)
In in a major way, I mean maybe we're gonna get something on health insurance. Maybe we're gonna get, you know, do something about the the overtime. Um

[Speaker 9] (1:28:05 - 1:28:07)
But this this all adds up to

[Speaker 9] (1:28:10 - 1:28:16)
So as I'm concerned a very unacceptable bottom line for taxpayers. Um

[Speaker 9] (1:28:17 - 1:28:20)
So I personally want to put more pressure

[Speaker 9] (1:28:21 - 1:28:42)
helpful pressure hopefully on you in negotiating this contract and we need to be creative if there are new barrels we don't to pay for all of them the first year you know I mean if that's what's happening to people and the big increases it seems to me so that that's my you know desire

[Speaker 9] (1:28:44 - 1:28:46)
as much as that's possible

[Speaker 7] (1:28:47 - 1:28:53)
I want to echo Doug's sentiments and then also just ask, you know, just from the revenue perspective,

[Speaker 7] (1:28:54 - 1:29:00)
are we also looking at, I mean, I know it's peanuts in the context of an $80 million budget,

[Speaker 7] (1:29:00 - 1:29:02)
but I mean, are we looking at, you know.

[Speaker 7] (1:29:02 - 1:29:17)
pricing for the overflow bags, the bulk item stickers, are we is that something that is a discussion point of the uh of the solid waste advisory committee? Are they are they exploring those those revenue opportunities um on an ongoing basis?

[Speaker 2] (1:29:17 - 1:29:19)
Yeah, I I g uh I believe that

[Speaker 3] (1:29:26 - 1:29:26)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:29:27 - 1:29:32)
With any fee increase it is not something where we can be trying to drive a

[Speaker 2] (1:29:33 - 1:29:37)
Profit that is above and beyond the cost for the service being provided

[Speaker 2] (1:29:38 - 1:29:43)
but the they've even Eric feel free to jump in I think you've all spent a

[Speaker 2] (1:29:43 - 1:29:47)
a kind of time looking at a million options even before I got here.

[Speaker 4] (1:29:48 - 1:29:48)
Yep.

[Speaker 5] (1:29:48 - 1:29:48)
Yep.

[Speaker 4] (1:29:48 - 1:29:49)
Yes.

[Speaker 6] (1:29:49 - 1:29:49)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 4] (1:29:49 - 1:29:49)
Yes.

[Speaker 2] (1:29:50 - 1:29:50)
So yet

[Speaker 4] (1:29:50 - 1:29:53)
So can I just say, I just want to make sure everybody on the board knows.

[Speaker 4] (1:29:55 - 1:29:56)
Eric Schneider.

[Speaker 4] (1:29:57 - 1:30:03)
Wayne Sprit, Kathy Milken, a number of people have been working diligently,

[Speaker 4] (1:30:03 - 1:30:26)
Gino Cresta, diligent, diligently, I mean, around the clock on this RFP. It's massive. And there's so many components to it, it will drive you nuts to sit and hear it. And they have been incredibly dedicated to looking at every single part as far as what can be serviced and what can be done. And we're almost getting ready to release the RFP.

[Speaker 4] (1:30:26 - 1:30:30)
e so what are we looking at possibly on that release?

[Speaker 2] (1:30:30 - 1:30:31)
I mean Wayne's literally looking at it

[Speaker 4] (1:30:31 - 1:30:32)
right Wayne's looking

[Speaker 2] (1:30:32 - 1:30:32)
now.

[Speaker 4] (1:30:32 - 1:30:33)
at it right now instead

[Speaker 2] (1:30:33 - 1:30:33)
Like

[Speaker 4] (1:30:33 - 1:30:34)
of watching

[Speaker 2] (1:30:34 - 1:30:35)
literally I saw it before I left town all.

[Speaker 4] (1:30:35 - 1:30:43)
write so it's we're almost right there and then that has to go out but you have to remember this contract is up the end of June. So

[Speaker 4] (1:30:44 - 1:30:45)
there's a

[Speaker 4] (1:30:45 - 1:30:47)
lot of stuff going on with this.

[Speaker 2] (1:30:47 - 1:30:52)
Well, that's a little bit, you know, I want to, if we all send a clear message to

[Speaker 4] (1:30:52 - 1:30:52)
Yep.

[Speaker 2] (1:30:52 - 1:30:53)
Nick about

[Speaker 1] (1:30:53 - 1:30:53)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 2] (1:30:53 - 1:31:01)
where we really need to drive this and he has that backing as the negotiations play out over the next month,

[Speaker 4] (1:31:01 - 1:31:01)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (1:31:01 - 1:31:12)
we'll know what the actual is and in some ways it will be what it will be and it'll fall basically to the bottom line in terms of additional costs.

[Speaker 2] (1:31:13 - 1:31:27)
um you know just kind of throwing up our hands and saying you know i'm not saying that's what you're doing but saying 15 um there may be good reason for it i'm not saying it was plucked out of the air but it still feels like this is a big big ticket here

[Speaker 7] (1:31:27 - 1:31:34)
Well, I think we collectively asked Nick to create a budget that leveled services and so if

[Speaker 7] (1:31:35 - 1:31:39)
If this is the cost of solid waste services that we have today on the go forward,

[Speaker 7] (1:31:39 - 1:31:42)
which I think is where the 15% came from,

[Speaker 7] (1:31:43 - 1:31:44)
and no,

[Speaker 7] (1:31:44 - 1:31:45)
you want to disagree?

[Speaker 7] (1:31:45 - 1:31:45)
I heard you.

[Speaker 2] (1:31:46 - 1:31:47)
I don't know.

[Speaker 2] (1:31:47 - 1:31:50)
I don't think we know that definitively.

[Speaker 7] (1:31:50 - 1:31:55)
Okay, so I guess then maybe we just should know that definitively given the direction we gave for the budget. It's like,

[Speaker 7] (1:31:55 - 1:32:01)
is this just keeping what we have and it's going to cost this is the increase to that or is this like.

[Speaker 9] (1:32:01 - 1:32:02)
What?

[Speaker 10] (1:32:02 - 1:32:02)
Is

[Speaker 2] (1:32:02 - 1:32:02)
Yeah.

[Speaker 10] (1:32:02 - 1:32:02)
including

[Speaker 4] (1:32:02 - 1:32:03)
The soldier?

[Speaker 10] (1:32:03 - 1:32:03)
more.

[Speaker 4] (1:32:03 - 1:32:03)
What

[Speaker 9] (1:32:03 - 1:32:03)
I

[Speaker 4] (1:32:03 - 1:32:03)
is...

[Speaker 9] (1:32:03 - 1:32:06)
think keeping what we have is not feasible because

[Speaker 10] (1:32:06 - 1:32:07)
Okay.

[Speaker 9] (1:32:07 - 1:32:08)
no one is doing manual

[Speaker 10] (1:32:08 - 1:32:08)
Great.

[Speaker 9] (1:32:08 - 1:32:16)
pickups anymore. So everything involves an automated pickup where the arm comes out, picks up the trash.

[Speaker 9] (1:32:16 - 1:32:17)
And then there's a question on.

[Speaker 9] (1:32:17 - 1:32:19)
You know, there's two components,

[Speaker 9] (1:32:19 - 1:32:22)
right? There's the cost of picking stuff up and there's the cost of disposing

[Speaker 7] (1:32:22 - 1:32:23)
Dispose of of it.

[Speaker 9] (1:32:23 - 1:32:23)
it.

[Speaker 4] (1:32:23 - 1:32:23)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (1:32:23 - 1:32:23)
Okay.

[Speaker 4] (1:32:23 - 1:32:23)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (1:32:23 - 1:32:29)
And the less frequent you pick stuff up, the cheaper that cost is. So if you do recycling every two weeks, that

[Speaker 7] (1:32:29 - 1:32:30)
Yeah.

[Speaker 9] (1:32:30 - 1:32:31)
would be a cost saving,

[Speaker 9] (1:32:31 - 1:32:32)
right? If you do,

[Speaker 7] (1:32:32 - 1:32:35)
I actually mean like take out, go one step back,

[Speaker 9] (1:32:35 - 1:32:35)
Yeah.

[Speaker 7] (1:32:35 - 1:32:38)
like our, more what you were, where the direction you were going,

[Speaker 7] (1:32:38 - 1:32:40)
our trash gets picked up X number of times,

[Speaker 9] (1:32:40 - 1:32:40)
Yeah.

[Speaker 7] (1:32:40 - 1:32:41)
regardless of how it's picked up.

[Speaker 7] (1:32:41 - 1:32:44)
Our recycling gets picked up X number of times,

[Speaker 7] (1:32:44 - 1:32:45)
regardless of how it's picked up.

[Speaker 7] (1:32:45 - 1:32:45)
So, okay,

[Speaker 7] (1:32:45 - 1:32:50)
now you guys have to get into the nitty gritty because we can't do it the way we've been doing it because nobody does it that way.

[Speaker 2] (1:32:50 - 1:32:50)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (1:32:50 - 1:32:51)
So that's an increase.

[Speaker 7] (1:32:51 - 1:32:53)
If even if we level set our service,

[Speaker 7] (1:32:53 - 1:33:00)
there's an increase because we have to buy barrels because that's the only way we're going to continue to be doing potentially what we're doing if nobody's doing

[Speaker 9] (1:33:00 - 1:33:00)
Well,

[Speaker 7] (1:33:00 - 1:33:00)
it.

[Speaker 9] (1:33:00 - 1:33:05)
I think even the cost of doing it like automated is higher than what we're currently paying.

[Speaker 7] (1:33:05 - 1:33:08)
Okay, so there's an increase no matter what.

[Speaker 7] (1:33:08 - 1:33:12)
So then is there room and this is what you all have been doing, right?

[Speaker 7] (1:33:12 - 1:33:15)
like what could fall off is there something that

[Speaker 2] (1:33:15 - 1:33:15)
So

[Speaker 7] (1:33:15 - 1:33:16)
could fall the off is

[Speaker 2] (1:33:16 - 1:33:16)
simplest

[Speaker 7] (1:33:16 - 1:33:17)
there something else yep

[Speaker 2] (1:33:17 - 1:33:18)
is recycling.

[Speaker 2] (1:33:18 - 1:33:18)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:33:18 - 1:33:24)
But I think what we had talked about as a group was asking for a price for what we do now.

[Speaker 4] (1:33:24 - 1:33:24)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (1:33:24 - 1:33:24)
right

[Speaker 2] (1:33:24 - 1:33:27)
And then once we have that harder number,

[Speaker 7] (1:33:27 - 1:33:28)
yep

[Speaker 2] (1:33:28 - 1:33:28)
to say,

[Speaker 2] (1:33:29 - 1:33:29)
okay,

[Speaker 2] (1:33:29 - 1:33:35)
what is the impact if we go every other week? What is the impact if the barrel is this size for recycling versus that size for recycling?

[Speaker 7] (1:33:35 - 1:33:35)
Yeah

[Speaker 4] (1:33:35 - 1:33:35)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (1:33:36 - 1:33:40)
We are starting at the idea of level service other than manual.

[Speaker 4] (1:33:40 - 1:33:40)
Yep.

[Speaker 2] (1:33:40 - 1:33:41)
And saying we

[Speaker 7] (1:33:41 - 1:33:41)
Yep.

[Speaker 2] (1:33:41 - 1:34:07)
wanted to disappear at the same frequency just as often and if not more often with better customer service and once you give us that if it if it is something that we cannot manage then then we would look at and say size of the recycling barrel frequency of recycling you know those are the types of things within continuing standard service that there is some flexibility but you know beyond that it's

[Speaker 2] (1:34:08 - 1:34:12)
It's basically like automated is avoiding the cost of manual,

[Speaker 2] (1:34:12 - 1:34:15)
you know, like manual's more expensive than automated,

[Speaker 2] (1:34:15 - 1:34:18)
but automated's more expensive than what we have now because

[Speaker 7] (1:34:18 - 1:34:18)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (1:34:18 - 1:34:19)
the contract's ten years old basically.

[Speaker 7] (1:34:19 - 1:34:19)
Yep.

[Speaker 2] (1:34:20 - 1:34:27)
And anyone who's doing manual now is carrying higher insurance costs and they're not one of the ones that do it at scale, so we expose ourselves to quite a bit of risk.

[Speaker 2] (1:34:28 - 1:34:28)
Um

[Speaker 4] (1:34:29 - 1:34:46)
So I think what's difficult about this though is the timing of this, right? So we're still at the point where we're just getting ready to release an R_F_P_ right? We're in March. Right, so where so you know to Doug's point, this fifteen percent that we're just kind of plucking here, right? How real is that number? How logical is that, right?

[Speaker 2] (1:34:46 - 1:34:49)
Other communities have had higher numbers.

[Speaker 4] (1:34:49 - 1:34:49)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (1:34:49 - 1:34:54)
However, they in some cases have included the cost the cost of the barrels on the first year.

[Speaker 2] (1:34:55 - 1:34:56)
If we

[Speaker 1] (1:34:56 - 1:34:58)
And we would have one size barrels to begin with.

[Speaker 2] (1:34:58 - 1:35:14)
But the thing is we've already everyone we've spoken to we said, you know, there'll be different sized barrels They'll standard recycling and standard trash We have the standard trash that is smaller than what many of them would normally be doing if they were starting from scratch And they said that as long as you know trash day,

[Speaker 2] (1:35:14 - 1:35:16)
they're all the same. We're good

[Speaker 2] (1:35:17 - 1:35:18)
Recycling might be if you go every other week.

[Speaker 2] (1:35:18 - 1:35:21)
It's a different size than we would have otherwise planned that type of thing

[Speaker 2] (1:35:21 - 1:35:29)
it's got to be standard so in that case we as a community are have a portion of the capital cost already laid out because

[Speaker 4] (1:35:29 - 1:35:30)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (1:35:30 - 1:35:34)
we have the barrels they're getting to the end of the useful life within this contract so it's something that

[Speaker 2] (1:35:35 - 1:35:46)
You know, they're not the repairs haven't been overwhelming and it's something that I think it was either Wayne or you Eric that had mentioned one of the meetings like it's just something we have to keep in mind in the out years of the contract as we think about what's going on.

[Speaker 2] (1:35:46 - 1:35:52)
We're not looking to replace what we have for the barrels that we have. It's in addition, there will be a capital expense of some sort,

[Speaker 4] (1:35:52 - 1:35:52)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (1:35:52 - 1:35:56)
whether it's included in the contract or repay it so

[Speaker 1] (1:35:56 - 1:35:56)
But to

[Speaker 2] (1:35:56 - 1:35:56)
that we

[Speaker 1] (1:35:56 - 1:35:56)
Daniel

[Speaker 2] (1:35:56 - 1:35:56)
all understand.

[Speaker 1] (1:35:56 - 1:35:57)
to Daniel's

[Speaker 4] (1:35:57 - 1:35:57)
Sure. To my point.

[Speaker 1] (1:35:57 - 1:35:58)
timing,

[Speaker 4] (1:35:58 - 1:35:58)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (1:35:58 - 1:36:00)
I think we'll actually know this isn't like a

[Speaker 2] (1:36:01 - 1:36:02)
Four month process.

[Speaker 2] (1:36:02 - 1:36:04)
I didn't get the sense right.

[Speaker 9] (1:36:04 - 1:36:04)
No,

[Speaker 11] (1:36:04 - 1:36:04)
Yeah.

[Speaker 9] (1:36:04 - 1:36:08)
so the trash contracts are excluded from 30B,

[Speaker 2] (1:36:08 - 1:36:08)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (1:36:08 - 1:36:10)
so we've had conversations with,

[Speaker 9] (1:36:10 - 1:36:11)
or not we,

[Speaker 9] (1:36:11 - 1:36:11)
but Nick

[Speaker 7] (1:36:11 - 1:36:12)
Individual vendors.

[Speaker 4] (1:36:12 - 1:36:12)
Nikas

[Speaker 9] (1:36:12 - 1:36:12)
and Gino

[Speaker 4] (1:36:12 - 1:36:13)
and family.

[Speaker 9] (1:36:13 - 1:36:13)
had a conversation

[Speaker 7] (1:36:13 - 1:36:13)
Right,

[Speaker 9] (1:36:13 - 1:36:13)
he's with

[Speaker 7] (1:36:13 - 1:36:14)
been with a

[Speaker 9] (1:36:14 - 1:36:14)
different

[Speaker 7] (1:36:14 - 1:36:14)
couple

[Speaker 9] (1:36:14 - 1:36:14)
haulers,

[Speaker 7] (1:36:14 - 1:36:14)
already,

[Speaker 7] (1:36:14 - 1:36:15)
yeah.

[Speaker 9] (1:36:15 - 1:36:16)
and there's been some back and forth and

[Speaker 7] (1:36:16 - 1:36:17)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (1:36:17 - 1:36:17)
information exchange.

[Speaker 9] (1:36:17 - 1:36:21)
So in terms of what they're looking for, what we're looking for.

[Speaker 4] (1:36:21 - 1:36:21)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (1:36:22 - 1:36:29)
But it worries me that we're already at March and we're, you know, it's kind of like still hanging out there that we haven't even begun to have these conversations.

[Speaker 7] (1:36:30 - 1:36:30)
So it

[Speaker 12] (1:36:30 - 1:36:30)
Like,

[Speaker 7] (1:36:30 - 1:36:30)
would have.

[Speaker 1] (1:36:30 - 1:36:31)
We

[Speaker 12] (1:36:31 - 1:36:31)
no,

[Speaker 1] (1:36:31 - 1:36:31)
have

[Speaker 7] (1:36:31 - 1:36:31)
Oh,

[Speaker 12] (1:36:31 - 1:36:31)
no,

[Speaker 7] (1:36:31 - 1:36:31)
sorry.

[Speaker 12] (1:36:31 - 1:36:34)
no, no, let me finish before I even finish my statement.

[Speaker 12] (1:36:35 - 1:36:43)
We didn't, we haven't had any, we haven't been able to solicit any feedback from any resident about what this potential new program would look like, right?

[Speaker 12] (1:36:43 - 1:36:45)
So if we're scaling back services,

[Speaker 12] (1:36:45 - 1:36:46)
we're doing recycling every two weeks,

[Speaker 12] (1:36:46 - 1:36:49)
we're not, you know, maybe we're charging more for blue bags.

[Speaker 12] (1:36:49 - 1:36:54)
That's all stuff that needs to get out there and get digested by everybody,

[Speaker 12] (1:36:54 - 1:36:56)
right? And I just feel like we're at March already.

[Speaker 12] (1:36:56 - 1:36:56)
ready?

[Speaker 12] (1:36:57 - 1:37:03)
And we're talking about a budget where we really, you know, we the minutiae of it hasn't really been decided yet.

[Speaker 12] (1:37:03 - 1:37:10)
And we really haven't had a chance to, I don't know any of the specifics of it, never mind let the general public know what they're going to be looking at.

[Speaker 12] (1:37:11 - 1:37:15)
You know, I don't want to get us into the position we were in when we rolled out these tiny barrels

[Speaker 7] (1:37:15 - 1:37:16)
Yeah, I

[Speaker 12] (1:37:16 - 1:37:17)
how many years ago,

[Speaker 12] (1:37:17 - 1:37:17)
right?

[Speaker 12] (1:37:17 - 1:37:19)
That people are surprised and say,

[Speaker 12] (1:37:19 - 1:37:20)
okay, look at what I have to do now,

[Speaker 12] (1:37:20 - 1:37:21)
right?

[Speaker 7] (1:37:21 - 1:37:22)
I think Danielle makes a good point.

[Speaker 7] (1:37:22 - 1:37:24)
Solid waste is already a source subject.

[Speaker 12] (1:37:24 - 1:37:25)
Yeah, for sure.

[Speaker 7] (1:37:25 - 1:37:27)
I mean people are still talking about the size of their barrels.

[Speaker 12] (1:37:27 - 1:37:27)
Yep.

[Speaker 7] (1:37:28 - 1:37:31)
It's like we can't get,

[Speaker 2] (1:37:31 - 1:37:31)
I love my barrel.

[Speaker 7] (1:37:32 - 1:37:33)
I love that you love it,

[Speaker 12] (1:37:33 - 1:37:33)
Me

[Speaker 7] (1:37:33 - 1:37:33)
but

[Speaker 12] (1:37:33 - 1:37:34)
too,

[Speaker 12] (1:37:34 - 1:37:34)
Doug.

[Speaker 7] (1:37:34 - 1:37:37)
people are still talking about it whether they love it or they hate it. We'll just say that.

[Speaker 12] (1:37:37 - 1:37:38)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (1:37:38 - 1:37:41)
So I do think that given that there's a little bit of a scar,

[Speaker 7] (1:37:42 - 1:37:47)
we do need some runway to smooth some of this conversation about as we get to it.

[Speaker 2] (1:37:47 - 1:37:49)
One of the conversations we've had with

[Speaker 2] (1:37:50 - 1:37:55)
The three biggest was that if we were going to make a change on something like recycling,

[Speaker 2] (1:37:56 - 1:37:57)
it would not be on July 1st.

[Speaker 7] (1:37:57 - 1:37:57)
Great.

[Speaker 2] (1:37:57 - 1:38:01)
It would either be partway through the year or maybe even year two.

[Speaker 7] (1:38:01 - 1:38:01)
Okay, great.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:01 - 1:38:11)
And I think two of them had experience with communities north of Boston where they signed a five-year or three-year contract with multiple renewals and they didn't do it in year one.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:11 - 1:38:12)
So the total cost of the contract,

[Speaker 2] (1:38:12 - 1:38:14)
which is not what we're talking about in this budget,

[Speaker 2] (1:38:14 - 1:38:15)
but the total cost.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:16 - 1:38:20)
they sort of managed it over time so that there could be socialization discussion

[Speaker 12] (1:38:20 - 1:38:20)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:20 - 1:38:20)
talk

[Speaker 4] (1:38:20 - 1:38:21)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:21 - 1:38:32)
about the plan and then roll it out not on July first but at a future date no later than sort of the end of year one beginning of year two but at some point in that window. So I think that gets to many of the issues you raised, doesn't

[Speaker 4] (1:38:32 - 1:38:32)
Yes.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:32 - 1:38:33)
address them all,

[Speaker 12] (1:38:33 - 1:38:33)
Uh-huh.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:33 - 1:38:39)
but even on their side they recognize that's something that, you know, you don't want to rip the band-aid off and change your behaviour like that that quickly.

[Speaker 12] (1:38:40 - 1:38:41)
Right. And you want you want to understand.

[Speaker 12] (1:38:42 - 1:38:57)
you know, the a la carte options, right, and how much difference it's gonna make if we do recycling every two weeks, every four weeks, what that is gonna look like to both the resident in terms of what they're gonna go through and how it's gonna affect our bottom line. So all those pieces are kind of question marks to me.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:57 - 1:38:59)
We're not talking about every four weeks, just

[Speaker 4] (1:38:59 - 1:38:59)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:59 - 1:38:59)
to be clear.

[Speaker 12] (1:38:59 - 1:39:01)
Whatever it might be. Blue bags,

[Speaker 2] (1:39:01 - 1:39:01)
I yeah. I just

[Speaker 12] (1:39:01 - 1:39:01)
green

[Speaker 2] (1:39:01 - 1:39:01)
wanna

[Speaker 12] (1:39:01 - 1:39:01)
bags,

[Speaker 2] (1:39:01 - 1:39:02)
make sure

[Speaker 12] (1:39:02 - 1:39:03)
twenty five dollar

[Speaker 2] (1:39:03 - 1:39:03)
the

[Speaker 12] (1:39:03 - 1:39:03)
blue

[Speaker 2] (1:39:03 - 1:39:03)
phone

[Speaker 12] (1:39:03 - 1:39:03)
bags, etcetera.

[Speaker 2] (1:39:03 - 1:39:05)
lines, I wanna make sure that wasn't clipped and misundersood.

[Speaker 12] (1:39:05 - 1:39:06)
No, no.

[Speaker 4] (1:39:06 - 1:39:08)
Just so you know, all

[Speaker 4] (1:39:08 - 1:39:14)
For the almost the past year, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee has been discussing

[Speaker 3] (1:39:18 - 1:39:23)
Well, I'm going to guarantee a lot of residents probably have no idea what's been discussed because who's watching that,

[Speaker 3] (1:39:23 - 1:39:23)
right?

[Speaker 3] (1:39:24 - 1:39:25)
If they watch us, they're lucky,

[Speaker 2] (1:39:25 - 1:39:25)
They're missing a

[Speaker 3] (1:39:25 - 1:39:25)
right?

[Speaker 2] (1:39:25 - 1:39:26)
great opportunity.

[Speaker 3] (1:39:26 - 1:39:27)
Of course they are,

[Speaker 3] (1:39:27 - 1:39:27)
but once

[Speaker 4] (1:39:27 - 1:39:28)
Trash they talk.

[Speaker 3] (1:39:28 - 1:39:31)
see the new barrel or whatever we roll out, they're going to say,

[Speaker 3] (1:39:31 - 1:39:31)
well,

[Speaker 4] (1:39:31 - 1:39:31)
We

[Speaker 3] (1:39:31 - 1:39:31)
what did you

[Speaker 4] (1:39:31 - 1:39:31)
had

[Speaker 3] (1:39:31 - 1:39:31)
hear

[Speaker 4] (1:39:31 - 1:39:31)
no idea,

[Speaker 3] (1:39:31 - 1:39:32)
and why wasn't

[Speaker 4] (1:39:32 - 1:39:32)
even

[Speaker 3] (1:39:32 - 1:39:32)
this?

[Speaker 4] (1:39:32 - 1:39:33)
though we've been talking

[Speaker 2] (1:39:33 - 1:39:33)
But

[Speaker 4] (1:39:33 - 1:39:33)
about it

[Speaker 2] (1:39:33 - 1:39:33)
I think

[Speaker 4] (1:39:33 - 1:39:34)
now.

[Speaker 3] (1:39:34 - 1:39:38)
the more we get actual real-life scenarios out there with costs associated,

[Speaker 3] (1:39:38 - 1:39:38)
the better off

[Speaker 2] (1:39:38 - 1:39:39)
I'm going

[Speaker 3] (1:39:39 - 1:39:39)
we'll be.

[Speaker 2] (1:39:39 - 1:39:39)
to guess the RF

[Speaker 2] (1:39:39 - 1:39:41)
RFP is going to be released, would you say this week?

[Speaker 5] (1:39:43 - 1:39:44)
Wayne's are they're

[Speaker 2] (1:39:44 - 1:39:44)
I'm

[Speaker 5] (1:39:44 - 1:39:44)
doing

[Speaker 2] (1:39:44 - 1:39:44)
going to

[Speaker 5] (1:39:44 - 1:39:44)
it say tonight I

[Speaker 2] (1:39:44 - 1:39:44)
it.

[Speaker 5] (1:39:44 - 1:39:45)
Wayne's I think.

[Speaker 6] (1:39:45 - 1:39:45)
World.

[Speaker 2] (1:39:45 - 1:39:47)
You I no I I'd

[Speaker 7] (1:39:47 - 1:39:50)
Let's pressure Wayne to do his best to get it out as soon as possible

[Speaker 5] (1:39:50 - 1:39:50)
It's clear

[Speaker 7] (1:39:50 - 1:39:50)
so that we

[Speaker 5] (1:39:50 - 1:39:51)
Wayne

[Speaker 7] (1:39:51 - 1:39:51)
can

[Speaker 5] (1:39:51 - 1:39:51)
is doing his best.

[Speaker 7] (1:39:51 - 1:39:52)
he is

[Speaker 5] (1:39:52 - 1:39:52)
You do not need

[Speaker 7] (1:39:52 - 1:39:52)
he

[Speaker 5] (1:39:52 - 1:39:52)
to

[Speaker 3] (1:39:52 - 1:39:52)
Yes.

[Speaker 5] (1:39:52 - 1:39:53)
put pressure on Wayne.

[Speaker 3] (1:39:53 - 1:39:54)
He's he's

[Speaker 7] (1:39:54 - 1:39:54)
Listen

[Speaker 3] (1:39:54 - 1:40:03)
done a lot of work thus far. But I just want to know if these numbers are real, right? If this is like what we can really propose to Doug's point about 15% is that accurate? Is that really

[Speaker 3] (1:40:04 - 1:40:06)
Or is it not? You know, we need that stuff is

[Speaker 9] (1:40:06 - 1:40:07)
Yeah.

[Speaker 3] (1:40:07 - 1:40:08)
obviously the more important piece.

[Speaker 9] (1:40:08 - 1:40:10)
So it's uh in some ways I'm almost like

[Speaker 9] (1:40:10 - 1:40:17)
I want to reduce that number to put pressure on us to be more disciplined about pursuing creative options,

[Speaker 9] (1:40:17 - 1:40:17)
right?

[Speaker 10] (1:40:17 - 1:40:17)
Yes.

[Speaker 9] (1:40:17 - 1:40:21)
Because if a number's on a page and it's 15%, then human nature is like,

[Speaker 9] (1:40:21 - 1:40:24)
oh, now I'm playing within 15%, right?

[Speaker 9] (1:40:24 - 1:40:26)
So I actually want us to say, no,

[Speaker 9] (1:40:26 - 1:40:26)
play

[Speaker 3] (1:40:26 - 1:40:26)
It's

[Speaker 9] (1:40:26 - 1:40:26)
within

[Speaker 3] (1:40:26 - 1:40:27)
25%

[Speaker 9] (1:40:27 - 1:40:27)
8,

[Speaker 3] (1:40:27 - 1:40:28)
or whatever.

[Speaker 9] (1:40:28 - 1:40:29)
you know, or something.

[Speaker 9] (1:40:30 - 1:40:30)
I'm

[Speaker 10] (1:40:30 - 1:40:31)
I'm definitely

[Speaker 9] (1:40:31 - 1:40:31)
definitely

[Speaker 10] (1:40:31 - 1:40:31)
hearing

[Speaker 9] (1:40:31 - 1:40:31)
hearing,

[Speaker 10] (1:40:31 - 1:40:31)
no

[Speaker 9] (1:40:31 - 1:40:31)
what's

[Speaker 10] (1:40:31 - 1:40:32)
to the 15.

[Speaker 10] (1:40:32 - 1:40:34)
Even if that? you all don't pick another number,

[Speaker 10] (1:40:34 - 1:40:34)
I...

[Speaker 10] (1:40:35 - 1:40:39)
I understand the no to the 15 for sure as we enter into negotiations.

[Speaker 3] (1:40:42 - 1:40:44)
Well, it's one of the biggest levers you have here,

[Speaker 3] (1:40:44 - 1:40:44)
right?

[Speaker 3] (1:40:44 - 1:40:46)
So it's one of the biggest drivers of this budget,

[Speaker 3] (1:40:46 - 1:40:47)
right?

[Speaker 3] (1:40:47 - 1:40:55)
This solid waste contract that we haven't renegotiated in quite some time that's gone up considerably. So it's one of those things that's going to be very impactful,

[Speaker 3] (1:40:56 - 1:40:56)
right?

[Speaker 3] (1:40:56 - 1:40:59)
Or the most impactful maybe for the whole budget season.

[Speaker 9] (1:41:01 - 1:41:04)
So what would be the saving factor, just make sure I'm doing the math, like if it were eight?

[Speaker 9] (1:41:07 - 1:41:08)
Do you know what the

[Speaker 10] (1:41:08 - 1:41:09)
Oh, have that in front of me, doc.

[Speaker 7] (1:41:09 - 1:41:10)
Nine hundred thousand

[Speaker 3] (1:41:10 - 1:41:10)
Nine

[Speaker 7] (1:41:10 - 1:41:10)
dollars.

[Speaker 3] (1:41:10 - 1:41:11)
hundred thousand.

[Speaker 10] (1:41:11 - 1:41:11)
Approximately

[Speaker 3] (1:41:11 - 1:41:11)
Nine hundred

[Speaker 10] (1:41:11 - 1:41:11)
nine

[Speaker 3] (1:41:11 - 1:41:11)
thousand,

[Speaker 10] (1:41:11 - 1:41:12)
hundred.

[Speaker 3] (1:41:12 - 1:41:12)
roughly.

[Speaker 10] (1:41:12 - 1:41:12)
Yeah.

[Speaker 10] (1:41:12 - 1:41:12)
Yeah.

[Speaker 10] (1:41:12 - 1:41:14)
If the increases. But that's

[Speaker 7] (1:41:14 - 1:41:15)
Fifteen.

[Speaker 10] (1:41:15 - 1:41:15)
the total.

[Speaker 9] (1:41:15 - 1:41:16)
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Speaker 7] (1:41:16 - 1:41:17)
Oh oh.

[Speaker 9] (1:41:17 - 1:41:18)
Mm. Yeah, that's

[Speaker 10] (1:41:18 - 1:41:18)
So it's

[Speaker 9] (1:41:18 - 1:41:18)
what I right. didn't discover.

[Speaker 10] (1:41:18 - 1:41:20)
second level, second order of math that we need to

[Speaker 9] (1:41:20 - 1:41:20)
Right,

[Speaker 10] (1:41:20 - 1:41:20)
account for.

[Speaker 9] (1:41:20 - 1:41:21)
exactly,

[Speaker 3] (1:41:21 - 1:41:21)
Yeah.

[Speaker 9] (1:41:21 - 1:41:21)
yeah.

[Speaker 3] (1:41:22 - 1:41:22)
Let's

[Speaker 2] (1:41:22 - 1:41:23)
Oh,

[Speaker 3] (1:41:23 - 1:41:23)
cut your

[Speaker 7] (1:41:23 - 1:41:23)
we'll

[Speaker 2] (1:41:23 - 1:41:23)
saying

[Speaker 3] (1:41:23 - 1:41:23)
back

[Speaker 7] (1:41:23 - 1:41:23)
get it

[Speaker 3] (1:41:23 - 1:41:23)
out

[Speaker 7] (1:41:23 - 1:41:24)
for you.

[Speaker 3] (1:41:24 - 1:41:24)
the enterprise fund?

[Speaker 9] (1:41:25 - 1:41:25)
What's that?

[Speaker 2] (1:41:25 - 1:41:27)
Just saying what is it backing out

[Speaker 10] (1:41:27 - 1:41:27)
Oh,

[Speaker 2] (1:41:27 - 1:41:27)
there?

[Speaker 10] (1:41:27 - 1:41:29)
actually it's the fourth bullet,

[Speaker 10] (1:41:29 - 1:41:30)
isn't it? To cut the fourth bullet in half.

[Speaker 7] (1:41:31 - 1:41:33)
Oh, solid waste doesn't help in there.

[Speaker 12] (1:41:33 - 1:41:34)
Austin Crease

[Speaker 9] (1:41:34 - 1:41:34)
Okay.

[Speaker 12] (1:41:34 - 1:41:34)
is 241.

[Speaker 9] (1:41:34 - 1:41:35)
Oh, okay.

[Speaker 9] (1:41:35 - 1:41:36)
Mm.

[Speaker 3] (1:41:36 - 1:41:37)
There you go.

[Speaker 3] (1:41:37 - 1:41:37)
Mm.

[Speaker 9] (1:41:37 - 1:41:37)
Okay,

[Speaker 9] (1:41:37 - 1:41:38)
well,

[Speaker 9] (1:41:38 - 1:41:40)
done as much as I hope, but something

[Speaker 7] (1:41:40 - 1:41:41)
Yeah, I mean, I think

[Speaker 9] (1:41:41 - 1:41:42)
real still.

[Speaker 7] (1:41:42 - 1:41:45)
given the reaction we had from the last change in solid waste.

[Speaker 7] (1:41:47 - 1:41:51)
that even though this is 15% feels egregious to some of us,

[Speaker 7] (1:41:52 - 1:42:14)
if that's the service that the town wants to pay for and if that if we're saying like okay the impacts on impact on the taxpayer is like you decide you want that bigger trash barrel or you want to buy a second trash barrel or we're going to recycling every other week benefits are negative like this is how it's affecting your taxes and some people are very much willing to pay for it as far as far as solid waste is concerned

[Speaker 3] (1:42:14 - 1:42:15)
Concerned, yes.

[Speaker 10] (1:42:15 - 1:42:17)
But there are also people who can't pay for it.

[Speaker 7] (1:42:17 - 1:42:17)
I

[Speaker 10] (1:42:17 - 1:42:19)
And there are also difficult decisions that this

[Speaker 7] (1:42:19 - 1:42:19)
totally understand

[Speaker 10] (1:42:19 - 1:42:20)
board needs

[Speaker 7] (1:42:20 - 1:42:20)
that. And

[Speaker 10] (1:42:20 - 1:42:20)
to

[Speaker 7] (1:42:20 - 1:42:20)
that's why it

[Speaker 10] (1:42:20 - 1:42:21)
make.

[Speaker 7] (1:42:21 - 1:42:31)
might need to be a conversation about you purchase a second barrel and there's a cost there or something like that because there are homes that need that and we have a lot of seniors who live in place who don't need that.

[Speaker 3] (1:42:31 - 1:42:32)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (1:42:32 - 1:42:40)
So maybe it's, you know, something more along that lines where you pay for double the services because you're receiving double the services.

[Speaker 10] (1:42:42 - 1:42:45)
And that part of the discussion has been whether it's two barrels,

[Speaker 10] (1:42:45 - 1:42:45)
if

[Speaker 2] (1:42:45 - 1:42:46)
Mm.

[Speaker 10] (1:42:46 - 1:42:48)
someone wants that they can go and pay for that versus

[Speaker 2] (1:42:48 - 1:42:48)
Yes.

[Speaker 10] (1:42:48 - 1:42:52)
just the bags because it's the holidays or you had a barbecue in the summer or whatever

[Speaker 2] (1:42:52 - 1:42:52)
Right. Right.

[Speaker 10] (1:42:52 - 1:43:03)
where you need extra, you know, volume on a certain week. So that's even that has been part of the discussion, but I definitely hear the feedback that we are too.

[Speaker 10] (1:43:04 - 1:43:09)
sharpen our pencils particularly on this and make sure as we go into negotiations we reflect that conversation.

[Speaker 2] (1:43:10 - 1:43:12)
So what are we saying here, we want this number in half?

[Speaker 7] (1:43:15 - 1:43:17)
I don't think that, I mean, without

[Speaker 10] (1:43:17 - 1:43:18)
I mean,

[Speaker 10] (1:43:18 - 1:43:18)
it's...

[Speaker 7] (1:43:18 - 1:43:21)
the detail, it's not fair to say that, I feel like.

[Speaker 3] (1:43:21 - 1:43:27)
I think we want to understand what the detail is as it corresponds to what the actual number will be, right?

[Speaker 3] (1:43:27 - 1:43:29)
So I think we want to be able to tell people,

[Speaker 3] (1:43:29 - 1:43:29)
okay,

[Speaker 3] (1:43:29 - 1:43:37)
for, you know, two barrels is going to cost you X or this is the impact it'll have on, you know, the budget,

[Speaker 3] (1:43:37 - 1:43:37)
right?

[Speaker 3] (1:43:37 - 1:43:42)
If we do, if we did it this way, if we went with recycling every two weeks, this is how it's.

[Speaker 3] (1:43:42 - 1:43:44)
you know or at least for us to know what's

[Speaker 2] (1:43:44 - 1:43:45)
But what I'm hearing,

[Speaker 3] (1:43:45 - 1:43:46)
going to save us x

[Speaker 2] (1:43:46 - 1:43:54)
what I'm hearing Doug say is that number's too high, I want a lower number and then what is your lower number and then how are you going to work within that lower number.

[Speaker 9] (1:43:54 - 1:44:01)
Yeah, and there's two uh two levels to it, right? There's the level of, you know, Nick, Wayne, whoever with the the vendors

[Speaker 2] (1:44:01 - 1:44:01)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (1:44:01 - 1:44:05)
and then and then you know and pushing that number down, whatever the options are.

[Speaker 2] (1:44:05 - 1:44:06)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (1:44:06 - 1:44:08)
And then the options, what we want to do about the options.

[Speaker 2] (1:44:11 - 1:44:21)
So out of the gate, you're though you're saying get that number down and then come back to us in the finance committee later on and tell us what what the levers are that we have.

[Speaker 9] (1:44:21 - 1:44:28)
Yeah, I would be surprised you come back with an option that has eight percent or maybe even less, but it has some significant ramifications to it.

[Speaker 2] (1:44:28 - 1:44:28)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (1:44:28 - 1:44:30)
And there's a higher number we could go with.

[Speaker 7] (1:44:30 - 1:44:37)
Right. I think we could find a contract in a number that any of us picked.

[Speaker 7] (1:44:38 - 1:44:48)
But whether or not it fulfilled the goods and services that members the majority of the members of the town were looking for, that's why it's unfair to say get it down to eight, because you can get something for eight, but what are you getting?

[Speaker 13] (1:44:48 - 1:44:49)
Right.

[Speaker 13] (1:44:49 - 1:44:51)
Trash barrels fifteen gallons.

[Speaker 7] (1:44:52 - 1:44:52)
I mean.

[Speaker 7] (1:44:53 - 1:44:55)
It's going to be dropping them off with Gino again,

[Speaker 7] (1:44:55 - 1:44:56)
which was sort of fun.

[Speaker 3] (1:44:56 - 1:44:58)
Maybe that is an option, who knows?

[Speaker 2] (1:44:58 - 1:45:01)
So do you feel like you have guidance on what

[Speaker 10] (1:45:01 - 1:45:04)
I feel like I have guidance and we need to come back to you with more information, I think,

[Speaker 7] (1:45:04 - 1:45:04)
Great.

[Speaker 10] (1:45:04 - 1:45:05)
as step one.

[Speaker 3] (1:45:05 - 1:45:05)
Yes,

[Speaker 7] (1:45:05 - 1:45:05)
Perfect,

[Speaker 3] (1:45:05 - 1:45:06)
correct.

[Speaker 7] (1:45:06 - 1:45:06)
Nick.

[Speaker 10] (1:45:06 - 1:45:06)
Excellent.

[Speaker 7] (1:45:06 - 1:45:18)
Thank you. And thank everybody. This conversation has been ongoing. We're not meaning to blow it up by having any of this conversation or belittle any of the conversation that's been had. That conversation is just striking accordions about additional.

[Speaker 7] (1:45:19 - 1:45:21)
knowledge share and info to be had.

[Speaker 10] (1:45:21 - 1:45:21)
Okay.

[Speaker 10] (1:45:22 - 1:45:23)
We good with this one?

[Speaker 3] (1:45:23 - 1:45:24)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 7] (1:45:24 - 1:45:26)
Let's go to the best one.

[Speaker 10] (1:45:26 - 1:45:26)
Yep.

[Speaker 10] (1:45:26 - 1:45:48)
So obviously Doug said the punchline's at the back, but I wanted to walk through how we put together a budget that represented our services that were requested and um for how we got there. So you know, looking at this and that the impact on the taxpayer, based on an F.Y. twenty six property values and the current tax rate shift,

[Speaker 10] (1:45:48 - 1:45:58)
The proposed new levy of $68.2 million is estimated to increase the property tax rate by 87 cents per thousand to 12.87 per thousand.

[Speaker 10] (1:45:59 - 1:46:08)
For the average home valued at $956,516, that translates into an annual tax increase of approximately $849 inclusive of the CPA surcharge.

[Speaker 10] (1:46:09 - 1:46:15)
Commercial industrial tax rates are estimated to increase by $162 to $23.77 per thousand.

[Speaker 10] (1:46:16 - 1:46:19)
I want to be clear this is an estimate and will change.

[Speaker 10] (1:46:20 - 1:46:27)
It's based on the FY26 certified values and will be refined once the final budget is adopted and the tax rates set in December.

[Speaker 10] (1:46:30 - 1:46:30)
Any,

[Speaker 10] (1:46:31 - 1:46:36)
you know, shift decisions that are made and whether one-time funds are applied to reduce the levy. So I will stop.

[Speaker 10] (1:46:36 - 1:46:39)
It looks like you have something that you would like to say.

[Speaker 9] (1:46:40 - 1:46:42)
Well, I mean, I think I've already said it. I mean...

[Speaker 9] (1:46:44 - 1:46:53)
And I did talk with Nick and Patrick earlier, and I guess uh just reconfirming that this is in the realm of what the increase was last year?

[Speaker 13] (1:46:54 - 1:47:00)
Yeah, the average single family home bill increased eight hundred and sixty dollars last year.

[Speaker 7] (1:47:00 - 1:47:01)
It was higher.

[Speaker 14] (1:47:02 - 1:47:02)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 9] (1:47:02 - 1:47:03)
Yeah,

[Speaker 3] (1:47:03 - 1:47:03)
Well,

[Speaker 9] (1:47:03 - 1:47:03)
uh

[Speaker 3] (1:47:03 - 1:47:03)
we put

[Speaker 9] (1:47:03 - 1:47:03)
but

[Speaker 3] (1:47:03 - 1:47:03)
We

[Speaker 14] (1:47:03 - 1:47:04)
but that's both for those

[Speaker 7] (1:47:04 - 1:47:05)
is

[Speaker 14] (1:47:05 - 1:47:05)
are much

[Speaker 9] (1:47:05 - 1:47:05)
higher,

[Speaker 14] (1:47:05 - 1:47:06)
the values yeah.

[Speaker 14] (1:47:07 - 1:47:08)
So yeah, it is higher,

[Speaker 7] (1:47:08 - 1:47:08)
Finish

[Speaker 14] (1:47:08 - 1:47:08)
but

[Speaker 7] (1:47:08 - 1:47:10)
your sentence. What's what the values of what?

[Speaker 3] (1:47:10 - 1:47:11)
We put money.

[Speaker 10] (1:47:12 - 1:47:13)
No.

[Speaker 10] (1:47:13 - 1:47:18)
Though FY26 values will go up for the FY27 tax bill.

[Speaker 10] (1:47:18 - 1:47:20)
Correct. So it would bring it above eight.

[Speaker 15] (1:47:20 - 1:47:20)
Got it.

[Speaker 10] (1:47:20 - 1:47:22)
At some point, that's what I'm saying, it's an estimate.

[Speaker 10] (1:47:23 - 1:47:28)
And once those values need to be refined before we have the final number, we're basing it off the information we have available right now.

[Speaker 9] (1:47:28 - 1:47:28)
Right.

[Speaker 15] (1:47:28 - 1:47:29)
Got it.

[Speaker 9] (1:47:29 - 1:47:29)
There's that.

[Speaker 9] (1:47:30 - 1:47:30)
And then, Mary Ellen,

[Speaker 9] (1:47:30 - 1:47:31)
you were saying,

[Speaker 15] (1:47:31 - 1:47:31)
Mm.

[Speaker 9] (1:47:31 - 1:47:36)
did we get down to that 860 with free cash?

[Speaker 2] (1:47:36 - 1:47:36)
No.

[Speaker 9] (1:47:36 - 1:47:37)
No.

[Speaker 13] (1:47:37 - 1:47:38)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:47:38 - 1:47:45)
This is the number before we add anything in there. We might not have anything to add in there.

[Speaker 13] (1:47:45 - 1:47:47)
But let's

[Speaker 14] (1:47:48 - 1:47:50)
We got down to the 860 using the excess levy effectively.

[Speaker 10] (1:47:51 - 1:47:52)
Right. Okay.

[Speaker 14] (1:47:52 - 1:47:53)
So we didn't even cut that.

[Speaker 10] (1:47:53 - 1:47:54)
Okay.

[Speaker 13] (1:47:55 - 1:47:56)
But just back up. I mean, look at

[Speaker 13] (1:47:57 - 1:48:09)
you know, look at what our excess levy capacity was, what it is now going into this next fiscal year. I mean if we spend at this level, we just said, yep, approve, let's go, I mean we're calling for an overrun in two years.

[Speaker 10] (1:48:09 - 1:48:10)
I'll look to next year.

[Speaker 3] (1:48:11 - 1:48:11)
Calling for an override next

[Speaker 10] (1:48:11 - 1:48:12)
Next year.

[Speaker 3] (1:48:12 - 1:48:12)
year.

[Speaker 10] (1:48:12 - 1:48:12)
Next year, yeah.

[Speaker 3] (1:48:12 - 1:48:17)
Next year, so you we need an override next year and the following year and the following years.

[Speaker 13] (1:48:17 - 1:48:20)
So we need so we need to make difficult decisions today.

[Speaker 3] (1:48:20 - 1:48:21)
You're right.

[Speaker 16] (1:48:25 - 1:48:30)
So I think that's I think that's kind of one of the main things we've kind of been talking a bit about having you know

[Speaker 16] (1:48:30 - 1:48:45)
some kind of five-year projection that's more than yeah I mean to your point simple math can tell you we're going to need over have rapid I think we need more little more than that to understand like the timing of some of these revenues that's still kind of a black hole of it is like when might the revenue go up from different Mm things

[Speaker 13] (1:48:45 - 1:48:45)
-hmm.

[Speaker 16] (1:48:45 - 1:48:52)
that are going on in town I know I know it's not imminent but still we need to know if it's in a year and a half or five years like

[Speaker 3] (1:48:52 - 1:48:53)
Right.

[Speaker 16] (1:48:53 - 1:48:58)
hotel and other things that we're doing because that'll tell us how many years I can't I can't

[Speaker 16] (1:48:59 - 1:49:06)
Rather than standing up a time meeting and saying we need another two point eight million and not being able to say well what's going to happen next year because this

[Speaker 3] (1:49:06 - 1:49:06)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 16] (1:49:06 - 1:49:07)
applies to the first question.

[Speaker 3] (1:49:07 - 1:49:08)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 2] (1:49:08 - 1:49:08)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 3] (1:49:08 - 1:49:08)
Yep.

[Speaker 3] (1:49:12 - 1:49:18)
So I think part of that is informed obviously with solid waste, because we would also like the out years to understand expenses, it's

[Speaker 2] (1:49:18 - 1:49:18)
Yep.

[Speaker 3] (1:49:18 - 1:49:25)
but the to your larger point, you know, there's been an there's Pine Street um

[Speaker 3] (1:49:27 - 1:49:32)
Adelaide, and then what may come of you know anything else on Humphrey.

[Speaker 1] (1:49:33 - 1:49:33)
Yep.

[Speaker 3] (1:49:33 - 1:49:33)
So

[Speaker 3] (1:49:34 - 1:49:50)
We're limited all around so I do think it it leads to the idea that we start with this level service where we think we need to be and then it is you know pointing us in the right direction to come back with the information and the impacts for

[Speaker 3] (1:49:51 - 1:50:06)
You know, change as it get a number down that's more manageable or that extends out any potential need for an override or gets to that new revenue or whatever the case may be. But I think what we tried to be tonight was responsive to the idea that we wanted a due level service,

[Speaker 4] (1:50:06 - 1:50:06)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 3] (1:50:06 - 1:50:08)
access levy capacity for that,

[Speaker 3] (1:50:08 - 1:50:15)
but we're more than happy not only with the items we discussed, but in further discussions with you all to figure out what levers there are to

[Speaker 3] (1:50:16 - 1:50:21)
To lower that, maintain a level of service as best we can, and and make those value judgments that you're talking

[Speaker 1] (1:50:21 - 1:50:22)
And just

[Speaker 3] (1:50:22 - 1:50:22)
about.

[Speaker 1] (1:50:22 - 1:50:28)
and yeah and project out that growth and the timing to your to your point Eric as to when that's going to come online.

[Speaker 1] (1:50:28 - 1:50:35)
And I think that's I think that's going to help be helpful to the to the Finance Committee to the select board to the school committee to the town at large to the taxpayer.

[Speaker 5] (1:50:37 - 1:50:41)
I'd much rather say our operating budget can't go above X.

[Speaker 5] (1:50:42 - 1:50:53)
And then figure out what goods and services fit within X and say, these are the goods and services we want and then keep going in that direction until we can't like, we can't maintain it anymore.

[Speaker 5] (1:50:53 - 1:51:00)
I mean like we have to live within our means, but is it easier to live within your means to the top, as top as possible?

[Speaker 5] (1:51:00 - 1:51:06)
No, like you want to have some wiggle room every single year that gets harder as the wiggle room gets smaller,

[Speaker 5] (1:51:06 - 1:51:07)
obviously.

[Speaker 5] (1:51:08 - 1:51:20)
I think we need to be very thoughtful on the go forward that, you know, we've been utilizing free cash quite often and we're not going to have that luxury on the go forward.

[Speaker 5] (1:51:20 - 1:51:26)
And we really need to, I mean, part of this is my fault, but I'll just say it anyways,

[Speaker 5] (1:51:26 - 1:51:32)
have those policy discussions about whether the policies are long term for the next five years,

[Speaker 5] (1:51:32 - 1:51:37)
whether we can actually live within the policies that we have set for ourselves. We could at.

[Speaker 5] (1:51:38 - 1:51:42)
the past five years, but can we on the go-forward? Um

[Speaker 3] (1:51:42 - 1:51:44)
I'm totally glad you brought up policies.

[Speaker 5] (1:51:44 - 1:51:45)
great I knew you would be.

[Speaker 3] (1:51:47 - 1:51:55)
So one I want to talk about is the ninety percent assumption on local receipts.

[Speaker 3] (1:51:57 - 1:52:05)
So Patrick can you, do you happen to have available kind of what

[Speaker 3] (1:52:06 - 1:52:08)
Either have

[Speaker 3] (1:52:10 - 1:52:26)
we come in at 90 percent each year or is that just very very conservative budgeting and then we're just forcing a free cash at the end of the year because we usually come in within 98 to 102 percent of what we really project.

[Speaker 6] (1:52:28 - 1:52:35)
So generally we're building revenue estimates that are conservative so that we should be meeting or exceeding them at the end of the fiscal year.

[Speaker 6] (1:52:36 - 1:52:38)
Obviously any exceedance goes to free cash.

[Speaker 3] (1:52:38 - 1:52:45)
Right, but if you're choosing 90%, then you actually had a 100% number to begin with,

[Speaker 3] (1:52:45 - 1:52:45)
right?

[Speaker 6] (1:52:45 - 1:52:45)
Correct.

[Speaker 3] (1:52:46 - 1:52:53)
And so what do we actually come in at? Do we actually come in at pretty much close to what we thought the 100% number was?

[Speaker 6] (1:52:53 - 1:52:54)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (1:52:54 - 1:52:54)
Right.

[Speaker 6] (1:52:54 - 1:52:56)
Generally we'd come in at 100% or more.

[Speaker 1] (1:52:57 - 1:52:57)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (1:52:57 - 1:53:00)
So why are we doing this?

[Speaker 1] (1:53:01 - 1:53:09)
I mean, I get it. I get that we don't necessarily want to maybe budget at 100%, but why are we right

[Speaker 7] (1:53:09 - 1:53:10)
Projecting.

[Speaker 1] (1:53:11 - 1:53:14)
out of the gate cutting off 10%?

[Speaker 9] (1:53:15 - 1:53:19)
Patrick, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's guidance from the Department of Revenue and

[Speaker 7] (1:53:19 - 1:53:19)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (1:53:19 - 1:53:21)
other state statues.

[Speaker 1] (1:53:21 - 1:53:21)
Is it required?

[Speaker 3] (1:53:23 - 1:53:24)
I don't know if it's required, but it's

[Speaker 10] (1:53:24 - 1:53:25)
Is it recommended?

[Speaker 3] (1:53:25 - 1:53:25)
um

[Speaker 3] (1:53:25 - 1:53:26)
Yeah, you

[Speaker 10] (1:53:26 - 1:53:26)
Recommended for

[Speaker 3] (1:53:26 - 1:53:27)
know you know the answer right?

[Speaker 6] (1:53:27 - 1:53:28)
I can just jump

[Speaker 1] (1:53:28 - 1:53:28)
It doesn't.

[Speaker 6] (1:53:28 - 1:53:28)
in

[Speaker 1] (1:53:28 - 1:53:28)
Doesn't.

[Speaker 6] (1:53:28 - 1:53:29)
to my

[Speaker 11] (1:53:29 - 1:53:29)
Go ahead, Patrick.

[Speaker 1] (1:53:29 - 1:53:29)
Sure.

[Speaker 6] (1:53:29 - 1:53:30)
experience

[Speaker 10] (1:53:30 - 1:53:30)
Go ahead, Patrick.

[Speaker 6] (1:53:30 - 1:53:37)
with the dep department of revenue. Um at tax rate time we have to report our revenue estimates and if they

[Speaker 6] (1:53:38 - 1:53:56)
are in excess of the 90% of the prior year actual they'll scrutinize that more. And we could be in a position where we're using revenue estimates to build a budget and then at tax rate time if we can't back it up they're gonna force us to use a lower estimate which would increase our levy at that point in the year after the budget's been passed.

[Speaker 6] (1:53:57 - 1:54:01)
So that's that's a check and a balance that we have to do with them.

[Speaker 9] (1:54:04 - 1:54:06)
I'm trying to think about that, increase our level.

[Speaker 12] (1:54:10 - 1:54:16)
I don't I don't see the estimate as really as much of a problem. Oh.

[Speaker 9] (1:54:17 - 1:54:22)
Well, it it forces the tax rate up kind of

[Speaker 12] (1:54:23 - 1:54:30)
I think that I think the gamble on the other side I mean the gamble on the other side and the pressure that we're going to get from D-O-R

[Speaker 12] (1:54:31 - 1:54:33)
I think is is much higher.

[Speaker 1] (1:54:33 - 1:54:35)
Remember, we're not setting the tax rate, we're setting the budget.

[Speaker 12] (1:54:35 - 1:54:36)
That's right.

[Speaker 1] (1:54:36 - 1:54:40)
So if we have to run a free entry cash, we use free cash to fill the tax gap.

[Speaker 12] (1:54:40 - 1:54:40)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (1:54:42 - 1:54:42)
And

[Speaker 3] (1:54:42 - 1:54:42)
Yeah,

[Speaker 12] (1:54:42 - 1:54:42)
We

[Speaker 3] (1:54:42 - 1:54:42)
I know

[Speaker 12] (1:54:42 - 1:54:42)
we have

[Speaker 1] (1:54:42 - 1:54:42)
we're not

[Speaker 12] (1:54:42 - 1:54:42)
time

[Speaker 1] (1:54:42 - 1:54:43)
setting the

[Speaker 12] (1:54:43 - 1:54:43)
we

[Speaker 1] (1:54:43 - 1:54:43)
tax rate,

[Speaker 12] (1:54:43 - 1:54:43)
have

[Speaker 3] (1:54:43 - 1:54:43)
literally,

[Speaker 12] (1:54:43 - 1:54:44)
we

[Speaker 3] (1:54:44 - 1:54:44)
but...

[Speaker 12] (1:54:44 - 1:54:45)
have time in there.

[Speaker 12] (1:54:45 - 1:54:46)
We

[Speaker 1] (1:54:46 - 1:54:46)
We're

[Speaker 12] (1:54:46 - 1:54:46)
have to

[Speaker 3] (1:54:46 - 1:54:46)
effectively.

[Speaker 1] (1:54:46 - 1:54:46)
not in the

[Speaker 12] (1:54:46 - 1:54:47)
June to

[Speaker 1] (1:54:47 - 1:54:54)
month of November. the citizens I'm saying it's before that you should make that correction with free cash in the following circumstances.

[Speaker 9] (1:54:54 - 1:54:56)
And if you don't have excess levy,

[Speaker 9] (1:54:57 - 1:54:58)
If it comes

[Speaker 12] (1:54:58 - 1:54:58)
I to know.

[Speaker 9] (1:54:58 - 1:55:00)
time to the when you set the tax rate and you overestimated

[Speaker 12] (1:55:00 - 1:55:01)
Over.

[Speaker 9] (1:55:01 - 1:55:04)
your receipts and then you don't have levied a tax rate then you have to

[Speaker 12] (1:55:05 - 1:55:06)
Lay people off.

[Speaker 9] (1:55:06 - 1:55:07)
lay people off and redo your budget

[Speaker 12] (1:55:07 - 1:55:07)
Shutdown programs.

[Speaker 9] (1:55:07 - 1:55:08)
in the middle of the year.

[Speaker 3] (1:55:08 - 1:55:13)
Okay, this is sounding a little catastrophic. I, you know, it's just um but okay.

[Speaker 12] (1:55:15 - 1:55:17)
Do we know what similar towns do?

[Speaker 12] (1:55:17 - 1:55:23)
Is everybody at the same mindset of ninety percent, estimating their their receipts? Anybody know?

[Speaker 12] (1:55:23 - 1:55:27)
Neighboring towns, Marblehead, well not with the not that we want a mirror there

[Speaker 1] (1:55:27 - 1:55:27)
Right.

[Speaker 12] (1:55:27 - 1:55:29)
situation, but

[Speaker 1] (1:55:29 - 1:55:29)
Mm.

[Speaker 12] (1:55:29 - 1:55:29)
I

[Speaker 12] (1:55:30 - 1:55:30)
Yeah.

[Speaker 13] (1:55:30 - 1:55:32)
You know, sorry Marblehead.

[Speaker 13] (1:55:33 - 1:55:33)
I

[Speaker 5] (1:55:33 - 1:55:34)
Well, it

[Speaker 13] (1:55:34 - 1:55:34)
mean do

[Speaker 5] (1:55:34 - 1:55:34)
sounds like

[Speaker 13] (1:55:34 - 1:55:34)
we

[Speaker 5] (1:55:34 - 1:55:34)
if that's

[Speaker 13] (1:55:34 - 1:55:35)
know

[Speaker 5] (1:55:35 - 1:55:35)
a guidance

[Speaker 13] (1:55:35 - 1:55:35)
what the

[Speaker 5] (1:55:35 - 1:55:36)
from DOR,

[Speaker 13] (1:55:36 - 1:55:36)
best

[Speaker 5] (1:55:36 - 1:55:36)
that...

[Speaker 13] (1:55:36 - 1:55:36)
practice is?

[Speaker 6] (1:55:36 - 1:55:42)
Yeah, I think this is in line with best practices generally. Obviously everyone locally makes their own decisions.

[Speaker 13] (1:55:42 - 1:55:42)
Sure.

[Speaker 6] (1:55:43 - 1:55:44)
Everyone has to do things a little different.

[Speaker 13] (1:55:44 - 1:55:45)
Sure.

[Speaker 6] (1:55:45 - 1:55:49)
I'm happy to survey some neighboring communities and report back next time we look at the revenue,

[Speaker 6] (1:55:49 - 1:55:50)
just

[Speaker 13] (1:55:50 - 1:55:51)
That might

[Speaker 6] (1:55:51 - 1:55:51)
to see.

[Speaker 13] (1:55:51 - 1:55:54)
be helpful just of similar population towns, right?

[Speaker 13] (1:55:54 - 1:55:56)
I mean just to get an idea just to answer.

[Speaker 13] (1:55:56 - 1:55:57)
to, you know, to ask a question,

[Speaker 6] (1:55:58 - 1:55:58)
Yep.

[Speaker 13] (1:55:58 - 1:55:58)
really.

[Speaker 9] (1:55:58 - 1:56:03)
And I think as Patrick said, I think if you know if something's going to be different, you can't estimate

[Speaker 13] (1:56:03 - 1:56:03)
Of

[Speaker 9] (1:56:03 - 1:56:03)
it

[Speaker 13] (1:56:03 - 1:56:04)
course, yeah.

[Speaker 9] (1:56:04 - 1:56:04)
at a different

[Speaker 5] (1:56:04 - 1:56:04)
Sorry,

[Speaker 9] (1:56:04 - 1:56:04)
level.

[Speaker 5] (1:56:04 - 1:56:05)
justify it, did you want to?

[Speaker 9] (1:56:05 - 1:56:06)
Yeah, right.

[Speaker 13] (1:56:07 - 1:56:08)
Right.

[Speaker 13] (1:56:08 - 1:56:12)
It's like we know Hadley's eventually going to happen, right, but when, right,

[Speaker 9] (1:56:12 - 1:56:12)
Right,

[Speaker 13] (1:56:12 - 1:56:12)
it's not

[Speaker 9] (1:56:12 - 1:56:12)
or but

[Speaker 13] (1:56:12 - 1:56:13)
going to be

[Speaker 9] (1:56:13 - 1:56:22)
like you know if you like I think some of it is built in so that if you you know if people aren't buying new cars then the excise tax that you're going to receive is going to

[Speaker 9] (1:56:22 - 1:56:25)
Go lower so you have that you can't estimate a hundred percent on that. And service

[Speaker 13] (1:56:25 - 1:56:25)
Yep.

[Speaker 9] (1:56:25 - 1:56:26)
is line by line

[Speaker 13] (1:56:26 - 1:56:26)
Yep.

[Speaker 9] (1:56:26 - 1:56:27)
analysis.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:27 - 1:56:34)
But for instance, like I I know a few years ago at town meeting we approved increase in the local option rooms tax.

[Speaker 13] (1:56:34 - 1:56:34)
Right.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:34 - 1:56:35)
So

[Speaker 13] (1:56:35 - 1:56:35)
Right.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:35 - 1:56:36)
commensurate

[Speaker 13] (1:56:36 - 1:56:36)
We knew

[Speaker 14] (1:56:36 - 1:56:36)
with

[Speaker 13] (1:56:36 - 1:56:37)
that was going to

[Speaker 14] (1:56:37 - 1:56:37)
that

[Speaker 13] (1:56:37 - 1:56:37)
have

[Speaker 14] (1:56:37 - 1:56:37)
we

[Speaker 13] (1:56:37 - 1:56:37)
a

[Speaker 14] (1:56:37 - 1:56:37)
knew that

[Speaker 13] (1:56:37 - 1:56:37)
that

[Speaker 14] (1:56:37 - 1:56:38)
that was was going to happen.

[Speaker 13] (1:56:38 - 1:56:38)
going to happen.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:38 - 1:56:39)
So we

[Speaker 13] (1:56:39 - 1:56:39)
Right.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:39 - 1:56:40)
I believe we raised

[Speaker 13] (1:56:40 - 1:56:40)
Yep.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:40 - 1:56:40)
that

[Speaker 13] (1:56:40 - 1:56:40)
Right.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:40 - 1:56:41)
estimate previously.

[Speaker 13] (1:56:42 - 1:56:49)
I mean do we think the you know the new restaurants in Vinson Square potentially will have an impact when all that happen when we see anything?

[Speaker 13] (1:56:50 - 1:56:50)
You know.

[Speaker 3] (1:56:50 - 1:56:55)
I don't know that we would want to balance the budget on year one, but

[Speaker 13] (1:56:55 - 1:56:56)
No, but I

[Speaker 12] (1:56:56 - 1:56:56)
Yeah,

[Speaker 14] (1:56:56 - 1:56:56)
No,

[Speaker 13] (1:56:56 - 1:56:56)
can get it.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:56 - 1:56:56)
you

[Speaker 12] (1:56:56 - 1:56:56)
year

[Speaker 13] (1:56:56 - 1:56:57)
I already

[Speaker 12] (1:56:57 - 1:56:57)
two.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:57 - 1:56:57)
do not,

[Speaker 13] (1:56:57 - 1:56:57)
said.

[Speaker 14] (1:56:57 - 1:56:58)
which is why you have the

[Speaker 3] (1:56:58 - 1:57:05)
With the exception of Hadley, because we would have an idea of what they're telling us they anticipate for when that, for

[Speaker 13] (1:57:05 - 1:57:06)
Well, Hedley an and

[Speaker 3] (1:57:06 - 1:57:06)
occupancy

[Speaker 13] (1:57:06 - 1:57:06)
it's,

[Speaker 3] (1:57:06 - 1:57:13)
over the course of a year, we would still undershoot, but we would not obviously pretend that that doesn't exist when we're getting the 90% of.

[Speaker 12] (1:57:14 - 1:57:14)
Yeah.

[Speaker 3] (1:57:14 - 1:57:14)
uh room

[Speaker 12] (1:57:14 - 1:57:14)
Yeah.

[Speaker 3] (1:57:14 - 1:57:15)
tax in planning

[Speaker 13] (1:57:15 - 1:57:16)
Right.

[Speaker 3] (1:57:16 - 1:57:17)
for the year they intend to be open.

[Speaker 13] (1:57:17 - 1:57:22)
But for Eric's, to Eric's point of looking, are we looking three, five years, how what are we gonna look at, you

[Speaker 5] (1:57:22 - 1:57:23)
We have no

[Speaker 13] (1:57:23 - 1:57:24)
know, potentially seeing what we're, you know,

[Speaker 5] (1:57:24 - 1:57:24)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 13] (1:57:24 - 1:57:27)
the Hawthorne, right, well how is that gonna impact, what is that gonna Right. impact?

[Speaker 1] (1:57:27 - 1:57:40)
And just kind of thinking about it's like if if this isn't our situation but say we were one year away from the hotel opening that was going to drive an extra million dollars of revenue to the town or whatever you could consider perhaps being

[Speaker 3] (1:57:40 - 1:57:43)
a little more strategic with your reserves that you have and say,

[Speaker 13] (1:57:43 - 1:57:43)
Mm-hmm. Sure.

[Speaker 3] (1:57:43 - 1:57:46)
we're going to dip into this reserve this year because we know the

[Speaker 5] (1:57:46 - 1:57:46)
Next

[Speaker 3] (1:57:46 - 1:57:46)
hotel's

[Speaker 5] (1:57:46 - 1:57:46)
year,

[Speaker 3] (1:57:46 - 1:57:46)
going to come

[Speaker 5] (1:57:46 - 1:57:46)
bring on.

[Speaker 3] (1:57:46 - 1:57:48)
up and we're going to put it back in.

[Speaker 13] (1:57:48 - 1:57:48)
Absolutely.

[Speaker 3] (1:57:48 - 1:57:49)
We're not there,

[Speaker 3] (1:57:49 - 1:57:50)
but that's kind of why it's so important to understand

[Speaker 13] (1:57:50 - 1:57:51)
Yes.

[Speaker 3] (1:57:51 - 1:57:52)
when are we going to be there.

[Speaker 13] (1:57:52 - 1:57:52)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 5] (1:57:52 - 1:57:53)
Right.

[Speaker 3] (1:57:53 - 1:57:59)
Because that helps us paint a picture of the taxpayer. How many times are we going to come back for the excess levy or when are we coming for the override?

[Speaker 13] (1:57:59 - 1:57:59)
Absolutely.

[Speaker 3] (1:57:59 - 1:58:01)
And I think the sooner we stop telling that to the town,

[Speaker 13] (1:58:01 - 1:58:01)
Yes.

[Speaker 3] (1:58:01 - 1:58:02)
I

[Speaker 13] (1:58:02 - 1:58:02)
Right.

[Speaker 3] (1:58:02 - 1:58:05)
know we've been saying it for a while that it's coming, it's coming, we're going to be in trouble,

[Speaker 3] (1:58:05 - 1:58:07)
but I think we need to know those other...

[Speaker 13] (1:58:07 - 1:58:08)
Mm-hmm. Those other

[Speaker 1] (1:58:08 - 1:58:10)
factors. Inflows when we make those same comments.

[Speaker 13] (1:58:10 - 1:58:10)
Right.

[Speaker 3] (1:58:10 - 1:58:25)
And I think our intention in looking six months from now or less than that is that starting in July and August we will be talking about what everything looks like in these projections not just once in November and again in December and again in January or February.

[Speaker 3] (1:58:26 - 1:58:30)
The goal is to have this for Patrick and I and the rest of the finance team that's coming on board.

[Speaker 3] (1:58:30 - 1:58:33)
This is something we're coming to you all on a regular basis throughout the year,

[Speaker 3] (1:58:33 - 1:58:35)
not only to socialize it but also...

[Speaker 3] (1:58:35 - 1:58:38)
Other people might have good ideas of things that we can be doing differently,

[Speaker 3] (1:58:38 - 1:58:43)
as long as we're talking about it more and having an open and direct conversation about it throughout the year.

[Speaker 3] (1:58:43 - 1:58:48)
The timing for this year did not lend itself to that based on when we were all getting here.

[Speaker 13] (1:58:48 - 1:58:49)
Right

[Speaker 3] (1:58:50 - 1:58:56)
But that gets to the larger point. It's not only the five-year, but socializing and understanding what it means as we go and as those levers move.

[Speaker 5] (1:58:58 - 1:59:03)
But we will be able to have some semblance of a strategy for the next five years when we present to town meeting.

[Speaker 3] (1:59:03 - 1:59:03)
Yes.

[Speaker 5] (1:59:03 - 1:59:04)
Okay, great.

[Speaker 2] (1:59:03 - 1:59:04)
Yes.

[Speaker 1] (1:59:04 - 1:59:04)
Okay, great.

[Speaker 2] (1:59:04 - 1:59:05)
Well, what what to say?

[Speaker 1] (1:59:05 - 1:59:07)
Like some semblance

[Speaker 2] (1:59:07 - 1:59:07)
Five

[Speaker 1] (1:59:07 - 1:59:07)
of a

[Speaker 2] (1:59:07 - 1:59:07)
years.

[Speaker 1] (1:59:07 - 1:59:11)
strategy for the five-year projection when we're talking to town meeting

[Speaker 2] (1:59:11 - 1:59:11)
Yes, right.

[Speaker 1] (1:59:11 - 1:59:18)
so that that way we can say like you know whether it's a combination of what's coming on, what's falling off,

[Speaker 1] (1:59:18 - 1:59:18)
and

[Speaker 3] (1:59:18 - 1:59:18)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 1] (1:59:18 - 1:59:20)
then how long we think

[Speaker 1] (1:59:21 - 1:59:28)
the doom and gloom is happening for Doug as Doug you know like how long it how many times we're going to take another bite of this apple

[Speaker 4] (1:59:28 - 1:59:28)
that Right.

[Speaker 1] (1:59:28 - 1:59:46)
also should shape our judgment when we're making these choices like if you know to Eric's point you know you're making it for one time you might make a more risky choice if you know you're have to going to have to do this for the next five years you want to be pushing this much further along the process then so

[Speaker 5] (1:59:46 - 1:59:46)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (1:59:46 - 1:59:47)
And the select board just.

[Speaker 5] (1:59:48 - 1:59:56)
You know the Select Board might give different guidance to the town administrator if you see three years of overrides in a row as far as level service or having to start cutting deeper

[Speaker 1] (1:59:56 - 1:59:56)
Absolutely.

[Speaker 5] (1:59:56 - 1:59:57)
than that, right?

[Speaker 6] (1:59:57 - 2:00:01)
Yep. Okay, but we kind of know, like, this isn't going to get solved this year.

[Speaker 6] (2:00:02 - 2:00:04)
It's not going to get solved the year after that either.

[Speaker 6] (2:00:04 - 2:00:10)
The best case maybe is Pine Street maybe is going in FY28. You know,

[Speaker 6] (2:00:10 - 2:00:11)
like, have

[Speaker 7] (2:00:11 - 2:00:11)
Pine

[Speaker 6] (2:00:11 - 2:00:11)
these.

[Speaker 7] (2:00:11 - 2:00:12)
Street isn't...

[Speaker 6] (2:00:13 - 2:00:13)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (2:00:13 - 2:00:14)
Bringing it, don't you think it's going to bring in,

[Speaker 6] (2:00:14 - 2:00:15)
what, Yeah.

[Speaker 9] (2:00:15 - 2:00:15)
sixty thousand

[Speaker 6] (2:00:15 - 2:00:15)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (2:00:15 - 2:00:16)
in

[Speaker 5] (2:00:16 - 2:00:16)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (2:00:16 - 2:00:16)
Yes.

[Speaker 9] (2:00:16 - 2:00:17)
taxes and

[Speaker 6] (2:00:17 - 2:00:24)
Exactly. Hadley's not really going to be rolling so we we know it's going to be multiple years.

[Speaker 1] (2:00:25 - 2:00:25)
Yeah.

[Speaker 6] (2:00:25 - 2:00:33)
And that that's that's that's what's really bugging me a lot more than last year because now this is two years of this.

[Speaker 9] (2:00:33 - 2:00:34)
Right, right.

[Speaker 6] (2:00:34 - 2:00:37)
I mean this is a thousand dollars basically.

[Speaker 6] (2:00:39 - 2:00:51)
I mean just in this environment I just feel like we need to be more aggressive in one way or another than you know than it feels like we're willing to be.

[Speaker 6] (2:00:53 - 2:00:57)
You know I talked to Nick and Patrick earlier about the retirement.

[Speaker 6] (2:00:57 - 2:01:01)
Okay well I guess the retirement numbers are already in for next year.

[Speaker 6] (2:01:01 - 2:01:01)
It's locked in.

[Speaker 6] (2:01:02 - 2:01:06)
So then we you know what about getting you know getting ahead of

[Speaker 6] (2:01:07 - 2:01:13)
spreading that out because we're in this trough that's another way of dealing with the trough

[Speaker 9] (2:01:18 - 2:01:26)
What other options are out there that we're not thinking of, right? What what other things can we investigate? It lit it makes you think of solid waste, right?

[Speaker 6] (2:01:26 - 2:01:26)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 9] (2:01:26 - 2:01:38)
One of the biggest drivers, you know at some point we're gonna have to have a discussion about Hawthorne, right? How is that gonna play into all of this? Does it? Does it play in? What you know what happens with that site, right?

[Speaker 6] (2:01:38 - 2:01:39)
Well, and frankly,

[Speaker 6] (2:01:39 - 2:01:41)
I mean I know we've looked at all the the detail,

[Speaker 6] (2:01:41 - 2:01:45)
but you go back to the summary page and you see general government going up.

[Speaker 6] (2:01:44 - 2:02:02)
going up six point six percent I know once you kind of look at all the nitty-gritty it feels like there's nothing you can do but you know hate to say it but with all these conversations we've had about the schools in the town you know now we got the town going up six point six percent it

[Speaker 6] (2:02:04 - 2:02:08)
doesn't I'm not saying the schools should be off the hook either but you know

[Speaker 9] (2:02:11 - 2:02:17)
Everything's on the table, right? So everything is something we've got to look at, we've got to look at closely.

[Speaker 9] (2:02:17 - 2:02:19)
I mean, there's no two ways about it, really.

[Speaker 1] (2:02:23 - 2:02:25)
I mean, I think your point's well taken,

[Speaker 1] (2:02:25 - 2:02:28)
but at the same time, when you look at that general government number,

[Speaker 1] (2:02:29 - 2:02:33)
It's made up of so many little pieces that some of which are predetermined and some of which are not.

[Speaker 6] (2:02:33 - 2:02:33)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 1] (2:02:33 - 2:02:36)
So then there's even less levers to pull.

[Speaker 1] (2:02:36 - 2:02:37)
This is what the school says also,

[Speaker 1] (2:02:37 - 2:02:43)
like there's only so much that we have the ability to pull for a lever.

[Speaker 1] (2:02:43 - 2:02:45)
Some of so much of it is flexible.

[Speaker 1] (2:02:46 - 2:03:08)
that we don't control the flexibility right like special education and like and retirements and like we replaced almost every single department head in town hall this year I mean we replaced a ton of folks coming in and out or moving them from positions and so there is a cost of that and I think what's difficult is to come before

[Speaker 1] (2:03:09 - 2:03:35)
this conversation and say that that number should be further scrutinized and we approved individual contracts and have conversations like okay well each one of these is a small bite at an apple that's only so big and eventually the apple's gone so I mean yes we have to take responsibility for owning it but also like how do you manage the business of town government if you don't have good people involved you want to have less

[Speaker 1] (2:03:36 - 2:03:41)
employment funding that's going to come at a cost, right? That's a service too.

[Speaker 1] (2:03:41 - 2:03:44)
Trash and police and fire are not the only services we provide.

[Speaker 1] (2:03:44 - 2:03:46)
We provide a lot of services in town hall.

[Speaker 1] (2:03:46 - 2:03:47)
So I...

[Speaker 10] (2:03:48 - 2:03:59)
But I think the alignment of when that growth comes online is helpful to be able to determine if we can swallow this $849 base

[Speaker 1] (2:03:59 - 2:03:59)
Right.

[Speaker 10] (2:03:59 - 2:04:03)
this year and what that's looking like in fiscal year 28,

[Speaker 10] (2:04:04 - 2:04:05)
fiscal year 29, and fiscal year 30

[Speaker 1] (2:04:05 - 2:04:06)
Right.

[Speaker 10] (2:04:06 - 2:04:07)
until, yeah.

[Speaker 6] (2:04:07 - 2:04:08)
And the override next year.

[Speaker 1] (2:04:09 - 2:04:09)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:04:09 - 2:04:15)
So the one piece I just want to add as color, this is not something that only Swampscott is struggling with.

[Speaker 9] (2:04:15 - 2:04:16)
Oh, of course not, no.

[Speaker 5] (2:04:17 - 2:04:21)
It's the big obligations that everyone is responsible for,

[Speaker 5] (2:04:21 - 2:04:36)
and whether it's Danvers or Marblehead or Linfield or Manchester or Nahant, everyone is in a situation right now where it's not just this year, like you're saying, there's a valley that everyone is trying to navigate.

[Speaker 5] (2:04:36 - 2:04:42)
So I think what you all have done over time to get to today is giving us more options right now.

[Speaker 5] (2:04:43 - 2:04:49)
and gives us a little more time and gives us the ability to have some of these hard discussions that you're talking about.

[Speaker 5] (2:04:49 - 2:04:58)
But I just want to make sure that you recognize like the effort that you all have put into this point has given us a position where we have more flexibility than other communities do certainly this year,

[Speaker 5] (2:04:58 - 2:05:00)
even into future years.

[Speaker 5] (2:05:01 - 2:05:28)
But I also think that it's important that the feedback you're giving us, we you know, Patrick and I and Jason and other department heads, we all sit down and say are there areas that make sense that we can do something else that do everything we can to maintain a level of service or very near it and what can we do to lower costs. But a lot of the cuts that that have been made over time mean that there's not a lot of expense left anywhere in town government, school town anywhere.

[Speaker 5] (2:05:28 - 2:05:33)
And it very quickly becomes its salary and staff.

[Speaker 1] (2:05:33 - 2:05:34)
Mm

[Speaker 5] (2:05:34 - 2:05:34)
And it

[Speaker 1] (2:05:34 - 2:05:34)
hmm.

[Speaker 5] (2:05:34 - 2:05:35)
doesn't mean that we can't do that.

[Speaker 5] (2:05:35 - 2:05:37)
I just want to acknowledge you

[Speaker 9] (2:05:37 - 2:05:37)
We might not have

[Speaker 5] (2:05:37 - 2:05:37)
all

[Speaker 9] (2:05:37 - 2:05:37)
much

[Speaker 5] (2:05:37 - 2:05:38)
have done

[Speaker 9] (2:05:38 - 2:05:38)
of a a choice.

[Speaker 5] (2:05:38 - 2:05:41)
really good job of doing everything we can to get where we are.

[Speaker 5] (2:05:42 - 2:05:46)
And I want to make sure that that's acknowledged because there's community... Danvers is a great example.

[Speaker 5] (2:05:46 - 2:05:48)
They talked about it last week. Like this is...

[Speaker 5] (2:05:49 - 2:05:50)
something everyone is facing.

[Speaker 6] (2:05:50 - 2:05:50)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 5] (2:05:50 - 2:05:52)
It's a very, very difficult environment.

[Speaker 6] (2:05:52 - 2:05:52)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 11] (2:05:52 - 2:06:02)
I guess to f to f to follow up on that, I think if you look at next numbers, like if we didn't have the excess levy, we would be looking at a, I think, two point two million dollar shortfall, right?

[Speaker 6] (2:06:02 - 2:06:02)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 9] (2:06:02 - 2:06:02)
Right.

[Speaker 11] (2:06:02 - 2:06:04)
And so we're in a position where

[Speaker 11] (2:06:05 - 2:06:08)
we have to make our choices, but we can make choices.

[Speaker 6] (2:06:08 - 2:06:09)
Right.

[Speaker 11] (2:06:09 - 2:06:09)
And we

[Speaker 9] (2:06:09 - 2:06:09)
Luckily,

[Speaker 11] (2:06:09 - 2:06:09)
don't have to

[Speaker 9] (2:06:09 - 2:06:09)
right.

[Speaker 11] (2:06:09 - 2:06:10)
do the overwrite this year.

[Speaker 9] (2:06:11 - 2:06:11)
Right.

[Speaker 6] (2:06:12 - 2:06:13)
Yeah, but

[Speaker 11] (2:06:13 - 2:06:13)
And

[Speaker 6] (2:06:13 - 2:06:13)
you know

[Speaker 11] (2:06:13 - 2:06:17)
then but then like what do we do like it's not just that this is your thing, it's

[Speaker 9] (2:06:17 - 2:06:17)
No.

[Speaker 11] (2:06:17 - 2:06:17)
next

[Speaker 9] (2:06:17 - 2:06:18)
That doesn't

[Speaker 11] (2:06:18 - 2:06:18)
year and then

[Speaker 9] (2:06:18 - 2:06:18)
the make

[Speaker 11] (2:06:18 - 2:06:31)
year after and the year after is when we're starting looking at the middle school, which we you know you want a balance, we want that, but how much can you ask taxpayer to do this year and then come back again and again and again,

[Speaker 1] (2:06:31 - 2:06:31)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (2:06:31 - 2:06:31)
Yeah, for sure.

[Speaker 1] (2:06:31 - 2:06:31)
Right.

[Speaker 11] (2:06:31 - 2:06:33)
right because you want that road to pass.

[Speaker 9] (2:06:33 - 2:06:33)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:06:34 - 2:06:35)
And to be clear, the

[Speaker 5] (2:06:36 - 2:06:41)
Lexus levy capacity is nice, but it doesn't really make a difference to the taxpayer. I mean it's we just

[Speaker 9] (2:06:41 - 2:06:41)
Yeah,

[Speaker 5] (2:06:41 - 2:06:41)
didn't have

[Speaker 9] (2:06:41 - 2:06:41)
right.

[Speaker 5] (2:06:41 - 2:06:49)
to have them vote for it, we're just having town meeting vote for it. I mean I I believe I I get the flexibility it gives us, but it's not like it's free money that's sitting

[Speaker 9] (2:06:49 - 2:06:49)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (2:06:49 - 2:06:51)
there that we're just using, as we all know it's still

[Speaker 9] (2:06:51 - 2:06:53)
It's a non-voluntary

[Speaker 6] (2:06:53 - 2:06:53)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (2:06:53 - 2:06:54)
overwrite.

[Speaker 5] (2:06:54 - 2:06:55)
Right, effectively. Yes.

[Speaker 9] (2:06:55 - 2:06:56)
Exactly. Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 5] (2:06:56 - 2:06:56)
Yep.

[Speaker 1] (2:06:56 - 2:06:57)
Or forced, I would say.

[Speaker 9] (2:06:58 - 2:07:02)
You know, we haven't felt the pain of of what many towns have been feeling for years, right?

[Speaker 9] (2:07:02 - 2:07:09)
because we haven't had to have a technical override. So this is gonna be, you know, it's painful and shocking, right?

[Speaker 9] (2:07:10 - 2:07:19)
But that doesn't mean our our job ends, right? It just begins now because now you really have to figure out how you're going to focus and drill down as much as you can.

[Speaker 9] (2:07:19 - 2:07:32)
And to me we have to you know it's not so much the one FTE at town hall or you know 0.5 of this you've got to look at the bigger ticket items that are going to have an actual impact and there aren't quite

[Speaker 6] (2:07:32 - 2:07:32)
that There

[Speaker 9] (2:07:32 - 2:07:32)
many

[Speaker 6] (2:07:32 - 2:07:32)
aren't

[Speaker 9] (2:07:32 - 2:07:32)
of

[Speaker 1] (2:07:32 - 2:07:32)
Right,

[Speaker 9] (2:07:32 - 2:07:33)
those

[Speaker 1] (2:07:33 - 2:07:34)
there aren't a lot of them. That's

[Speaker 9] (2:07:34 - 2:07:34)
right?

[Speaker 1] (2:07:34 - 2:07:34)
a problem.

[Speaker 9] (2:07:34 - 2:07:40)
So in my mind I like I said I'm thinking solid waste I'm thinking health

[Speaker 10] (2:07:40 - 2:07:40)
Health insurance.

[Speaker 9] (2:07:40 - 2:07:44)
insurance right those are the two biggest things that we saw here tonight.

[Speaker 5] (2:07:44 - 2:07:45)
Over time.

[Speaker 1] (2:07:45 - 2:07:46)
Overtime.

[Speaker 9] (2:07:47 - 2:07:51)
You know, those are things that we can control a little bit more, right?

[Speaker 6] (2:07:52 - 2:07:52)
Hmm.

[Speaker 6] (2:07:52 - 2:07:53)
I see it.

[Speaker 9] (2:07:53 - 2:07:59)
Well you always have to remember we have $575,000 in an account revolving account.

[Speaker 9] (2:07:59 - 2:08:00)
That's cash.

[Speaker 9] (2:08:01 - 2:08:02)
So that

[Speaker 11] (2:08:02 - 2:08:02)
That number has

[Speaker 9] (2:08:02 - 2:08:07)
was rolled over. That was moved over and you know there's an there's opportunity there too.

[Speaker 1] (2:08:15 - 2:08:17)
But we can't spend that money.

[Speaker 12] (2:08:18 - 2:08:24)
Just to so we know that 575 will

[Speaker 12] (2:08:26 - 2:08:29)
get an exact number of what the balance is as of tonight.

[Speaker 1] (2:08:30 - 2:08:30)
Thank you.

[Speaker 12] (2:08:30 - 2:08:32)
It's far lower than 575.

[Speaker 12] (2:08:33 - 2:08:35)
That was a snapshot in time.

[Speaker 6] (2:08:37 - 2:08:40)
Patrick what what would you happen to know have any sense of like

[Speaker 6] (2:08:41 - 2:08:51)
Again, this is just going to be arbitrary, but to get the tax increase down to five hundred dollars, do you have any idea like what we're looking at in terms of how much we'd have to cut?

[Speaker 13] (2:08:54 - 2:08:58)
Yeah, I can do that. I think I presented presented this board with some scenarios of

[Speaker 1] (2:08:58 - 2:08:59)
Yes.

[Speaker 13] (2:08:59 - 2:08:59)
that nature in the

[Speaker 1] (2:08:59 - 2:08:59)
Right.

[Speaker 2] (2:08:59 - 2:09:00)
that nature in the past

[Speaker 3] (2:09:00 - 2:09:00)
Sure.

[Speaker 4] (2:09:00 - 2:09:00)
Yes,

[Speaker 2] (2:09:00 - 2:09:00)
with

[Speaker 1] (2:09:00 - 2:09:00)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (2:09:00 - 2:09:00)
they

[Speaker 2] (2:09:00 - 2:09:00)
close

[Speaker 4] (2:09:00 - 2:09:00)
do.

[Speaker 2] (2:09:00 - 2:09:01)
to a town meeting.

[Speaker 2] (2:09:01 - 2:09:06)
So if there was a target you wanted to peg to that metric,

[Speaker 2] (2:09:06 - 2:09:09)
I could back into it and share that with everybody.

[Speaker 1] (2:09:09 - 2:09:10)
That would be helpful.

[Speaker 3] (2:09:11 - 2:09:11)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (2:09:11 - 2:09:18)
And how much of that is so the CPA surcharge is in there about is that like a hundred and something A hundred bucks.

[Speaker 1] (2:09:18 - 2:09:20)
A hundred bucks maybe roughly.

[Speaker 2] (2:09:20 - 2:09:22)
It's one point five percent of the property taxes.

[Speaker 2] (2:09:23 - 2:09:28)
you know, the computation on the increase, so it's most of that is property tax.

[Speaker 1] (2:09:28 - 2:09:34)
On the revenue, what did you I just don't remember off the top of my head, what did you count for the revenue on interest?

[Speaker 2] (2:09:35 - 2:09:37)
Ah, we're carrying three hundred fifty thousand.

[Speaker 1] (2:09:37 - 2:09:41)
And what was what was our interest last year?

[Speaker 2] (2:09:44 - 2:09:45)
Last year

[Speaker 2] (2:09:48 - 2:09:50)
was

[Speaker 2] (2:09:50 - 2:09:52)
One million seventy eight thousand.

[Speaker 1] (2:09:55 - 2:09:57)
But that's because we had

[Speaker 5] (2:09:57 - 2:09:58)
It was 25,

[Speaker 5] (2:09:58 - 2:09:59)
FY 25.

[Speaker 2] (2:09:59 - 2:10:03)
That's for FY25. For FY26 we budgeted 425 thousand.

[Speaker 1] (2:10:04 - 2:10:05)
What are we looking at to

[Speaker 2] (2:10:05 - 2:10:05)
So

[Speaker 1] (2:10:05 - 2:10:05)
support

[Speaker 2] (2:10:05 - 2:10:05)
far

[Speaker 1] (2:10:05 - 2:10:05)
this?

[Speaker 2] (2:10:05 - 2:10:07)
year to date we're at 432.

[Speaker 1] (2:10:09 - 2:10:11)
Okay, so even though we're showing that

[Speaker 1] (2:10:12 - 2:10:20)
Where sub 900 of a tax increase that doesn't include money to be put towards it to offset it.

[Speaker 1] (2:10:21 - 2:10:24)
At future town at the

[Speaker 5] (2:10:24 - 2:10:25)
You mean to buy down the tax rate?

[Speaker 1] (2:10:25 - 2:10:25)
to buy down

[Speaker 6] (2:10:25 - 2:10:25)
Yeah,

[Speaker 1] (2:10:25 - 2:10:26)
the tax rate.

[Speaker 6] (2:10:26 - 2:10:27)
as Eric

[Speaker 2] (2:10:27 - 2:10:27)
Correct.

[Speaker 6] (2:10:27 - 2:10:27)
just said

[Speaker 5] (2:10:27 - 2:10:28)
Without

[Speaker 6] (2:10:28 - 2:10:28)
earlier,

[Speaker 5] (2:10:28 - 2:10:28)
that.

[Speaker 1] (2:10:28 - 2:10:28)
So

[Speaker 6] (2:10:28 - 2:10:28)
yep.

[Speaker 1] (2:10:34 - 2:10:35)
That's important.

[Speaker 5] (2:10:36 - 2:10:41)
So I guess maybe two scenarios would be, you know, if anyone else has another number they want to throw out, you know.

[Speaker 5] (2:10:42 - 2:10:56)
How much will we need to cut to get down to a $500 tax increase? And then um if we use if a million dollars of free cash again to as we've kind of done in various years, what does that bring the

[Speaker 5] (2:10:58 - 2:11:00)
tax increase to?

[Speaker 7] (2:11:00 - 2:11:07)
So we can't really do the math on what it brings down until we are at that point. I and we

[Speaker 7] (2:11:07 - 2:11:15)
Like, it's not just a million dollars on, off of the expense that we're showing today, because it is the F_ by twenty seven values that will be set.

[Speaker 5] (2:11:15 - 2:11:17)
I know, it's an estimate, okay.

[Speaker 7] (2:11:17 - 2:11:17)
Okay.

[Speaker 5] (2:11:17 - 2:11:19)
But just like now this is an estimate,

[Speaker 7] (2:11:19 - 2:11:19)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:11:19 - 2:11:20)
okay, yeah.

[Speaker 7] (2:11:20 - 2:11:22)
And go ahead.

[Speaker 9] (2:11:22 - 2:11:29)
I think what was helpful in the past is like you would say like okay for every hundred or for every hundred dollars we decrease the taxes by this is what we sort of had to

[Speaker 9] (2:11:30 - 2:11:30)
find

[Speaker 2] (2:11:30 - 2:11:31)
Mm

[Speaker 9] (2:11:31 - 2:11:31)
and

[Speaker 2] (2:11:31 - 2:11:31)
hmm.

[Speaker 2] (2:11:31 - 2:11:31)
Like

[Speaker 9] (2:11:31 - 2:11:31)
then

[Speaker 2] (2:11:31 - 2:11:31)
incremental.

[Speaker 9] (2:11:31 - 2:11:38)
we can just incremental would be great and then instead of just picking like a number like 500 we could just sort of work backwards from there like what

[Speaker 2] (2:11:38 - 2:11:39)
Sure.

[Speaker 7] (2:11:40 - 2:11:44)
And just to be clear, this is for us to go through the exercise with department heads and others

[Speaker 7] (2:11:44 - 2:11:47)
to come back to you with a proposal at 500?

[Speaker 7] (2:11:48 - 2:11:53)
Like, or are you just looking for the raw number lowering the budget by X makes it a $500 tax increase?

[Speaker 1] (2:11:54 - 2:11:54)
I

[Speaker 5] (2:11:54 - 2:11:54)
I just

[Speaker 1] (2:11:54 - 2:11:54)
feel like

[Speaker 5] (2:11:54 - 2:11:55)
want to give

[Speaker 1] (2:11:55 - 2:11:55)
we're

[Speaker 5] (2:11:55 - 2:11:55)
it some

[Speaker 1] (2:11:55 - 2:11:55)
looking at the wrong

[Speaker 5] (2:11:55 - 2:11:55)
sense

[Speaker 1] (2:11:55 - 2:11:55)
number.

[Speaker 5] (2:11:55 - 2:11:56)
of what we're We're after here.

[Speaker 1] (2:11:56 - 2:11:59)
not looking for the detail. I mean, we're not looking to give Yeah, the number

[Speaker 9] (2:11:59 - 2:11:59)
first give

[Speaker 1] (2:11:59 - 2:11:59)
there.

[Speaker 9] (2:11:59 - 2:12:06)
the number and then we'll be able to say from that number like what is realistic in the budget for us to even ask for.

[Speaker 9] (2:12:06 - 2:12:13)
I think it's hard to say like, hey, find us a million dollars without knowing how much that decreases,

[Speaker 9] (2:12:13 - 2:12:19)
how much is that going to impact the taxpayer? Is it worth it to like nickel and dime services?

[Speaker 9] (2:12:19 - 2:12:21)
Like what's the value to?

[Speaker 9] (2:12:22 - 2:12:25)
With the value to the taxpayer versus the value to the budget.

[Speaker 5] (2:12:28 - 2:12:28)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (2:12:29 - 2:12:33)
You know, the biggest thing here it's just not the value for this year, it's the sustainability over

[Speaker 7] (2:12:33 - 2:12:34)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (2:12:34 - 2:12:41)
the next several years. I mean we could get through this year, we can even we get through this year, but next year it's gonna be an override and the following year an override and

[Speaker 5] (2:12:42 - 2:12:44)
Because we're also creating a base of expenditure

[Speaker 1] (2:12:44 - 2:12:44)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:12:44 - 2:12:45)
too that

[Speaker 2] (2:12:45 - 2:12:45)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 5] (2:12:45 - 2:12:47)
you're going to be building off in the subsequent years.

[Speaker 9] (2:12:47 - 2:12:53)
Okay, so then like what is the solution then? You just want to start cutting service like services?

[Speaker 1] (2:12:53 - 2:12:56)
Well, I mean, my concern is with the solution.

[Speaker 1] (2:12:56 - 2:13:00)
You're going to go for an override and the town is going to tell us what the solution is.

[Speaker 1] (2:13:01 - 2:13:07)
That's, I'd rather, I'd want to stay away from that as much as much as we can. I think once we get some additional numbers,

[Speaker 1] (2:13:07 - 2:13:07)
we

[Speaker 9] (2:13:07 - 2:13:07)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (2:13:07 - 2:13:08)
can.

[Speaker 1] (2:13:08 - 2:13:14)
We can see where we can shave, where we can make some haircuts. Maybe we'll have some good news with the insurance,

[Speaker 1] (2:13:14 - 2:13:16)
good news with solid waste.

[Speaker 1] (2:13:16 - 2:13:18)
I mean, we're just a little early.

[Speaker 9] (2:13:20 - 2:13:21)
Yeah, I agree.

[Speaker 9] (2:13:21 - 2:13:22)
I think it's a little early to be saying,

[Speaker 1] (2:13:22 - 2:13:22)
Yeah.

[Speaker 9] (2:13:22 - 2:13:32)
you know, but I think the value is the conversation we were having about the value to the budget versus value to the taxpayer is important in the context of what you're saying,

[Speaker 9] (2:13:32 - 2:13:32)
because.

[Speaker 9] (2:13:34 - 2:13:35)
We have to understand if it's worth the exercise.

[Speaker 9] (2:13:36 - 2:13:38)
I know you're saying, of course it's worth the exercise, it's obviously worth the exercise,

[Speaker 9] (2:13:39 - 2:13:44)
but I think it would be good for the taxpayer to understand how it actually impacts them.

[Speaker 9] (2:13:44 - 2:13:47)
Because if we say, like, well,

[Speaker 9] (2:13:47 - 2:13:48)
let's get rid of trash,

[Speaker 9] (2:13:48 - 2:13:50)
and now all of a sudden you pay your own trash,

[Speaker 9] (2:13:50 - 2:13:51)
like, what does that mean to the taxpayer?

[Speaker 9] (2:13:52 - 2:13:53)
Is it worth it to go down that road?

[Speaker 9] (2:13:53 - 2:13:56)
What is the value we're getting versus the value we're putting on the taxpayer?

[Speaker 9] (2:13:57 - 2:13:59)
Because maybe it's not in their tax bill,

[Speaker 9] (2:13:59 - 2:14:00)
but they still have to pay for trash.

[Speaker 9] (2:14:01 - 2:14:01)
So...

[Speaker 9] (2:14:02 - 2:14:05)
That's sort of like the cost benefit analysis that I think about.

[Speaker 9] (2:14:05 - 2:14:12)
That's just one of the services that we're talking about. There are other services that we have in town hall that we could eliminate that wouldn't go to every single taxpayer.

[Speaker 9] (2:14:12 - 2:14:16)
Okay, but are we there yet? Sounds like we might be,

[Speaker 9] (2:14:16 - 2:14:21)
but understand what that value is that we want to try to attain, like get to.

[Speaker 2] (2:14:21 - 2:14:22)
Makes sense.

[Speaker 9] (2:14:22 - 2:14:22)
Okay.

[Speaker 5] (2:14:22 - 2:14:27)
I think that's, you listed in here, Nick,

[Speaker 5] (2:14:27 - 2:14:28)
that we.

[Speaker 5] (2:14:30 - 2:14:34)
gave you clear direction to kind of level service

[Speaker 9] (2:14:34 - 2:14:35)
Level service.

[Speaker 5] (2:14:35 - 2:14:36)
level service.

[Speaker 5] (2:14:41 - 2:14:52)
I guess I don't remember it that purely and simply but regardless to what Katie just said I don't think Katie said it because she really wants to think about this but

[Speaker 5] (2:14:55 - 2:15:09)
But I think we are at a point where we really need to think about, and I think you the way you said it was a really great one and even even in the extreme about trash and whether or not people just pay for their own if they really want it, right? Um but are there places where we could

[Speaker 1] (2:15:11 - 2:15:12)
Less than level service,

[Speaker 5] (2:15:12 - 2:15:12)
less than

[Speaker 1] (2:15:12 - 2:15:12)
right?

[Speaker 5] (2:15:12 - 2:15:13)
level service,

[Speaker 9] (2:15:13 - 2:15:13)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:15:13 - 2:15:14)
yeah.

[Speaker 7] (2:15:14 - 2:15:14)
Yeah.

[Speaker 9] (2:15:14 - 2:15:14)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (2:15:14 - 2:15:15)
What does that look like,

[Speaker 9] (2:15:15 - 2:15:15)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (2:15:15 - 2:15:15)
right?

[Speaker 9] (2:15:15 - 2:15:18)
But then understanding if there is a true savings, like

[Speaker 1] (2:15:18 - 2:15:18)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (2:15:18 - 2:15:24)
maybe for some people there will be a true savings, take trash as an example, there would be a true savings from a tax bill.

[Speaker 9] (2:15:24 - 2:15:29)
if they pay for their own trash, and then there would be some people who would probably pay paying more and

[Speaker 1] (2:15:29 - 2:15:29)
But

[Speaker 9] (2:15:29 - 2:15:29)
actually

[Speaker 1] (2:15:29 - 2:15:29)
what is the

[Speaker 9] (2:15:29 - 2:15:30)
support

[Speaker 1] (2:15:30 - 2:15:30)
long-term impact,

[Speaker 5] (2:15:30 - 2:15:30)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (2:15:30 - 2:15:31)
right?

[Speaker 1] (2:15:31 - 2:15:32)
So if we go down that road,

[Speaker 1] (2:15:32 - 2:15:34)
what is the long-term impact,

[Speaker 1] (2:15:34 - 2:15:37)
right? How many years do you, does that give you a reprieve, if you will, right?

[Speaker 1] (2:15:38 - 2:15:40)
You know, or what position does that put you in?

[Speaker 1] (2:15:40 - 2:15:42)
How much of a difference does that make, right?

[Speaker 9] (2:15:42 - 2:15:52)
And could we frame it in a way of okay so we're gonna make you pay for trash for five years because this is what we're projecting the next five years is going to be. We're committing to at the fourth year going back

[Speaker 9] (2:15:52 - 2:15:54)
back to looking at trash and putting it back

[Speaker 1] (2:15:54 - 2:15:54)
Saving

[Speaker 9] (2:15:54 - 2:15:54)
in because

[Speaker 1] (2:15:54 - 2:15:55)
something with

[Speaker 9] (2:15:55 - 2:15:55)
something

[Speaker 1] (2:15:55 - 2:15:55)
computer.

[Speaker 9] (2:15:55 - 2:15:56)
drop is dropping off.

[Speaker 9] (2:15:57 - 2:16:06)
I mean it's you're robbing Peter to pay Paul, but at that point like I think we have to be smart about that and are people going to be happy, no, but then you say okay it's this or

[Speaker 1] (2:16:06 - 2:16:06)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 5] (2:16:07 - 2:16:10)
Or we touch the schools, or we touch this

[Speaker 9] (2:16:10 - 2:16:10)
right,

[Speaker 5] (2:16:10 - 2:16:10)
or something

[Speaker 9] (2:16:10 - 2:16:11)
insert

[Speaker 5] (2:16:11 - 2:16:11)
else,

[Speaker 9] (2:16:11 - 2:16:11)
whatever

[Speaker 5] (2:16:11 - 2:16:11)
you know.

[Speaker 9] (2:16:11 - 2:16:12)
sub-trash

[Speaker 5] (2:16:12 - 2:16:12)
Yeah.

[Speaker 9] (2:16:19 - 2:16:20)
Should we talk about capital or

[Speaker 1] (2:16:20 - 2:16:21)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 9] (2:16:21 - 2:16:21)
is there more?

[Speaker 1] (2:16:21 - 2:16:22)
Sure.

[Speaker 7] (2:16:22 - 2:16:23)
I mean the

[Speaker 1] (2:16:23 - 2:16:23)
That's

[Speaker 7] (2:16:23 - 2:16:23)
last slides

[Speaker 1] (2:16:23 - 2:16:24)
part of the presentation.

[Speaker 7] (2:16:24 - 2:16:25)
are about the policy detail.

[Speaker 7] (2:16:25 - 2:16:28)
It's like, as I said, we can post this so people can look at it.

[Speaker 7] (2:16:30 - 2:16:32)
The policies we met are pension funding,

[Speaker 7] (2:16:32 - 2:16:33)
conservative revenue projections,

[Speaker 7] (2:16:34 - 2:16:35)
no reliance on one-time revenues.

[Speaker 10] (2:16:35 - 2:16:37)
The ones we've not met,

[Speaker 10] (2:16:37 - 2:16:45)
preserving excess levy capacity, funding OPEB, and then there's a couple yellows in there, things I think on debt we're getting close to 10%, as an example.

[Speaker 10] (2:16:46 - 2:16:52)
If we do not read the slide in front of us again I apologise. Um but we can move on. You know,

[Speaker 10] (2:16:52 - 2:16:54)
this is what I was just saying really.

[Speaker 1] (2:16:54 - 2:16:55)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 10] (2:16:57 - 2:17:01)
As I said, this is conservative revenu revenues in a portion of the levy.

[Speaker 10] (2:17:02 - 2:17:05)
Um these are the things that we have funded and the ones that we have not. So

[Speaker 5] (2:17:06 - 2:17:11)
And is there is there a one-time revenue source? You said uh preserve you know, don't use one-time revenue.

[Speaker 5] (2:17:12 - 2:17:12)
I

[Speaker 1] (2:17:12 - 2:17:12)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:17:12 - 2:17:14)
think, you know, I disagree with this,

[Speaker 5] (2:17:14 - 2:17:16)
um especially in a trough.

[Speaker 5] (2:17:17 - 2:17:22)
Um I mean I do uh do we know of like someone time revenues that we're purposely not using because

[Speaker 7] (2:17:22 - 2:17:22)
I

[Speaker 5] (2:17:22 - 2:17:23)
we have

[Speaker 7] (2:17:23 - 2:17:23)
mean

[Speaker 5] (2:17:23 - 2:17:23)
a principle

[Speaker 7] (2:17:23 - 2:17:23)
reserves

[Speaker 5] (2:17:23 - 2:17:24)
of not using them?

[Speaker 7] (2:17:24 - 2:17:32)
and stabilization, things like that that we are meant, you know, in in planning for it we're meant to save for an not just uh

[Speaker 10] (2:17:33 - 2:17:35)
trough but really a cliff

[Speaker 5] (2:17:35 - 2:17:36)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 10] (2:17:36 - 2:17:38)
and it will also have a negative impact on our credit rating

[Speaker 1] (2:17:38 - 2:17:38)
if Credit rating.

[Speaker 10] (2:17:38 - 2:17:40)
we were to touch them.

[Speaker 10] (2:17:40 - 2:17:46)
So those are the types of things that I'm talking about not so much you know if we want to use free cash

[Speaker 5] (2:17:46 - 2:17:46)
Sellability.

[Speaker 10] (2:17:46 - 2:17:47)
or

[Speaker 1] (2:17:47 - 2:17:47)
Yeah,

[Speaker 10] (2:17:47 - 2:17:47)
sell that's a building

[Speaker 1] (2:17:47 - 2:17:47)
exactly.

[Speaker 10] (2:17:47 - 2:17:48)
or

[Speaker 9] (2:17:48 - 2:17:48)
Sell

[Speaker 10] (2:17:48 - 2:17:48)
yeah.

[Speaker 9] (2:17:48 - 2:17:48)
in a building

[Speaker 5] (2:17:48 - 2:17:49)
Sell in a building.

[Speaker 10] (2:17:49 - 2:17:50)
But selling a building means

[Speaker 1] (2:17:50 - 2:17:51)
Doesn't

[Speaker 10] (2:17:51 - 2:17:53)
we have the cash this year and next year

[Speaker 9] (2:17:53 - 2:17:55)
doesn't solve a long-term problem,

[Speaker 9] (2:17:55 - 2:17:56)
but solves a today problem

[Speaker 5] (2:17:56 - 2:17:56)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 10] (2:17:56 - 2:18:01)
and it gets into an issue where you suddenly have a cliff that's an eight million dollar deficit as opposed to

[Speaker 10] (2:18:02 - 2:18:11)
You know, like towns that use one time revenue for operating expenses are the ones that suddenly have a huge cliff that they fall off and have a massive override that's necessary just to operate.

[Speaker 5] (2:18:11 - 2:18:13)
Well, it depends on how you do how you do it.

[Speaker 1] (2:18:13 - 2:18:14)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:18:14 - 2:18:14)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (2:18:15 - 2:18:16)
I just don't know.

[Speaker 10] (2:18:18 - 2:18:22)
So as you can see here, the projected increase is above the five year average.

[Speaker 10] (2:18:23 - 2:18:25)
The foundation for future year isn't budget.

[Speaker 10] (2:18:26 - 2:18:27)
Sorry, I can't.

[Speaker 9] (2:18:28 - 2:18:28)
The

[Speaker 10] (2:18:28 - 2:18:47)
The best third primary average spends and other opportunity those are areas where we need to provide additional information to FinCom and also to the community at large so that we can better plan this does absorb the increases to health insurance and solid waste that we anticipate but also we would like to lower those you ask

[Speaker 1] (2:18:47 - 2:18:48)
Just in case you didn't

[Speaker 9] (2:18:48 - 2:18:49)
I mean, I can read it.

[Speaker 10] (2:18:49 - 2:18:52)
now you've made that a question and I think with that

[Speaker 10] (2:18:53 - 2:18:54)
Yeah, this is just.

[Speaker 1] (2:18:58 - 2:19:08)
individual portions of the plan I was not sure how we wanted to move through these so we just have them this is tiny for a

[Speaker 2] (2:19:08 - 2:19:08)
Yeah,

[Speaker 1] (2:19:08 - 2:19:08)
slide my

[Speaker 2] (2:19:08 - 2:19:09)
it's tiny.

[Speaker 1] (2:19:09 - 2:19:10)
goodness I

[Speaker 3] (2:19:10 - 2:19:12)
Where is that in the packet?

[Speaker 3] (2:19:12 - 2:19:12)
Sorry.

[Speaker 1] (2:19:13 - 2:19:14)
do not think that's at the end of it

[Speaker 1] (2:19:15 - 2:19:15)
It

[Speaker 3] (2:19:15 - 2:19:15)
If

[Speaker 1] (2:19:15 - 2:19:15)
would.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:15 - 2:19:17)
you do not think it's at the end of it then

[Speaker 1] (2:19:17 - 2:19:18)
Not

[Speaker 3] (2:19:18 - 2:19:18)
where do

[Speaker 1] (2:19:18 - 2:19:18)
the president.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:18 - 2:19:19)
you think it

[Speaker 1] (2:19:19 - 2:19:19)
There

[Speaker 3] (2:19:19 - 2:19:19)
is?

[Speaker 1] (2:19:19 - 2:19:19)
it is. It's

[Speaker 3] (2:19:20 - 2:19:20)
Where is it?

[Speaker 4] (2:19:20 - 2:19:21)
I mean I can't see

[Speaker 1] (2:19:21 - 2:19:22)
The orders are the way through.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:22 - 2:19:23)
Okay.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:23 - 2:19:23)
Okay.

[Speaker 4] (2:19:24 - 2:19:28)
The plan is also in the back of your budget book, very last tab if

[Speaker 3] (2:19:28 - 2:19:28)
Thank you.

[Speaker 4] (2:19:28 - 2:19:29)
you have that.

[Speaker 1] (2:19:32 - 2:19:32)
Pretty

[Speaker 8] (2:19:32 - 2:19:32)
much.

[Speaker 1] (2:19:32 - 2:19:32)
Uh,

[Speaker 1] (2:19:32 - 2:19:34)
it's pretty in there.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:35 - 2:19:35)
Capital.

[Speaker 5] (2:19:35 - 2:19:35)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:36 - 2:19:36)
Capital.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:36 - 2:19:37)
Here

[Speaker 5] (2:19:37 - 2:19:37)
It's

[Speaker 3] (2:19:37 - 2:19:38)
it is. Here it is. Okay. Hold on.

[Speaker 5] (2:19:38 - 2:19:39)
Where is it?

[Speaker 3] (2:19:39 - 2:19:40)
Alright. Is this it? Capital.

[Speaker 1] (2:19:41 - 2:19:42)
Yep,

[Speaker 3] (2:19:42 - 2:19:42)
Oh well,

[Speaker 1] (2:19:42 - 2:19:43)
you're in here.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:43 - 2:19:44)
it says he's here in here.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:47 - 2:19:49)
So tab up. Is it here?

[Speaker 3] (2:19:49 - 2:19:49)
Just

[Speaker 1] (2:19:50 - 2:19:51)
Yes.

[Speaker 4] (2:19:52 - 2:19:53)
Oh.

[Speaker 1] (2:19:53 - 2:19:54)
Thank you.

[Speaker 4] (2:19:54 - 2:19:54)
Yep, got it.

[Speaker 1] (2:19:55 - 2:19:57)
Much better view, I appreciate that, Miguel.

[Speaker 1] (2:19:58 - 2:19:59)
Here, if you want to hit.

[Speaker 3] (2:19:59 - 2:19:59)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (2:20:01 - 2:20:07)
So just looking at FY 27, um have folks been able to find it yet?

[Speaker 1] (2:20:11 - 2:20:12)
Perfect.

[Speaker 1] (2:20:13 - 2:20:14)
Have the board members been able to find it?

[Speaker 6] (2:20:14 - 2:20:14)
Yes.

[Speaker 3] (2:20:14 - 2:20:15)
I think so. We all have a yes?

[Speaker 7] (2:20:16 - 2:20:16)
Yep.

[Speaker 6] (2:20:16 - 2:20:16)
You have

[Speaker 3] (2:20:16 - 2:20:16)
Yes,

[Speaker 6] (2:20:16 - 2:20:16)
it?

[Speaker 3] (2:20:16 - 2:20:16)
okay.

[Speaker 6] (2:20:16 - 2:20:17)
Okay.

[Speaker 6] (2:20:17 - 2:20:17)
Did you?

[Speaker 1] (2:20:17 - 2:20:32)
Verify twenty seven um you know again I was gonna run through these just this is similar to what we did with the capital improvement committee. Um for twenty seven we have at the D_P_W_ replace the equipment for the sander,

[Speaker 1] (2:20:33 - 2:20:35)
six hundred and fifty thousand for paving.

[Speaker 1] (2:20:36 - 2:20:37)
We do we are carrying the track.

[Speaker 1] (2:20:38 - 2:20:42)
at Upper Jackson, and then seawall repairs, which I believe are Eisman.

[Speaker 1] (2:20:43 - 2:20:43)
Patrick, is that right?

[Speaker 4] (2:20:43 - 2:20:44)
Yes,

[Speaker 1] (2:20:44 - 2:20:44)
Yeah.

[Speaker 4] (2:20:44 - 2:20:44)
Eisen.

[Speaker 1] (2:20:44 - 2:20:51)
So that's continuing the work that's been done over time. Do you all have any questions about this page? I was just gonna go sort of page by page.

[Speaker 9] (2:20:52 - 2:20:53)
I have a question for

[Speaker 1] (2:20:53 - 2:20:53)
And when

[Speaker 9] (2:20:53 - 2:20:54)
our member.

[Speaker 1] (2:20:54 - 2:20:57)
I say page by page, on the deck for folks that are listening at home,

[Speaker 1] (2:20:58 - 2:21:03)
that's what we'll be doing page by page for you all. We have right now just public works.

[Speaker 1] (2:21:04 - 2:21:07)
which is the top of the table in front of you.

[Speaker 1] (2:21:10 - 2:21:15)
Did i did capital improvement like grade these in terms of uh

[Speaker 9] (2:21:15 - 2:21:16)
They're in the meeting.

[Speaker 1] (2:21:16 - 2:21:22)
criticality like will the will the world end if we don't do these things basically or not?

[Speaker 9] (2:21:22 - 2:21:22)
No.

[Speaker 1] (2:21:23 - 2:21:29)
I mean is there any is there any degree of like urgency that they attach to these when they go through them?

[Speaker 1] (2:21:32 - 2:21:40)
So I think from our requests before they go to them, we do try to sort of manage urgency along with what's available to us.

[Speaker 1] (2:21:42 - 2:21:47)
They looked at it, they had questions both for the proposers, the department heads and Patrick and myself.

[Speaker 1] (2:21:47 - 2:21:54)
But there was not a discussion of, you know, the world ends with this if it happens in 27 versus 28.

[Speaker 1] (2:21:55 - 2:21:58)
Do you have a particular project in mind that you wanted to discuss?

[Speaker 9] (2:22:00 - 2:22:02)
I mean, at what point do we say all,

[Speaker 9] (2:22:02 - 2:22:03)
right?

[Speaker 9] (2:22:03 - 2:22:14)
Like if we're talking about what we just talked about, at what point do we say literally everything in FY 2027, how is it not up for grabs if we can't afford to do it,

[Speaker 9] (2:22:14 - 2:22:14)
right?

[Speaker 9] (2:22:15 - 2:22:20)
Like I hate to say it that way, but what can we look at here that can be eliminated,

[Speaker 9] (2:22:21 - 2:22:24)
pushed back, or, you know, reconsidered?

[Speaker 1] (2:22:25 - 2:22:25)
It's like going

[Speaker 10] (2:22:25 - 2:22:25)
But

[Speaker 1] (2:22:25 - 2:22:25)
to

[Speaker 10] (2:22:25 - 2:22:26)
I don't,

[Speaker 1] (2:22:26 - 2:22:26)
the base

[Speaker 9] (2:22:26 - 2:22:26)
yeah,

[Speaker 1] (2:22:26 - 2:22:27)
capital plan,

[Speaker 9] (2:22:27 - 2:22:27)
I mean, at

[Speaker 1] (2:22:27 - 2:22:28)
but at the, you know.

[Speaker 9] (2:22:28 - 2:22:30)
what point do we have, do we say that and

[Speaker 10] (2:22:30 - 2:22:30)
I

[Speaker 9] (2:22:30 - 2:22:31)
have that hard,

[Speaker 9] (2:22:31 - 2:22:33)
real conversation,

[Speaker 9] (2:22:33 - 2:22:33)
right?

[Speaker 10] (2:22:33 - 2:22:46)
think it's cab projects that are for appropriation and approval in 2027, it's not that they're being added to the operating budget in 2027. The impact is in 2028, right?

[Speaker 1] (2:22:46 - 2:22:47)
Well,

[Speaker 11] (2:22:47 - 2:22:47)
I

[Speaker 1] (2:22:47 - 2:22:47)
some of them.

[Speaker 9] (2:22:47 - 2:22:48)
Well, some

[Speaker 11] (2:22:48 - 2:22:48)
I of understand

[Speaker 9] (2:22:48 - 2:22:48)
them.

[Speaker 11] (2:22:48 - 2:22:48)
your point,

[Speaker 9] (2:22:48 - 2:22:49)
Some of them,

[Speaker 1] (2:22:49 - 2:22:49)
Eric, but some

[Speaker 9] (2:22:49 - 2:22:49)
certainly.

[Speaker 1] (2:22:49 - 2:22:51)
of them would be actually spent in 27.

[Speaker 9] (2:22:51 - 2:22:53)
Some of them haven't been spent when they

[Speaker 12] (2:22:53 - 2:22:53)
No.

[Speaker 9] (2:22:53 - 2:22:54)
were appropriated

[Speaker 3] (2:22:54 - 2:22:54)
Well,

[Speaker 9] (2:22:54 - 2:22:54)
last year.

[Speaker 3] (2:22:54 - 2:22:55)
that's a better

[Speaker 1] (2:22:55 - 2:22:55)
And even

[Speaker 3] (2:22:55 - 2:22:55)
I

[Speaker 1] (2:22:55 - 2:22:55)
if think even

[Speaker 3] (2:22:55 - 2:22:55)
that's

[Speaker 1] (2:22:55 - 2:22:56)
if they're not

[Speaker 3] (2:22:56 - 2:22:56)
a better

[Speaker 1] (2:22:56 - 2:22:56)
spent 27,

[Speaker 3] (2:22:56 - 2:22:56)
way to say

[Speaker 1] (2:22:56 - 2:22:57)
at

[Speaker 3] (2:22:57 - 2:22:57)
it.

[Speaker 1] (2:22:57 - 2:22:58)
least you're getting on to 28 then.

[Speaker 11] (2:22:58 - 2:22:59)
They're getting on to 28.

[Speaker 1] (2:22:59 - 2:22:59)
Yes.

[Speaker 9] (2:22:59 - 2:23:04)
Yeah, but what did we appropriate last year that we didn't spend or that would potentially I mean, what

[Speaker 11] (2:23:04 - 2:23:08)
I think the point is this. I don't think cutting something from the capital budget would change the

[Speaker 10] (2:23:08 - 2:23:08)
Yeah,

[Speaker 11] (2:23:08 - 2:23:09)
27.

[Speaker 10] (2:23:09 - 2:23:09)
bring it back.

[Speaker 9] (2:23:09 - 2:23:10)
Does it not change?

[Speaker 3] (2:23:10 - 2:23:10)
Right.

[Speaker 11] (2:23:10 - 2:23:11)
Yes, I think that's right.

[Speaker 11] (2:23:11 - 2:23:13)
I think it could be plotted the next year.

[Speaker 1] (2:23:13 - 2:23:14)
Right.

[Speaker 11] (2:23:14 - 2:23:14)
Right

[Speaker 9] (2:23:14 - 2:23:19)
So everything that we appropriated for FY 26 was spent?

[Speaker 11] (2:23:19 - 2:23:20)
No, no, we're not

[Speaker 3] (2:23:20 - 2:23:20)
No, no, no.

[Speaker 11] (2:23:20 - 2:23:20)
no.

[Speaker 9] (2:23:20 - 2:23:20)
Oh it no?

[Speaker 11] (2:23:20 - 2:23:21)
no.

[Speaker 3] (2:23:21 - 2:23:21)
No.

[Speaker 1] (2:23:21 - 2:23:21)
No.

[Speaker 11] (2:23:21 - 2:23:25)
Specifically, but you're authorizing for the coming fiscal year, so FY 27,

[Speaker 9] (2:23:25 - 2:23:26)
Yep.

[Speaker 11] (2:23:26 - 2:23:26)
spending it.

[Speaker 4] (2:23:29 - 2:23:33)
the year and the debt service becomes due in the following fiscal year.

[Speaker 9] (2:23:34 - 2:23:34)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (2:23:34 - 2:23:34)
However,

[Speaker 4] (2:23:34 - 2:23:41)
this is a five-year plan and we've been talking about long-range planning so I'll just contextualize a little more.

[Speaker 4] (2:23:41 - 2:23:49)
You know there's big-ticket items in the out years here that we're all you know talking about and that are a thought and when we think about

[Speaker 4] (2:23:49 - 2:23:53)
You know, items we certainly will need to borrow money for that

[Speaker 9] (2:23:53 - 2:23:53)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (2:23:53 - 2:23:58)
we don't have a funding source for um building capacity in the out years becomes

[Speaker 9] (2:23:58 - 2:23:59)
I mean, we more do

[Speaker 4] (2:23:59 - 2:23:59)
important.

[Speaker 9] (2:23:59 - 2:24:03)
have things in this budget that we cannot go without. I mean,

[Speaker 9] (2:24:04 - 2:24:07)
It's going to come in later on, but the middle school windows,

[Speaker 9] (2:24:07 - 2:24:07)
we

[Speaker 11] (2:24:07 - 2:24:08)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 9] (2:24:08 - 2:24:09)
just cannot kick this can.

[Speaker 1] (2:24:09 - 2:24:10)
I mean, yeah,

[Speaker 1] (2:24:10 - 2:24:13)
it could be $2 million if we kick it,

[Speaker 9] (2:24:13 - 2:24:13)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (2:24:13 - 2:24:14)
or it

[Speaker 9] (2:24:14 - 2:24:14)
It would have has to be

[Speaker 1] (2:24:14 - 2:24:14)
be damage.

[Speaker 9] (2:24:14 - 2:24:15)
done.

[Speaker 1] (2:24:15 - 2:24:15)
Yes.

[Speaker 9] (2:24:15 - 2:24:23)
But at what point, you know, I think this came up before. If we do two million dollar windows and we're looking to renovate a middle school in three years,

[Speaker 9] (2:24:23 - 2:24:25)
does that make fiscal sense? Right?

[Speaker 9] (2:24:25 - 2:24:28)
Do you does that project hold up?

[Speaker 9] (2:24:29 - 2:24:36)
Right, do you reconsider that knowing that you might have to do something else in three to five years to that entire building,

[Speaker 9] (2:24:36 - 2:24:36)
right?

[Speaker 9] (2:24:36 - 2:24:36)
All

[Speaker 11] (2:24:36 - 2:24:36)
If

[Speaker 9] (2:24:36 - 2:24:37)
of these things

[Speaker 11] (2:24:37 - 2:24:37)
I recollect

[Speaker 9] (2:24:37 - 2:24:37)
that are like pieces

[Speaker 1] (2:24:37 - 2:24:38)
on that one, I mean

[Speaker 9] (2:24:38 - 2:24:39)
that

[Speaker 1] (2:24:39 - 2:24:39)
from

[Speaker 9] (2:24:39 - 2:24:39)
go together

[Speaker 1] (2:24:39 - 2:24:43)
like a zero base one at a time up,

[Speaker 1] (2:24:43 - 2:24:53)
I mean that's one that rises to the top for me because I feel like we all collectively have made a decision and we made an investment and the design of it and it was like truly like...

[Speaker 1] (2:24:54 - 2:24:55)
inhabitable for

[Speaker 9] (2:24:55 - 2:24:55)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (2:24:55 - 2:25:19)
kids right like so I mean that doesn't mean and from my perspective that you end up with zero for 2027 but I do think in general there's a mentality that pervades that says oh well we tend to spend X million dollars every year so that's the kitty we have to kind of move things in as opposed to starting with zero and saying you know what absolutely has to happen right now

[Speaker 9] (2:25:19 - 2:25:19)
Right.

[Speaker 3] (2:25:19 - 2:25:20)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 9] (2:25:20 - 2:25:20)
Right.

[Speaker 3] (2:25:23 - 2:25:23)
Well,

[Speaker 9] (2:25:23 - 2:25:26)
Well, I guess I'm saying is there anything that would help us, right,

[Speaker 9] (2:25:27 - 2:25:33)
that from last year, is there anything that we didn't utilize or didn't actually fund or appropriate

[Speaker 3] (2:25:33 - 2:25:33)
wouldn't

[Speaker 9] (2:25:33 - 2:25:36)
that would help us for this FY27 budget?

[Speaker 9] (2:25:37 - 2:25:37)
No.

[Speaker 3] (2:25:37 - 2:25:39)
it be that we that we

[Speaker 9] (2:25:39 - 2:25:39)
Appropriate

[Speaker 3] (2:25:39 - 2:25:39)
that we borrowed

[Speaker 9] (2:25:39 - 2:25:39)
a million

[Speaker 3] (2:25:39 - 2:25:39)
it,

[Speaker 9] (2:25:39 - 2:25:40)
dollars?

[Speaker 3] (2:25:40 - 2:25:41)
but we haven't spent it?

[Speaker 4] (2:25:42 - 2:25:45)
So, town meeting voted authorizations in May.

[Speaker 9] (2:25:46 - 2:25:46)
Yep,

[Speaker 4] (2:25:46 - 2:25:50)
Those are out there. Spending can occur at any point once that's authorized.

[Speaker 9] (2:25:50 - 2:25:50)
yeah

[Speaker 4] (2:25:50 - 2:25:53)
It's not like the operating budget where it closes out in a year.

[Speaker 4] (2:25:53 - 2:25:57)
And as spending comes on, we match borrowing with spending best we can.

[Speaker 4] (2:25:58 - 2:26:01)
So, you can rescind authorizations via

[Speaker 13] (2:26:01 - 2:26:02)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 4] (2:26:02 - 2:26:03)
a town meeting,

[Speaker 9] (2:26:03 - 2:26:03)
Mm

[Speaker 4] (2:26:03 - 2:26:04)
and

[Speaker 9] (2:26:04 - 2:26:04)
-hmm.

[Speaker 4] (2:26:04 - 2:26:09)
that frees up space in the debt forecast, because we assume that ultimately,

[Speaker 4] (2:26:09 - 2:26:12)
at the ultimate point, we're issuing all the debt that's been authorized,

[Speaker 4] (2:26:12 - 2:26:13)
when we know that won't happen,

[Speaker 4] (2:26:14 - 2:26:16)
projects get abandoned or come in under budget,

[Speaker 9] (2:26:16 - 2:26:16)
Yep.

[Speaker 4] (2:26:16 - 2:26:20)
and so there's authorization that can be rescinded. So, yeah,

[Speaker 9] (2:26:20 - 2:26:22)
You mean like the basement design?

[Speaker 4] (2:26:23 - 2:26:24)
like that was an example,

[Speaker 4] (2:26:25 - 2:26:25)
right?

[Speaker 4] (2:26:25 - 2:26:27)
I think we actually repurposed.

[Speaker 4] (2:26:27 - 2:26:30)
repurpose that authorization toward a new project at last

[Speaker 3] (2:26:30 - 2:26:30)
Yeah,

[Speaker 4] (2:26:30 - 2:26:30)
known

[Speaker 1] (2:26:30 - 2:26:30)
Okay.

[Speaker 3] (2:26:30 - 2:26:30)
we didn't.

[Speaker 9] (2:26:30 - 2:26:32)
but is there anything else hanging out there that

[Speaker 3] (2:26:32 - 2:26:33)
Well, let's get a list,

[Speaker 11] (2:26:33 - 2:26:34)
Yeah.

[Speaker 3] (2:26:34 - 2:26:34)
right?

[Speaker 1] (2:26:34 - 2:26:34)
Yeah.

[Speaker 11] (2:26:34 - 2:26:34)
Mm

[Speaker 3] (2:26:34 - 2:26:35)
We have one,

[Speaker 4] (2:26:35 - 2:26:35)
Yeah,

[Speaker 3] (2:26:35 - 2:26:35)
right?

[Speaker 4] (2:26:35 - 2:26:36)
we can go

[Speaker 3] (2:26:36 - 2:26:36)
So

[Speaker 4] (2:26:36 - 2:26:36)
through we that

[Speaker 3] (2:26:36 - 2:26:36)
can go through

[Speaker 4] (2:26:36 - 2:26:36)
and

[Speaker 3] (2:26:36 - 2:26:36)
it.

[Speaker 4] (2:26:36 - 2:26:38)
that's something that CIC,

[Speaker 4] (2:26:38 - 2:26:38)
that's

[Speaker 1] (2:26:38 - 2:26:38)
Any

[Speaker 4] (2:26:38 - 2:26:38)
on their

[Speaker 1] (2:26:38 - 2:26:38)
other

[Speaker 4] (2:26:38 - 2:26:39)
docket.

[Speaker 1] (2:26:39 - 2:26:41)
favorite projects of Mary Ellen's that we want to discuss?

[Speaker 9] (2:26:41 - 2:26:42)
That was my only,

[Speaker 9] (2:26:42 - 2:26:43)
sorry.

[Speaker 9] (2:26:43 - 2:26:46)
But I do have a question like on the seawall repair,

[Speaker 9] (2:26:46 - 2:26:48)
the Seacoast Advisory Committee,

[Speaker 9] (2:26:48 - 2:26:50)
I think that's what it's called.

[Speaker 9] (2:26:50 - 2:26:56)
Do we have no chance at getting funding for something like sea?

[Speaker 3] (2:26:57 - 2:26:57)
Um,

[Speaker 9] (2:26:57 - 2:26:57)
I don't

[Speaker 3] (2:26:57 - 2:26:58)
sumo

[Speaker 9] (2:26:58 - 2:26:58)
agree.

[Speaker 3] (2:26:58 - 2:26:59)
repairs like capital.

[Speaker 1] (2:26:59 - 2:27:00)
Seaport Advisory Council.

[Speaker 3] (2:27:00 - 2:27:01)
Yeah, yeah.

[Speaker 1] (2:27:01 - 2:27:02)
There there

[Speaker 9] (2:27:02 - 2:27:03)
I thought that they might had it.

[Speaker 1] (2:27:03 - 2:27:07)
be an opportunity however I think generally it has to also drive economic development and

[Speaker 3] (2:27:07 - 2:27:07)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (2:27:07 - 2:27:10)
so I understand that protecting

[Speaker 3] (2:27:10 - 2:27:10)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (2:27:10 - 2:27:22)
a beach and making sure it's available for recreation can't like there's a stretch that we can try to make but it's generally like there's a dock that's publicly accessible or there might be ferry service in one at some point long in the future.

[Speaker 3] (2:27:22 - 2:27:22)
Uh-huh.

[Speaker 1] (2:27:22 - 2:27:26)
It's so it's something we can explore for sure and make sure that it's on the list of things that we're always keeping an eye on.

[Speaker 1] (2:27:26 - 2:27:26)
Uh

[Speaker 11] (2:27:26 - 2:27:28)
There are other grant possibilities

[Speaker 9] (2:27:28 - 2:27:28)
Right.

[Speaker 11] (2:27:28 - 2:27:29)
for that.

[Speaker 1] (2:27:29 - 2:27:30)
M.B.P. would probably be

[Speaker 11] (2:27:30 - 2:27:30)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (2:27:30 - 2:27:31)
I don't

[Speaker 9] (2:27:31 - 2:27:31)
So,

[Speaker 1] (2:27:31 - 2:27:36)
know what round two of M.B.P. would if it's maybe just from planning execution or what,

[Speaker 1] (2:27:36 - 2:27:37)
but that would be another one that comes to mind immediately.

[Speaker 9] (2:27:38 - 2:27:40)
you know, when I when I went through this budget,

[Speaker 9] (2:27:40 - 2:27:42)
I'm just going to say that, you know, the vehicles,

[Speaker 9] (2:27:42 - 2:27:50)
we have one hundred thousand dollars in here for facility director and D.P.W. And I just don't see why we need to spend.

[Speaker 9] (2:27:51 - 2:28:11)
you know $50,000 for a facility director in a in a bronco or whatever it is this we have these electric cars that are at town hall right now why not just add another electric car like a Chevy Bolt Chevy Bolts are about twenty eight thousand dollars

[Speaker 9] (2:28:12 - 2:28:13)
We have vehicles,

[Speaker 9] (2:28:13 - 2:28:30)
if we're trying to get a vehicle for one individual to drive around in, I think these large ticket items really need to be reduced. And another example I have is the ticket item, the vehicle for, I

[Speaker 9] (2:28:31 - 2:28:34)
think it was the fire, for the fire department. Where is

[Speaker 4] (2:28:34 - 2:28:35)
Yeah.

[Speaker 9] (2:28:35 - 2:28:35)
that one?

[Speaker 4] (2:28:35 - 2:28:36)
Replace car 21.

[Speaker 9] (2:28:36 - 2:28:37)
Yeah, so

[Speaker 9] (2:28:38 - 2:28:47)
For the chief's car, the chief's car only has 70,000 miles on it. Um, 90,000, no, it's multiple amounts.

[Speaker 4] (2:28:47 - 2:28:48)
That's a dollar amount,

[Speaker 9] (2:28:48 - 2:28:48)
The

[Speaker 4] (2:28:48 - 2:28:48)
91.

[Speaker 9] (2:28:48 - 2:28:49)
dollar amount is 92,

[Speaker 9] (2:28:49 - 2:28:49)
right?

[Speaker 1] (2:28:55 - 2:28:57)
And then again,

[Speaker 1] (2:28:57 - 2:29:01)
for the other vehicle for the fire department get one of these

[Speaker 1] (2:29:02 - 2:29:08)
Vehicles, these the Chevy Bolt that we have parked outside. Again, you have one individual driving around,

[Speaker 1] (2:29:09 - 2:29:13)
you don't need a a large a large uh vehicle.

[Speaker 3] (2:29:13 - 2:29:13)
Right.

[Speaker 1] (2:29:13 - 2:29:16)
These are the things I think we need to really sharpen our pencils.

[Speaker 1] (2:29:21 - 2:29:23)
You know the school copy machines,

[Speaker 1] (2:29:23 - 2:29:24)
um

[Speaker 1] (2:29:24 - 2:29:48)
I think yep maybe that's maybe that's a good idea but what's the difference between that versus having it in the budget and is there a possibility we should be looking at the town and the schools together and having is there a possibility of getting a better lease arrangement or a better purchase arrangement I think that's just something to look at I don't have a an answer on that I'm just saying just look a little bit tighter

[Speaker 4] (2:29:50 - 2:29:59)
I mean, if we're looking at if we're looking at the police department, like we're talking about fiscal year twenty seven, we're talking about cruisers, cruiser laptops and radar replacements.

[Speaker 4] (2:29:59 - 2:30:03)
So why is the I mean, are there looks

[Speaker 5] (2:30:03 - 2:30:03)
So

[Speaker 4] (2:30:03 - 2:30:03)
like

[Speaker 5] (2:30:03 - 2:30:05)
it's a car and then the car has to be outfitted

[Speaker 1] (2:30:06 - 2:30:06)
With the computers

[Speaker 5] (2:30:06 - 2:30:07)
with the

[Speaker 1] (2:30:07 - 2:30:07)
and stuff.

[Speaker 5] (2:30:07 - 2:30:10)
technology so that it can run as a police

[Speaker 1] (2:30:10 - 2:30:10)
Police.

[Speaker 5] (2:30:10 - 2:30:10)
cars.

[Speaker 4] (2:30:10 - 2:30:11)
That's just one

[Speaker 6] (2:30:11 - 2:30:11)
Got

[Speaker 4] (2:30:11 - 2:30:11)
car.

[Speaker 6] (2:30:11 - 2:30:11)
it.

[Speaker 1] (2:30:12 - 2:30:12)
I like to be.

[Speaker 1] (2:30:12 - 2:30:12)
too

[Speaker 7] (2:30:12 - 2:30:13)
That

[Speaker 9] (2:30:13 - 2:30:13)
It's

[Speaker 7] (2:30:13 - 2:30:13)
is

[Speaker 1] (2:30:13 - 2:30:13)
a little

[Speaker 7] (2:30:13 - 2:30:13)
too

[Speaker 9] (2:30:13 - 2:30:13)
true.

[Speaker 10] (2:30:13 - 2:30:13)
Yeah.

[Speaker 7] (2:30:13 - 2:30:13)
close.

[Speaker 1] (2:30:13 - 2:30:13)
large.

[Speaker 7] (2:30:13 - 2:30:13)
It's

[Speaker 1] (2:30:13 - 2:30:14)
That is

[Speaker 7] (2:30:14 - 2:30:14)
that's

[Speaker 1] (2:30:14 - 2:30:14)
large.

[Speaker 7] (2:30:14 - 2:30:15)
that's within our rotation.

[Speaker 9] (2:30:16 - 2:30:18)
Yeah, we'd we don't rather having by five or one year we spread we'd

[Speaker 10] (2:30:18 - 2:30:18)
Yeah.

[Speaker 9] (2:30:18 - 2:30:19)
be on a rotation so.

[Speaker 5] (2:30:20 - 2:30:20)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (2:30:20 - 2:30:22)
Got it. And are those hybrid vehicles or are those electric vehicles?

[Speaker 9] (2:30:22 - 2:30:23)
No, I think they're

[Speaker 1] (2:30:23 - 2:30:23)
No,

[Speaker 9] (2:30:23 - 2:30:23)
they're

[Speaker 1] (2:30:23 - 2:30:24)
I don't think so.

[Speaker 9] (2:30:24 - 2:30:24)
not electric they're gas powered.

[Speaker 7] (2:30:24 - 2:30:26)
They're hybrid they're hybrids.

[Speaker 10] (2:30:26 - 2:30:31)
The hy no, they're gonna be gas powered for the new ones. The hybrids that they've purchased have had significant

[Speaker 4] (2:30:31 - 2:30:31)
Significant

[Speaker 10] (2:30:31 - 2:30:32)
issues.

[Speaker 4] (2:30:32 - 2:30:33)
issues. Yeah.

[Speaker 10] (2:30:33 - 2:30:33)
And

[Speaker 1] (2:30:33 - 2:30:33)
Well

[Speaker 10] (2:30:33 - 2:30:38)
currently there's only one pursuit rated um EV.

[Speaker 4] (2:30:38 - 2:30:39)
So,

[Speaker 1] (2:30:39 - 2:30:40)
So we got to go

[Speaker 4] (2:30:40 - 2:30:40)
we're

[Speaker 1] (2:30:40 - 2:30:40)
to Briggs first.

[Speaker 4] (2:30:40 - 2:30:44)
a town of three square miles. We need pursuit-rated vehicles.

[Speaker 4] (2:30:45 - 2:30:46)
I I I'm just asking.

[Speaker 1] (2:30:46 - 2:30:47)
Right.

[Speaker 10] (2:30:47 - 2:30:47)
I

[Speaker 1] (2:30:47 - 2:30:47)
Right.

[Speaker 10] (2:30:47 - 2:30:48)
think as a, I

[Speaker 5] (2:30:48 - 2:30:49)
I mean, I

[Speaker 10] (2:30:49 - 2:30:49)
think as a

[Speaker 1] (2:30:49 - 2:30:49)
would practice, we, where

[Speaker 10] (2:30:49 - 2:30:49)
we would prefer

[Speaker 1] (2:30:49 - 2:30:50)
would we,

[Speaker 10] (2:30:50 - 2:30:50)
that the police do,

[Speaker 5] (2:30:50 - 2:30:51)
think,

[Speaker 10] (2:30:51 - 2:30:51)
yes,

[Speaker 10] (2:30:52 - 2:30:52)
we

[Speaker 5] (2:30:52 - 2:30:53)
I don't want the cops

[Speaker 10] (2:30:53 - 2:30:53)
can certainly

[Speaker 5] (2:30:53 - 2:30:53)
to be outrun.

[Speaker 10] (2:30:53 - 2:30:58)
talk to the chief about it, but I actually suggested to him,

[Speaker 10] (2:30:58 - 2:30:59)
like, we should,

[Speaker 10] (2:30:59 - 2:31:02)
an EV in a town of three square miles could work.

[Speaker 10] (2:31:03 - 2:31:07)
So if we can find money for it to help defray the cost.

[Speaker 10] (2:31:08 - 2:31:11)
Like that's one that I actually I do think it would be worthwhile.

[Speaker 10] (2:31:11 - 2:31:16)
But you know, all the vehicles that we buy them are pursuit rated.

[Speaker 10] (2:31:16 - 2:31:19)
So I don't know why we would not do it just because it was an EV as an example,

[Speaker 10] (2:31:19 - 2:31:24)
you know, put them in a Chevy Bolt to be able to other than maybe,

[Speaker 10] (2:31:24 - 2:31:28)
you know, someone that's doing trainings or

[Speaker 1] (2:31:29 - 2:31:33)
I'm sure we could make a similar case for every single item on there.

[Speaker 10] (2:31:33 - 2:31:33)
I'm just

[Speaker 1] (2:31:33 - 2:31:34)
But at some point.

[Speaker 1] (2:31:35 - 2:31:40)
Somebody has to bite the bullet and say we can do without X.

[Speaker 1] (2:31:40 - 2:31:42)
We just have to.

[Speaker 1] (2:31:42 - 2:31:45)
We could make the case for anybody having every one of these things,

[Speaker 1] (2:31:45 - 2:31:49)
but that's not going to get us out of the situation we're in. It's just not.

[Speaker 1] (2:31:49 - 2:31:50)
So either

[Speaker 5] (2:31:50 - 2:31:50)
I think.

[Speaker 1] (2:31:50 - 2:31:53)
we're going to consider giving and taking somewhere,

[Speaker 1] (2:31:53 - 2:31:54)
right?

[Speaker 1] (2:31:54 - 2:32:01)
I don't even know that that would help us, right? Would that 170 or 150,000, would it help us long-term? Is it going to get us out of this little pickle?

[Speaker 1] (2:32:01 - 2:32:02)
Probably not.

[Speaker 1] (2:32:02 - 2:32:07)
But it's that mindset of we need, we need, we have to have.

[Speaker 10] (2:32:07 - 2:32:12)
I think the place that we should really look at that on our side and bring back to you is on operation and expense.

[Speaker 10] (2:32:13 - 2:32:19)
Doing that in capital improvement is literally just kicking the can down the road in almost every case, not all of them. There's certainly,

[Speaker 10] (2:32:19 - 2:32:24)
if we could go through this, we could identify a want and not a need,

[Speaker 1] (2:32:24 - 2:32:24)
Mm

[Speaker 10] (2:32:24 - 2:32:24)
but

[Speaker 1] (2:32:24 - 2:32:25)
-hmm.

[Speaker 10] (2:32:25 - 2:32:26)
to just move a need out.

[Speaker 10] (2:32:27 - 2:32:49)
understanding we're in a valley and understanding we need to get there it's still an expense that we're anticipating and having to find at some point so if we're saying we're going to move out capital expenditures and then also have more revenue that we think can keep us near level service in three years like it suddenly starts getting very expensive three or four years from now when Hadley comes online or Vinon's complete or there's more housing somewhere

[Speaker 9] (2:32:49 - 2:32:50)
I would agree.

[Speaker 9] (2:32:50 - 2:32:53)
I mean, I'm not saying everything on here is a need by any means, but I think.

[Speaker 9] (2:32:53 - 2:32:55)
I think this we have to just be careful.

[Speaker 9] (2:32:55 - 2:32:58)
This is long term capital replacement, infrastructure,

[Speaker 9] (2:32:58 - 2:33:01)
that stuff if we ignore it we'll pay the price in

[Speaker 7] (2:33:01 - 2:33:01)
For sure.

[Speaker 9] (2:33:01 - 2:33:02)
in a few

[Speaker 4] (2:33:02 - 2:33:02)
You have to pay

[Speaker 9] (2:33:02 - 2:33:02)
years inflation. so

[Speaker 7] (2:33:02 - 2:33:03)
For sure, but what

[Speaker 10] (2:33:03 - 2:33:03)
Yeah.

[Speaker 7] (2:33:03 - 2:33:04)
what on here isn't.

[Speaker 10] (2:33:04 - 2:33:07)
and and and the but one year is not gonna I mean you

[Speaker 9] (2:33:07 - 2:33:09)
I know but that but one year is one year and then

[Speaker 10] (2:33:09 - 2:33:09)
next depreciation

[Speaker 9] (2:33:09 - 2:33:10)
year we work

[Speaker 7] (2:33:10 - 2:33:10)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (2:33:10 - 2:33:12)
spacing and over our next year so what do we do next

[Speaker 5] (2:33:12 - 2:33:15)
Right. But guys, guess what? If you look at next year, you're looking at 12 million instead of seven.

[Speaker 9] (2:33:15 - 2:33:16)
Exactly.

[Speaker 7] (2:33:16 - 2:33:16)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (2:33:16 - 2:33:16)
And

[Speaker 9] (2:33:16 - 2:33:16)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:33:16 - 2:33:19)
so like really you're not looking at anything until fiscal year.

[Speaker 5] (2:33:19 - 2:33:19)
We are 2030,

[Speaker 5] (2:33:20 - 2:33:21)
which is like around three.

[Speaker 5] (2:33:21 - 2:33:23)
So if you could push something out three years,

[Speaker 5] (2:33:23 - 2:33:24)
maybe there's a benefit,

[Speaker 5] (2:33:24 - 2:33:25)
but you're

[Speaker 1] (2:33:25 - 2:33:25)
Just even So just

[Speaker 10] (2:33:25 - 2:33:25)
you're

[Speaker 5] (2:33:25 - 2:33:26)
not looking for

[Speaker 10] (2:33:26 - 2:33:26)
bumping everything.

[Speaker 1] (2:33:26 - 2:33:27)
just a year is more of a.

[Speaker 10] (2:33:27 - 2:33:29)
Just to be realistic,

[Speaker 5] (2:33:29 - 2:33:29)
it.

[Speaker 10] (2:33:29 - 2:33:29)
and I've said this before,

[Speaker 10] (2:33:30 - 2:33:32)
year one is what we're actually voting on. Yeah, Year two we

[Speaker 5] (2:33:32 - 2:33:32)
yeah.

[Speaker 10] (2:33:32 - 2:33:33)
really anticipate happening.

[Speaker 10] (2:33:33 - 2:33:36)
Year three, we're getting spongy, and four and five are like aspirational.

[Speaker 5] (2:33:36 - 2:33:37)
Okay,

[Speaker 5] (2:33:37 - 2:33:39)
but I'm saying two's worse than this year.

[Speaker 5] (2:33:39 - 2:33:42)
So pushing it is not helpful unless you can determine

[Speaker 1] (2:33:42 - 2:33:42)
Eliminate

[Speaker 5] (2:33:42 - 2:33:42)
it's

[Speaker 1] (2:33:42 - 2:33:43)
all together.

[Speaker 5] (2:33:43 - 2:33:43)
a spongy

[Speaker 1] (2:33:43 - 2:33:43)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:33:43 - 2:33:43)
three.

[Speaker 1] (2:33:44 - 2:33:44)
Right.

[Speaker 5] (2:33:45 - 2:33:46)
So that's really like the.

[Speaker 9] (2:33:46 - 2:33:47)
But if you're pushing them all,

[Speaker 9] (2:33:47 - 2:33:47)
it is helpful.

[Speaker 11] (2:33:49 - 2:33:49)
We still

[Speaker 7] (2:33:49 - 2:33:49)
We

[Speaker 11] (2:33:49 - 2:33:49)
have to pay

[Speaker 7] (2:33:49 - 2:33:50)
can't.

[Speaker 11] (2:33:50 - 2:33:50)
it.

[Speaker 7] (2:33:50 - 2:33:51)
Here's an example.

[Speaker 7] (2:33:51 - 2:33:56)
High school HVAC, all right, that's $100,000 and the next year is a million dollars.

[Speaker 1] (2:33:57 - 2:33:57)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (2:33:57 - 2:33:59)
That's an important investment in

[Speaker 1] (2:33:59 - 2:34:00)
Yep.

[Speaker 7] (2:34:00 - 2:34:01)
this building.

[Speaker 7] (2:34:01 - 2:34:03)
We need that $100,000 for design.

[Speaker 1] (2:34:03 - 2:34:03)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (2:34:03 - 2:34:06)
So to turn around and say, oh, let's just push that out,

[Speaker 7] (2:34:06 - 2:34:09)
I don't, I mean that's...

[Speaker 7] (2:34:09 - 2:34:10)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (2:34:10 - 2:34:11)
That's a good example

[Speaker 1] (2:34:11 - 2:34:11)
That

[Speaker 7] (2:34:11 - 2:34:11)
of one

[Speaker 1] (2:34:11 - 2:34:11)
is not

[Speaker 7] (2:34:11 - 2:34:12)
we can't push,

[Speaker 5] (2:34:12 - 2:34:12)
Right.

[Speaker 7] (2:34:12 - 2:34:13)
but what is a good example

[Speaker 10] (2:34:13 - 2:34:13)
Well,

[Speaker 7] (2:34:13 - 2:34:13)
of one we

[Speaker 10] (2:34:13 - 2:34:13)
I mean,

[Speaker 7] (2:34:13 - 2:34:13)
could push?

[Speaker 10] (2:34:13 - 2:34:16)
maybe you're right, but I don't know that for sure.

[Speaker 10] (2:34:16 - 2:34:17)
I mean,

[Speaker 1] (2:34:17 - 2:34:17)
Okay.

[Speaker 10] (2:34:17 - 2:34:19)
maybe it's just like the windows.

[Speaker 10] (2:34:19 - 2:34:20)
I don't know.

[Speaker 1] (2:34:20 - 2:34:20)
Okay.

[Speaker 10] (2:34:20 - 2:34:27)
Does Macs know definitively that that thing is starting to break already and we're repairing it a lot and therefore that's where it is?

[Speaker 10] (2:34:27 - 2:34:30)
That's one scenario. If that's the scenario, then I agree with you.

[Speaker 7] (2:34:30 - 2:34:33)
I mean, maybe social network upgrades at the high school.

[Speaker 7] (2:34:34 - 2:34:35)
I don't know what that means.

[Speaker 1] (2:34:35 - 2:34:46)
I don't know if that's something that can be done in FY 29 instead of 27. Do you know what I'm saying? It's defining that stuff. Not everything is going to be something we can reconsider, but maybe there's something that can,

[Speaker 1] (2:34:46 - 2:34:46)
right?

[Speaker 5] (2:34:46 - 2:34:53)
So is the ask that we're doing that legwork now or are we sending it back to capital and we're asking them to help us understand better or Nick,

[Speaker 1] (2:34:53 - 2:34:53)
I

[Speaker 5] (2:34:53 - 2:34:53)
you're

[Speaker 1] (2:34:53 - 2:34:53)
think

[Speaker 5] (2:34:53 - 2:34:54)
having

[Speaker 1] (2:34:54 - 2:34:54)
we're

[Speaker 5] (2:34:54 - 2:34:54)
conversations

[Speaker 1] (2:34:54 - 2:34:54)
tasking,

[Speaker 5] (2:34:54 - 2:34:54)
with

[Speaker 1] (2:34:54 - 2:34:55)
I

[Speaker 5] (2:34:55 - 2:34:56)
capital and finance.

[Speaker 1] (2:34:56 - 2:34:57)
think we're tasking Nick.

[Speaker 4] (2:34:57 - 2:34:59)
Social Network Update, that's a matching grant from the federal government.

[Speaker 12] (2:35:00 - 2:35:02)
funds and that's over five years and

[Speaker 5] (2:35:02 - 2:35:02)
Okay.

[Speaker 12] (2:35:02 - 2:35:04)
so that's I think

[Speaker 7] (2:35:04 - 2:35:04)
That's

[Speaker 12] (2:35:04 - 2:35:04)
almost

[Speaker 7] (2:35:04 - 2:35:05)
a school network upgrade.

[Speaker 12] (2:35:05 - 2:35:06)
ten Right, thousand

[Speaker 9] (2:35:06 - 2:35:06)
School networks,

[Speaker 12] (2:35:06 - 2:35:06)
from

[Speaker 9] (2:35:06 - 2:35:06)
yeah.

[Speaker 12] (2:35:06 - 2:35:08)
the feds. So that's

[Speaker 5] (2:35:08 - 2:35:08)
Okay.

[Speaker 12] (2:35:08 - 2:35:10)
another one that

[Speaker 5] (2:35:10 - 2:35:11)
Okay, so that's

[Speaker 7] (2:35:11 - 2:35:11)
Is that just the

[Speaker 5] (2:35:11 - 2:35:11)
that's

[Speaker 7] (2:35:11 - 2:35:11)
one you're talking

[Speaker 5] (2:35:11 - 2:35:11)
good to

[Speaker 7] (2:35:11 - 2:35:11)
about?

[Speaker 5] (2:35:11 - 2:35:12)
know.

[Speaker 7] (2:35:12 - 2:35:12)
School

[Speaker 12] (2:35:12 - 2:35:12)
That's

[Speaker 7] (2:35:12 - 2:35:12)
network

[Speaker 12] (2:35:12 - 2:35:12)
the one

[Speaker 7] (2:35:12 - 2:35:12)
upgrade?

[Speaker 5] (2:35:12 - 2:35:12)
Yeah.

[Speaker 12] (2:35:12 - 2:35:12)
that's

[Speaker 7] (2:35:12 - 2:35:13)
That's

[Speaker 12] (2:35:13 - 2:35:13)
the school network.

[Speaker 7] (2:35:13 - 2:35:13)
school network. School

[Speaker 9] (2:35:13 - 2:35:14)
Yes.

[Speaker 1] (2:35:14 - 2:35:14)
School

[Speaker 7] (2:35:14 - 2:35:14)
Network

[Speaker 1] (2:35:14 - 2:35:14)
network,

[Speaker 7] (2:35:14 - 2:35:15)
network upgrades

[Speaker 1] (2:35:15 - 2:35:15)
I thought I

[Speaker 7] (2:35:15 - 2:35:15)
are

[Speaker 1] (2:35:15 - 2:35:16)
misread. For $10

[Speaker 7] (2:35:16 - 2:35:16)
the matching grant.

[Speaker 13] (2:35:16 - 2:35:19)
Right, so that so that's another thing that's important to note

[Speaker 5] (2:35:19 - 2:35:19)
Right.

[Speaker 13] (2:35:19 - 2:35:20)
on these things, right.

[Speaker 5] (2:35:20 - 2:35:20)
Right.

[Speaker 13] (2:35:20 - 2:35:20)
It's like

[Speaker 9] (2:35:20 - 2:35:21)
So I

[Speaker 13] (2:35:21 - 2:35:21)
because

[Speaker 9] (2:35:21 - 2:35:21)
just for

[Speaker 13] (2:35:21 - 2:35:22)
there are things here like

[Speaker 5] (2:35:22 - 2:35:22)
So

[Speaker 13] (2:35:22 - 2:35:22)
rural

[Speaker 5] (2:35:22 - 2:35:22)
that's one

[Speaker 13] (2:35:22 - 2:35:22)
street

[Speaker 5] (2:35:22 - 2:35:23)
that

[Speaker 13] (2:35:23 - 2:35:23)
up.

[Speaker 5] (2:35:23 - 2:35:23)
can't be considered.

[Speaker 13] (2:35:23 - 2:35:24)
We have rural street in here,

[Speaker 9] (2:35:24 - 2:35:25)
I'd like I'd

[Speaker 13] (2:35:25 - 2:35:25)
right.

[Speaker 9] (2:35:25 - 2:35:26)
I'd like to make a comment

[Speaker 5] (2:35:26 - 2:35:26)
But rural

[Speaker 9] (2:35:26 - 2:35:27)
just if shouldn't I could

[Speaker 5] (2:35:27 - 2:35:27)
be in

[Speaker 9] (2:35:27 - 2:35:27)
cut

[Speaker 5] (2:35:27 - 2:35:27)
Hattie.

[Speaker 9] (2:35:27 - 2:35:27)
but I mean because

[Speaker 5] (2:35:27 - 2:35:28)
Go ahead,

[Speaker 1] (2:35:28 - 2:35:28)
Here.

[Speaker 5] (2:35:28 - 2:35:28)
can I go?

[Speaker 9] (2:35:28 - 2:35:28)
we

[Speaker 1] (2:35:28 - 2:35:28)
Sure.

[Speaker 9] (2:35:28 - 2:35:34)
If you keep them, as a reminder, we have a capital improvement committee who didn't just rubber stamp these things,

[Speaker 9] (2:35:34 - 2:35:39)
they've had these discussions, so I think it's fair to push it back to them and say look guys, the budget's really tight,

[Speaker 5] (2:35:39 - 2:35:39)
Yeah,

[Speaker 1] (2:35:39 - 2:35:39)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (2:35:39 - 2:35:39)
can

[Speaker 5] (2:35:39 - 2:35:39)
exactly.

[Speaker 9] (2:35:39 - 2:35:41)
you please take another look rather than one

[Speaker 1] (2:35:41 - 2:35:41)
Right.

[Speaker 9] (2:35:41 - 2:35:42)
often having

[Speaker 1] (2:35:42 - 2:35:42)
Exactly.

[Speaker 9] (2:35:42 - 2:35:43)
these discussions here,

[Speaker 1] (2:35:43 - 2:35:43)
Exactly.

[Speaker 9] (2:35:43 - 2:35:45)
because we don't know the answers individually.

[Speaker 1] (2:35:45 - 2:35:45)
Exactly.

[Speaker 9] (2:35:45 - 2:35:46)
That's my comment.

[Speaker 1] (2:35:46 - 2:35:46)
No,

[Speaker 1] (2:35:46 - 2:35:47)
I totally

[Speaker 5] (2:35:47 - 2:35:47)
I

[Speaker 1] (2:35:47 - 2:35:47)
agree.

[Speaker 5] (2:35:47 - 2:35:47)
think that's,

[Speaker 1] (2:35:47 - 2:35:51)
And I think we first ask Nick with your suggestion about the operating budget,

[Speaker 1] (2:35:51 - 2:35:54)
take a look and see what you can come up with,

[Speaker 5] (2:35:54 - 2:35:54)
I think

[Speaker 1] (2:35:54 - 2:35:55)
right?

[Speaker 5] (2:35:55 - 2:35:56)
the comments across all.

[Speaker 5] (2:35:56 - 2:35:56)
Oh, right?

[Speaker 1] (2:35:56 - 2:35:56)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (2:35:56 - 2:35:58)
Like, we don't have enough.

[Speaker 1] (2:35:58 - 2:35:58)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (2:35:58 - 2:35:59)
Oh,

[Speaker 5] (2:35:59 - 2:36:01)
I think the school committee's here too?

[Speaker 5] (2:36:01 - 2:36:01)
Like,

[Speaker 5] (2:36:01 - 2:36:02)
we're saying it to you too.

[Speaker 5] (2:36:02 - 2:36:03)
We don't have enough.

[Speaker 5] (2:36:03 - 2:36:09)
And we all need to find places where we could unfortunately cut.

[Speaker 5] (2:36:09 - 2:36:14)
We know it's not a, there's not a lot of wants in here.

[Speaker 5] (2:36:14 - 2:36:15)
Most of this is a need.

[Speaker 5] (2:36:15 - 2:36:18)
Now we have to determine what's a real need and what's a...

[Speaker 5] (2:36:19 - 2:36:20)
Maybe we can hold off this year need.

[Speaker 1] (2:36:21 - 2:36:21)
Right.

[Speaker 12] (2:36:21 - 2:36:23)
Katie, I can tell you that we will definitely go back and

[Speaker 5] (2:36:23 - 2:36:24)
Thank you.

[Speaker 12] (2:36:24 - 2:36:25)
take a look.

[Speaker 5] (2:36:25 - 2:36:27)
So let's just get

[Speaker 7] (2:36:27 - 2:36:27)
There is one,

[Speaker 5] (2:36:27 - 2:36:28)
across the

[Speaker 7] (2:36:28 - 2:36:28)
there

[Speaker 5] (2:36:28 - 2:36:28)
board

[Speaker 7] (2:36:28 - 2:36:28)
is

[Speaker 5] (2:36:28 - 2:36:28)
and

[Speaker 7] (2:36:28 - 2:36:28)
one

[Speaker 5] (2:36:28 - 2:36:28)
go ahead.

[Speaker 7] (2:36:28 - 2:36:32)
thing I just want to, the number one, one of our bigger,

[Speaker 7] (2:36:32 - 2:36:39)
the Force Main Study and the air relief valves under our sewer fund.

[Speaker 1] (2:36:39 - 2:36:40)
Yeah.

[Speaker 7] (2:36:40 - 2:36:40)
These are

[Speaker 7] (2:36:42 - 2:36:43)
Really important thing, huh?

[Speaker 5] (2:36:43 - 2:36:44)
Well the fourth

[Speaker 7] (2:36:44 - 2:36:44)
No.

[Speaker 5] (2:36:44 - 2:36:45)
main study is an asterisk.

[Speaker 1] (2:36:46 - 2:36:46)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 10] (2:36:46 - 2:36:47)
We have

[Speaker 1] (2:36:47 - 2:36:48)
So we just don't

[Speaker 10] (2:36:48 - 2:36:48)
we have asked

[Speaker 1] (2:36:48 - 2:36:48)
know.

[Speaker 10] (2:36:49 - 2:36:58)
The Water Department DPW to give us a very real number on what that will cost, the replacements for the air release valves because we had one fail last year,

[Speaker 10] (2:36:58 - 2:37:03)
and this is to replace them so that we do not, we're not doing emergent break fixes on them,

[Speaker 7] (2:37:03 - 2:37:03)
Right,

[Speaker 10] (2:37:03 - 2:37:03)
of

[Speaker 7] (2:37:03 - 2:37:03)
okay.

[Speaker 10] (2:37:03 - 2:37:05)
all the things, especially that.

[Speaker 5] (2:37:05 - 2:37:06)
Right.

[Speaker 14] (2:37:06 - 2:37:06)
Okay.

[Speaker 7] (2:37:07 - 2:37:14)
Okay, so let's let's we're giving you the directive to go back to the operating budget same with capital Maybe capital can take a look and see if there's something

[Speaker 7] (2:37:15 - 2:37:18)
some some re moving around some

[Speaker 1] (2:37:18 - 2:37:18)
So we, so

[Speaker 7] (2:37:18 - 2:37:19)
Or just

[Speaker 1] (2:37:19 - 2:37:19)
we prioritize, balance,

[Speaker 7] (2:37:19 - 2:37:20)
prioritize,

[Speaker 1] (2:37:20 - 2:37:20)
prioritize,

[Speaker 5] (2:37:20 - 2:37:21)
you

[Speaker 1] (2:37:21 - 2:37:21)
prioritize.

[Speaker 5] (2:37:21 - 2:37:24)
know, so that we can get an understanding of this

[Speaker 9] (2:37:24 - 2:37:24)
Okay.

[Speaker 5] (2:37:24 - 2:37:25)
better understanding.

[Speaker 13] (2:37:25 - 2:37:30)
Da David suggested that we might have a group project about painting the water tower. We could just all to do that

[Speaker 5] (2:37:30 - 2:37:30)
Just

[Speaker 13] (2:37:30 - 2:37:30)
together.

[Speaker 9] (2:37:30 - 2:37:30)
Yeah.

[Speaker 5] (2:37:30 - 2:37:30)
have

[Speaker 1] (2:37:30 - 2:37:30)
Yes.

[Speaker 5] (2:37:30 - 2:37:31)
some kid climate.

[Speaker 13] (2:37:31 - 2:37:32)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (2:37:32 - 2:37:33)
Get me the ladder. Get me the ladder.

[Speaker 7] (2:37:33 - 2:37:35)
Can I have a bunch of Chevy bolts?

[Speaker 12] (2:37:35 - 2:37:43)
Another comment I want to hurt earlier which I think is getting an ankle but it's probably necessary is just changing the fiscal behaviour around

[Speaker 12] (2:37:44 - 2:37:50)
Services. We talked about it for trash recycling, but less than level service is what I heard.

[Speaker 9] (2:37:50 - 2:37:50)
Yep.

[Speaker 12] (2:37:50 - 2:37:55)
And I think that is a very real thing we need to be looking at is less than level service.

[Speaker 12] (2:37:55 - 2:38:06)
Citizens paying for services that they are using and that not everybody is having to suffer. We talked about in February last year changing the structures around

[Speaker 12] (2:38:07 - 2:38:18)
uh... permits, licenses, fees and fines, increasing that, um people that are using those services are affected that they are carrying that burden and not everybody is.

[Speaker 12] (2:38:18 - 2:38:33)
I think that is something we really need to look at for sure, is how do we back out some of those services that are causing the increase and only citizens that are using them are paying that and that the town of Swansea is not shouldering that holistically as a burden.

[Speaker 12] (2:38:34 - 2:38:38)
That's a very difficult conversation, conversations rather,

[Speaker 7] (2:38:38 - 2:38:39)
Mm-hmm.

[Speaker 12] (2:38:39 - 2:38:44)
but um if we're talking about really where we need to be with me, not just projects, behaviours,

[Speaker 2] (2:38:48 - 2:38:48)
Absolutely.

[Speaker 3] (2:38:48 - 2:38:50)
Yeah, absolutely agree. I agree.

[Speaker 4] (2:38:51 - 2:38:54)
I think that's behavior is not something that changes overnight.

[Speaker 2] (2:38:54 - 2:38:54)
No.

[Speaker 4] (2:38:54 - 2:39:05)
We have to just keep bringing it up and bringing it up and letting people face the reality of what's happening here and to Doug's point like it's gonna be uncomfortable

[Speaker 4] (2:39:07 - 2:39:10)
But we're coming to a point where we don't have a choice.

[Speaker 3] (2:39:10 - 2:39:11)
No, we don't,

[Speaker 4] (2:39:11 - 2:39:11)
We we don't,

[Speaker 3] (2:39:11 - 2:39:12)
we definitely

[Speaker 4] (2:39:12 - 2:39:12)
we came

[Speaker 3] (2:39:12 - 2:39:12)
do not.

[Speaker 4] (2:39:12 - 2:39:14)
to a point last year where we didn't have a choice,

[Speaker 5] (2:39:14 - 2:39:14)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (2:39:14 - 2:39:15)
to be honest.

[Speaker 1] (2:39:15 - 2:39:15)
We're just diving, yeah.

[Speaker 4] (2:39:15 - 2:39:25)
And you know, so we're back to that same spot. Um so you know, nobody should be shocked, although I'm sure we'll find some people who are.

[Speaker 5] (2:39:25 - 2:39:25)
Of course.

[Speaker 5] (2:39:25 - 2:39:26)
Right.

[Speaker 4] (2:39:28 - 2:39:28)
Alright.

[Speaker 1] (2:39:29 - 2:39:29)
Okay.

[Speaker 3] (2:39:29 - 2:39:31)
Did you want to do everything else now, go on this

[Speaker 6] (2:39:31 - 2:39:31)
Okay,

[Speaker 3] (2:39:31 - 2:39:31)
one?

[Speaker 6] (2:39:31 - 2:39:32)
I think we talked

[Speaker 7] (2:39:32 - 2:39:32)
I think

[Speaker 6] (2:39:32 - 2:39:33)
in front

[Speaker 7] (2:39:33 - 2:39:33)
we're done.

[Speaker 6] (2:39:33 - 2:39:33)
of the the

[Speaker 1] (2:39:33 - 2:39:33)
Oh, okay.

[Speaker 7] (2:39:33 - 2:39:33)
Right.

[Speaker 3] (2:39:33 - 2:39:33)
We're

[Speaker 6] (2:39:33 - 2:39:34)
He's capital

[Speaker 3] (2:39:34 - 2:39:34)
talking about

[Speaker 6] (2:39:34 - 2:39:34)
plan

[Speaker 3] (2:39:34 - 2:39:34)
the future,

[Speaker 6] (2:39:34 - 2:39:34)
at

[Speaker 7] (2:39:34 - 2:39:34)
Yeah,

[Speaker 3] (2:39:34 - 2:39:34)
you're

[Speaker 6] (2:39:34 - 2:39:35)
least that,

[Speaker 3] (2:39:35 - 2:39:35)
right,

[Speaker 6] (2:39:35 - 2:39:35)
that

[Speaker 7] (2:39:35 - 2:39:35)
right.

[Speaker 3] (2:39:35 - 2:39:36)
sorry.

[Speaker 6] (2:39:36 - 2:39:38)
you gave us a direction and

[Speaker 4] (2:39:38 - 2:39:38)
Okay.

[Speaker 6] (2:39:38 - 2:39:41)
and also for the volunteer committee as well to spend time with those.

[Speaker 4] (2:39:41 - 2:39:42)
And thank you, Capital,

[Speaker 4] (2:39:42 - 2:39:45)
for doing the work, putting the plan together.

[Speaker 4] (2:39:46 - 2:39:49)
Appreciate your second look with the direction from the board.

[Speaker 4] (2:39:52 - 2:39:55)
Um, so I think that's it. Let me go back to the agenda,

[Speaker 4] (2:39:55 - 2:39:56)
but that was it for tonight.

[Speaker 4] (2:39:56 - 2:39:58)
Well, thank goodness we separated this guys,

[Speaker 9] (2:39:58 - 2:39:59)
Yep

[Speaker 4] (2:39:59 - 2:40:01)
because we were going to do all this last Wednesday.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:01 - 2:40:03)
So, oh, my apologies for rescheduling last Wednesday.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:03 - 2:40:07)
Thank you all for being flexible coming this evening and thank you guys for popping online,

[Speaker 4] (2:40:07 - 2:40:09)
who couldn't make it in person,

[Speaker 4] (2:40:09 - 2:40:14)
had a family emergency and had to reschedule some stuff. So appreciate your flexibility and your time.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:16 - 2:40:18)
Um, select board comments.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:18 - 2:40:20)
Does anybody have select board time?

[Speaker 10] (2:40:21 - 2:40:22)
Is that on the agenda?

[Speaker 4] (2:40:22 - 2:40:24)
It is. It is. It's F.

[Speaker 1] (2:40:25 - 2:40:26)
I just look for a report.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:26 - 2:40:28)
It says select board report. So does anybody have anything they'd like to report?

[Speaker 6] (2:40:29 - 2:40:29)
Yeah.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:29 - 2:40:30)
Okay,

[Speaker 4] (2:40:30 - 2:40:31)
I have one thing.

[Speaker 10] (2:40:32 - 2:40:32)
Okay.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:32 - 2:40:33)
Just let me bring it up.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:34 - 2:40:36)
Due to the storm on Monday,

[Speaker 4] (2:40:36 - 2:40:38)
there were quite a few people. I had three people,

[Speaker 4] (2:40:38 - 2:40:41)
citizens who reached out looking for snow help.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:42 - 2:40:47)
Senior citizens, one was a veteran. And I want to commend Anthony,

[Speaker 4] (2:40:47 - 2:40:48)
Kalela,

[Speaker 4] (2:40:48 - 2:40:48)
John,

[Speaker 4] (2:40:48 - 2:40:49)
and Thomas.

[Speaker 4] (2:40:50 - 2:41:02)
Cagliano and Graham Moran and James Chaffnit. Sorry I butchered a lot of that but these

[Speaker 3] (2:41:02 - 2:41:03)
What did they do?

[Speaker 4] (2:41:03 - 2:41:05)
community members stepped up when we needed them to.

[Speaker 4] (2:41:05 - 2:41:13)
These are all kids who are at the high school and they showed up to shovel out some seniors who did not have snow angels this year.

[Speaker 4] (2:41:13 - 2:41:15)
We needed help and I just wanted to appreciate them.

[Speaker 4] (2:41:16 - 2:41:18)
And their parents are raising good human beings.

[Speaker 3] (2:41:18 - 2:41:19)
Great job. Great.

[Speaker 4] (2:41:21 - 2:41:22)
That's all I have.

[Speaker 4] (2:41:22 - 2:41:22)
Thank

[Speaker 3] (2:41:22 - 2:41:23)
And

[Speaker 4] (2:41:23 - 2:41:23)
you

[Speaker 3] (2:41:23 - 2:41:23)
who

[Speaker 4] (2:41:23 - 2:41:23)
all.

[Speaker 3] (2:41:23 - 2:41:24)
do we have back there?

[Speaker 3] (2:41:24 - 2:41:24)
Mr.

[Speaker 3] (2:41:24 - 2:41:26)
Miretsky and who else?

[Speaker 3] (2:41:29 - 2:41:29)
Nate

[Speaker 1] (2:41:29 - 2:41:29)
It's just...

[Speaker 3] (2:41:29 - 2:41:32)
Beichheim. Nate Beichheim, Mr.

[Speaker 3] (2:41:32 - 2:41:32)
Miretsky and who?

[Speaker 4] (2:41:32 - 2:41:33)
Selene?

[Speaker 6] (2:41:33 - 2:41:33)
Celine?

[Speaker 3] (2:41:33 - 2:41:35)
And Selene? Where is Selene?

[Speaker 3] (2:41:36 - 2:41:36)
Don't

[Speaker 4] (2:41:36 - 2:41:36)
Well,

[Speaker 3] (2:41:36 - 2:41:37)
Don't get stamped.

[Speaker 11] (2:41:37 - 2:41:37)
well,

[Speaker 4] (2:41:37 - 2:41:37)
you

[Speaker 11] (2:41:37 - 2:41:40)
thank you. Thank you very much for working again tonight and

[Speaker 12] (2:41:40 - 2:41:40)
Thank

[Speaker 11] (2:41:40 - 2:41:40)
doing

[Speaker 12] (2:41:40 - 2:41:40)
you.

[Speaker 11] (2:41:40 - 2:41:43)
a great job and working in a very tight budget, you guys.

[Speaker 4] (2:41:44 - 2:41:46)
Do you guys need to do you guys need to close?

[Speaker 1] (2:41:46 - 2:41:47)
I'm getting another motion to adjourn.

[Speaker 12] (2:41:50 - 2:41:50)
Second.

[Speaker 1] (2:41:50 - 2:41:51)
Second.

[Speaker 1] (2:41:51 - 2:41:52)
Oh, bear,

[Speaker 1] (2:41:52 - 2:41:53)
we are.

[Speaker 4] (2:41:54 - 2:41:54)
Income?

[Speaker 1] (2:41:55 - 2:41:55)
Can I get a motion to adjourn?

[Speaker 12] (2:41:55 - 2:41:56)
I can motion to adjourn.

[Speaker 1] (2:41:56 - 2:41:57)
Oh.

[Speaker 12] (2:41:57 - 2:41:57)
Oh.

[Speaker 3] (2:41:58 - 2:41:58)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (2:41:58 - 2:41:59)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (2:41:59 - 2:42:00)
Maybe online say aye.

[Speaker 12] (2:42:01 - 2:42:01)
Motion to adjourn.

[Speaker 4] (2:42:01 - 2:42:01)
All

[Speaker 1] (2:42:01 - 2:42:01)
Aye.

[Speaker 4] (2:42:01 - 2:42:02)
I falsely

[Speaker 12] (2:42:02 - 2:42:02)
Motion

[Speaker 4] (2:42:02 - 2:42:02)
said

[Speaker 12] (2:42:02 - 2:42:02)
to adjourn.

[Speaker 4] (2:42:02 - 2:42:02)
as aye.

[Speaker 4] (2:42:03 - 2:42:05)
I hear a motion and a second?

[Speaker 11] (2:42:05 - 2:42:05)
Second.

[Speaker 4] (2:42:05 - 2:42:06)
All in favor?

[Speaker 11] (2:42:06 - 2:42:07)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (2:42:07 - 2:42:07)
Aye.

[Speaker 4] (2:42:07 - 2:42:08)
Aye. Thank you everyone.

[Speaker 6] (2:42:08 - 2:42:08)
Thanks.

[Speaker 11] (2:42:08 - 2:42:09)
Thank you guys for coming.