1 00:00:07,095 --> 00:00:09,385 Good evening or good afternoon still I guess. 2 00:00:10,165 --> 00:00:13,585 And welcome to the Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026. 3 00:00:13,855 --> 00:00:16,825 Hopefully super short town Council beginning meeting. 4 00:00:17,635 --> 00:00:19,145 We'll start with the Pledge of Allegiance. 5 00:00:19,215 --> 00:00:21,025 Councilor Foot, will you 6 00:00:22,165 --> 00:00:25,585 Pledge, allegiance, flag, United States of America 7 00:00:26,285 --> 00:00:30,465 and Republic One under God. 8 00:00:32,615 --> 00:00:33,615 Justice. 9 00:00:35,755 --> 00:00:37,985 Thank you. We'll do a quick roll call. 10 00:00:38,175 --> 00:00:42,225 Councilor Mills here. Councilor Webb Present. 11 00:00:42,455 --> 00:00:45,025 Councilor Chase. Good evening, councilor Flood. 12 00:00:45,195 --> 00:00:46,945 Hello, counselor Foot. Good evening. 13 00:00:47,405 --> 00:00:50,945 And Councillor Healy, are you online? Yes. 14 00:00:51,455 --> 00:00:53,985 Yeah, I'm here. Can everyone hear me? Yep. 15 00:00:54,045 --> 00:00:55,225 Yep. Okay. 16 00:00:56,725 --> 00:00:59,305 I'm alone in the room and I'm on Zoom just 17 00:00:59,385 --> 00:01:01,225 'cause I have a work commitment a little bit later on 18 00:01:01,505 --> 00:01:03,145 tonight and I want to be able to get there in time. 19 00:01:04,335 --> 00:01:07,025 Okay, thank you. And good. 20 00:01:07,145 --> 00:01:09,705 Anything from the chair as well? So we just have one item on 21 00:01:09,845 --> 00:01:12,145 our our consent agenda this evening. 22 00:01:12,375 --> 00:01:16,465 Item 26 89, ordinance 2026 dash 0 0 4 23 00:01:16,845 --> 00:01:18,985 to adopt chapter 40 of the general code 24 00:01:18,985 --> 00:01:21,465 regarding electioneering at polling places. 25 00:01:23,015 --> 00:01:24,345 This will, this 26 00:01:24,855 --> 00:01:28,385 ordinance will have public hearings on both October 6th 27 00:01:28,485 --> 00:01:29,945 and October 20th. 28 00:01:31,805 --> 00:01:34,545 Is there a motion to accept the consent agenda? Move 29 00:01:34,545 --> 00:01:36,225 To move to accept the consent agenda. 30 00:01:36,405 --> 00:01:39,305 Second. All right. A motion by Councilor Mills. 31 00:01:39,305 --> 00:01:42,545 Second by Councilor Webb. That's the consent agenda. 32 00:01:42,605 --> 00:01:43,825 So I don't, do I have to do all call? 33 00:01:43,845 --> 00:01:45,185 Oh, I do because we have Councilor Healy. 34 00:01:45,585 --> 00:01:46,825 I was like, something's telling me I have to, 35 00:01:46,845 --> 00:01:48,265 but I dunno why on the motion. 36 00:01:48,265 --> 00:01:51,905 Councilor Mills? Yes. Councilor Webb. Yes. Councilor ta? 37 00:01:51,965 --> 00:01:54,185 Yes. Councilor Flood? Yes. Councilor Foot? Yes. 38 00:01:54,185 --> 00:01:55,185 Councilor Healy. 39 00:01:55,885 --> 00:01:59,065 Yes. And Chair Boats? Yes. Motion passes. Seven zero. 40 00:02:00,345 --> 00:02:01,345 Excellent. 41 00:02:02,705 --> 00:02:05,625 I make a motion that re we recess this meeting 42 00:02:06,155 --> 00:02:08,225 until five 30 this evening. 43 00:02:10,245 --> 00:02:12,185 Second that. Alright, we have a motion to recess 44 00:02:12,185 --> 00:02:14,065 until five 30 when our workshop 45 00:02:14,065 --> 00:02:15,465 with the Dairy School Board will begin. 46 00:02:15,925 --> 00:02:18,025 We will still be in a public session at that point. 47 00:02:18,085 --> 00:02:21,265 And we have a second on the motion. Councilor Mills? Yes. 48 00:02:21,375 --> 00:02:24,825 Councilor Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes. Councilor Flood? 49 00:02:24,925 --> 00:02:27,185 Yes. Councilor Foote. Yes. Councillor Healy. 50 00:02:27,805 --> 00:02:30,745 Yes. And Chair votes? Yes. Motion passes. Seven zero. 51 00:02:30,875 --> 00:02:33,385 Thank you everyone. We'll see you over at the other table. 52 00:02:33,475 --> 00:02:34,625 Seven at five 30. 53 00:02:37,825 --> 00:02:39,715 Evening everybody, this 54 00:02:39,915 --> 00:02:40,915 Workshop started. 55 00:02:40,915 --> 00:02:41,955 We've got members of the school board 56 00:02:41,955 --> 00:02:43,475 and the town council here tonight along 57 00:02:43,475 --> 00:02:45,315 with our superintendent town manager. 58 00:02:46,735 --> 00:02:48,555 Why don't we go around the table for introductions. 59 00:02:48,695 --> 00:02:50,235 I'm Michael Field, chair of the school board. 60 00:02:50,465 --> 00:02:51,795 Michael Flynn, superintendent 61 00:02:52,095 --> 00:02:53,595 of the Derrick Cooper School District. 62 00:02:53,965 --> 00:02:55,235 James Jane Simard, business 63 00:02:55,235 --> 00:02:56,715 Administrator, dairy School District. 64 00:02:57,625 --> 00:02:59,325 Jack Webb at Large Town Council. 65 00:03:00,055 --> 00:03:01,725 Aaron Spencer, town Council Chair 66 00:03:01,725 --> 00:03:02,805 and District one Counselor. 67 00:03:03,255 --> 00:03:07,245 David Mills. Counselor at large. Raymond Chase. 68 00:03:07,245 --> 00:03:08,285 Council at District Four. 69 00:03:08,835 --> 00:03:11,605 Charlie Port Town Council. Douglas Flood 70 00:03:11,995 --> 00:03:13,085 Town counselor at large. 71 00:03:13,725 --> 00:03:14,965 Mike Fowler, town Administrator, 72 00:03:17,885 --> 00:03:18,885 I guess you matter. 73 00:03:20,465 --> 00:03:23,325 Brenda Willis. School board. Karen Ram School Board. 74 00:03:23,495 --> 00:03:24,805 Jamie Caru, school board. 75 00:03:24,975 --> 00:03:26,085 David Clap, school board. 76 00:03:26,255 --> 00:03:28,485 Jenna Paradise, school Board Secretary Jen 77 00:03:28,685 --> 00:03:29,765 Au. School board. Vice Chair. 78 00:03:30,585 --> 00:03:32,085 All right. Thank you everybody and thank you 79 00:03:32,085 --> 00:03:33,085 for taking the time to be here. 80 00:03:33,085 --> 00:03:36,565 We've got a few new faces since we met this past February 81 00:03:36,575 --> 00:03:39,085 prior to a council meeting, so we're happy 82 00:03:39,085 --> 00:03:40,485 to welcome you guys here tonight 83 00:03:40,485 --> 00:03:41,685 before our school board meeting. 84 00:03:42,685 --> 00:03:43,925 Plenty to discuss lots 85 00:03:43,925 --> 00:03:45,325 of developments in the last seven months 86 00:03:45,325 --> 00:03:46,405 since we've last met. 87 00:03:46,525 --> 00:03:48,045 A lot of these things get right to the heart 88 00:03:48,045 --> 00:03:50,925 of why we hold these workshops, which is coordination 89 00:03:50,925 --> 00:03:52,765 and cooperation between the town and the school district. 90 00:03:53,585 --> 00:03:54,645 So I'm looking forward 91 00:03:54,725 --> 00:03:56,005 to a good discussion over the next hour 92 00:03:56,105 --> 00:03:58,245 and I'll turn it over to my counterpart. 93 00:03:58,245 --> 00:03:59,285 Aaron. Thank 94 00:03:59,285 --> 00:04:00,285 You. 95 00:04:00,285 --> 00:04:02,125 Yeah, welcome everybody. Thank you for joining us. 96 00:04:02,305 --> 00:04:04,645 I'm actually very excited to see a turnout of the public 97 00:04:04,865 --> 00:04:07,245 behind us here, so welcome to all of you as well. 98 00:04:07,585 --> 00:04:08,885 I'm looking forward to catching up 99 00:04:08,945 --> 00:04:11,285 and talking through, think what's going on right now. 100 00:04:12,485 --> 00:04:15,565 I think with that I'll turn it over to the mics 101 00:04:15,565 --> 00:04:17,925 and see where we go from here. I'll let 102 00:04:17,925 --> 00:04:18,925 Mike follow, take the lead. 103 00:04:19,955 --> 00:04:24,005 Okay. So for tonight's agenda, superintendent Flynn 104 00:04:24,005 --> 00:04:26,645 and I had kind of just brainstormed a little about, 105 00:04:26,645 --> 00:04:30,045 about some of the ideas that are relevant coming up for 106 00:04:30,565 --> 00:04:31,765 both of the bodies here. 107 00:04:31,785 --> 00:04:34,205 And, and again, I think the theme for all 108 00:04:34,205 --> 00:04:36,845 of this is coordination, collaboration. 109 00:04:37,395 --> 00:04:38,445 This is one town, 110 00:04:38,585 --> 00:04:40,565 not two separate governmental agencies 111 00:04:40,575 --> 00:04:41,645 we're talking about here. 112 00:04:42,385 --> 00:04:44,725 And I think the first item that is, 113 00:04:44,785 --> 00:04:48,645 is out there is just some discussion from an a higher level 114 00:04:48,645 --> 00:04:53,125 picture about for the public about what is pending in some 115 00:04:53,125 --> 00:04:55,005 of the recent legislative action. 116 00:04:55,025 --> 00:04:59,885 So obviously it house bill 1300, which is the 117 00:05:00,655 --> 00:05:03,805 going on the TA on the, I'm sorry, the general election on 118 00:05:04,445 --> 00:05:06,645 November 3rd, which there was a recent 119 00:05:09,085 --> 00:05:12,405 judicial decision which allows this to go forward 120 00:05:12,945 --> 00:05:14,725 for the November 3rd election. 121 00:05:14,825 --> 00:05:18,925 So essentially what's at stake here is a 122 00:05:19,645 --> 00:05:23,965 mandated tax cap for the school district funding only. 123 00:05:24,155 --> 00:05:25,765 That would not affect the Townside. 124 00:05:25,765 --> 00:05:28,165 The Townside is already under a tax cap. 125 00:05:28,165 --> 00:05:30,645 And I'll explain a little bit the mechanics in one 126 00:05:30,645 --> 00:05:32,125 of the later agenda items. 127 00:05:32,305 --> 00:05:34,125 So 1300 is something 128 00:05:34,125 --> 00:05:36,845 that the voters will have an opportunity to vote on 129 00:05:37,365 --> 00:05:38,525 coming up this November. 130 00:05:39,235 --> 00:05:42,765 Then you also have House Bill 1331, which is 131 00:05:43,485 --> 00:05:44,765 a local issue. 132 00:05:44,795 --> 00:05:49,525 It's an enabling legislation which allows for an action 133 00:05:49,785 --> 00:05:52,005 of the town council through a vote 134 00:05:52,985 --> 00:05:56,845 to potentially absorb the school district into the town. 135 00:05:57,225 --> 00:05:58,325 And the ideas of that, 136 00:05:58,325 --> 00:06:00,685 or the concepts of that would be a combined 137 00:06:00,865 --> 00:06:01,965 tax cap, if you will. 138 00:06:02,025 --> 00:06:05,525 So that's a separate entity just for full disclosure. 139 00:06:06,425 --> 00:06:09,005 But those would be working in that certain sequence. 140 00:06:09,065 --> 00:06:11,005 And so the town council would have some items 141 00:06:11,005 --> 00:06:13,085 that they would need to consider relative to 142 00:06:13,985 --> 00:06:16,325 if there were a petition to be received, how 143 00:06:16,325 --> 00:06:18,245 that would operate the mechanics of that. 144 00:06:18,465 --> 00:06:20,765 But I think that's for some later discussion. 145 00:06:20,825 --> 00:06:23,285 So I guess that with, with the backdrop, Mike, 146 00:06:23,285 --> 00:06:24,885 I don't know if there's anything else that you wanted 147 00:06:24,885 --> 00:06:26,765 to amplify relative to the school board 148 00:06:27,225 --> 00:06:28,725 and, and your side of things. Yeah, 149 00:06:28,725 --> 00:06:31,045 I think we're attacking it November and then March. 150 00:06:31,045 --> 00:06:33,085 Right. And two, two separate phase phases. 151 00:06:33,995 --> 00:06:36,005 More importantly, I think our board did a great job 152 00:06:36,005 --> 00:06:37,445 discussing it at our last meeting, 153 00:06:38,235 --> 00:06:40,485 more specifically on the lack of clarity 154 00:06:40,515 --> 00:06:44,565 that we're receiving both from the state, 155 00:06:44,795 --> 00:06:47,805 from DRA and then really with our legal teams. 156 00:06:49,115 --> 00:06:51,165 Some of that's becoming more clear. 157 00:06:51,905 --> 00:06:54,125 We feel like some of the math is coming into 158 00:06:55,255 --> 00:06:58,125 focus a little bit of the, of the baseline of that number. 159 00:06:58,805 --> 00:06:59,805 'cause what we really wanna do and 160 00:06:59,805 --> 00:07:01,605 what we said the other night as a board is we wanna be able 161 00:07:01,605 --> 00:07:03,445 to provide the picture for the community on, 162 00:07:03,505 --> 00:07:05,005 on if this then that, right? 163 00:07:05,625 --> 00:07:09,045 So, you know, our board's been pretty clear on a target 164 00:07:09,065 --> 00:07:10,765 that's, that seems to be below 165 00:07:11,075 --> 00:07:13,005 what the anticipated number would be on 166 00:07:13,005 --> 00:07:14,045 that vote either way. 167 00:07:14,705 --> 00:07:16,445 But that's something that we're working on, on, 168 00:07:16,445 --> 00:07:17,605 on the administrative side. 169 00:07:18,105 --> 00:07:20,845 The 1331 is a, is a different approach, right? 170 00:07:20,865 --> 00:07:23,525 We, you and I have had meetings to discuss how 171 00:07:23,525 --> 00:07:24,685 that would look, what it would look like, 172 00:07:25,705 --> 00:07:29,205 but just to, to clear, to clear it up a little bit. 173 00:07:29,445 --> 00:07:31,445 That just proceeds with the next step, right? 174 00:07:31,445 --> 00:07:34,525 That doesn't automatically make that vote in March if 175 00:07:34,525 --> 00:07:37,725 that were to occur, it moves on to the next vote, right? 176 00:07:37,725 --> 00:07:39,005 The charter and so forth and so on. 177 00:07:39,025 --> 00:07:41,005 So that's kind of where we are on our side. 178 00:07:41,025 --> 00:07:43,245 But I think the board did a pretty good job discussing it 179 00:07:43,245 --> 00:07:45,285 the other night waiting for some clarifications on 180 00:07:45,285 --> 00:07:48,165 what the math would be more specifically on 181 00:07:48,165 --> 00:07:49,205 what that number should be. 182 00:07:49,305 --> 00:07:52,325 And then there were some other discussions on default budget 183 00:07:52,465 --> 00:07:56,725 if that's higher than what is voted on, what supersedes. 184 00:07:56,725 --> 00:07:58,285 So we're still trying to get some legal clarity 185 00:07:58,385 --> 00:07:59,805 as well. Okay. Yep. 186 00:08:00,435 --> 00:08:03,005 Alright. So I think that segues into the second 187 00:08:03,615 --> 00:08:05,845 topic in terms of town budgeting. 188 00:08:07,305 --> 00:08:11,045 So one of the things that the town has had a longstanding 189 00:08:11,305 --> 00:08:13,965 tax cap that goes back over 30 years 190 00:08:14,025 --> 00:08:15,845 and it's been implemented 191 00:08:15,845 --> 00:08:17,525 and I'm just gonna go through the mechanics 192 00:08:17,525 --> 00:08:19,925 of it real quick just so there's some basic understanding of 193 00:08:19,925 --> 00:08:21,525 how at least hours operates. 194 00:08:22,385 --> 00:08:25,005 So each year everyone's aware that the Bureau 195 00:08:25,085 --> 00:08:28,885 of Labor Statistics publishes data for the, 196 00:08:28,885 --> 00:08:31,485 what they call the consumer price index, the CPI. 197 00:08:32,025 --> 00:08:35,245 And so basically you look at the trailing 12 months, 198 00:08:35,465 --> 00:08:38,165 the difference between what there's an index 199 00:08:38,385 --> 00:08:41,005 and you create a percentage that you are allowed 200 00:08:41,005 --> 00:08:44,685 to go up on the tax rate, which essentially is your increase 201 00:08:44,685 --> 00:08:47,125 that you're allowed to go in your, on your expenditures. 202 00:08:47,825 --> 00:08:51,685 So for the town of dairy last year, that number was 3.3%. 203 00:08:52,025 --> 00:08:56,165 And so that drove us to how we calculated a bottom line. 204 00:08:56,265 --> 00:09:00,005 We incorporated all of our expenditures, 205 00:09:00,495 --> 00:09:03,725 subtracted out our revenues to arrive at a net number. 206 00:09:03,985 --> 00:09:08,205 So for example, as we go into next year, 207 00:09:08,945 --> 00:09:13,525 we set our baseline at $31,000,817 for, 208 00:09:13,565 --> 00:09:16,285 or $817,412. 209 00:09:16,975 --> 00:09:20,645 We're projecting the CPI probably is going to land somewhere 210 00:09:20,645 --> 00:09:23,125 between 3.7 and 3.8%. 211 00:09:23,315 --> 00:09:25,685 That could change in the final couple of months here, 212 00:09:26,165 --> 00:09:28,085 depending upon some of the world events. 213 00:09:28,545 --> 00:09:30,685 But essentially what our task is, 214 00:09:30,685 --> 00:09:33,965 when we set the town's budget, we will go forward 215 00:09:34,465 --> 00:09:37,445 and we establish a target of what we think 216 00:09:37,445 --> 00:09:39,485 that the spending is going to be based on. 217 00:09:39,985 --> 00:09:42,525 And so at 3.7, 3.8%, 218 00:09:42,525 --> 00:09:45,485 that would probably allow us somewhere in the range of about 219 00:09:46,265 --> 00:09:49,405 1.4, $1.5 million of new expenditures. 220 00:09:49,405 --> 00:09:50,605 Now that sounds a lot, 221 00:09:51,025 --> 00:09:53,805 but when you really think about some of the things 222 00:09:53,805 --> 00:09:57,245 that hit us in terms of, you know, health insurance costs, 223 00:09:58,465 --> 00:10:01,605 things like salt, things like fuel costs, things 224 00:10:01,605 --> 00:10:03,485 that sometimes you, you don't control. 225 00:10:03,785 --> 00:10:05,965 And obviously employee costs being one of the largest 226 00:10:06,985 --> 00:10:08,085 pieces of our budget. 227 00:10:08,465 --> 00:10:10,965 All those things have to be combined within there, 228 00:10:10,965 --> 00:10:12,165 including debt payments. 229 00:10:12,665 --> 00:10:14,205 So that we arrive at that number. 230 00:10:14,305 --> 00:10:16,725 So then that number is given to the council. 231 00:10:16,855 --> 00:10:20,445 Oftentimes we start with a budget that is higher than 232 00:10:20,475 --> 00:10:21,805 what the tax cap allows. 233 00:10:21,985 --> 00:10:24,365 And then that gives the council an opportunity to go through 234 00:10:24,825 --> 00:10:27,285 and, and make some decisions about what services 235 00:10:27,285 --> 00:10:30,045 that they want to deliver, what things that they emphasize, 236 00:10:30,315 --> 00:10:32,765 what they're hearing from their constituents on, on that. 237 00:10:32,865 --> 00:10:35,325 So we're working on that process. 238 00:10:35,355 --> 00:10:37,205 Obviously the town's budget process 239 00:10:37,985 --> 00:10:39,205 is a little different than what 240 00:10:39,205 --> 00:10:40,605 currently the school district does. 241 00:10:41,465 --> 00:10:45,125 But essentially we have our staff working on our capital 242 00:10:45,125 --> 00:10:46,325 improvement projects. 243 00:10:46,865 --> 00:10:48,645 Now as we're starting to budget for that, 244 00:10:49,185 --> 00:10:51,445 the budget will be delivered to the planning board. 245 00:10:51,525 --> 00:10:53,085 I mean, I'm sorry, the CIP P'S delivered 246 00:10:53,085 --> 00:10:54,405 to the planning board in February 247 00:10:54,785 --> 00:10:59,085 and we deliver the budget to the town council by April 1st. 248 00:10:59,385 --> 00:11:01,165 And we work our way through some workshops. 249 00:11:01,345 --> 00:11:02,965 We generally vote in May 250 00:11:03,545 --> 00:11:06,365 and then that new budget begins July 1st. 251 00:11:06,385 --> 00:11:09,365 So we're on a fiscal year as far as that's concerned. 252 00:11:09,385 --> 00:11:11,885 So that's how our budget would work. 253 00:11:12,185 --> 00:11:14,965 Should either 1330 I'M 31 254 00:11:14,965 --> 00:11:17,725 or 1300 be something in the future? 255 00:11:18,515 --> 00:11:20,405 That is typically how we have rendered. 256 00:11:20,405 --> 00:11:22,085 It doesn't mean necessarily that that's the way 257 00:11:22,395 --> 00:11:23,885 that it would happen in the future, 258 00:11:24,065 --> 00:11:26,085 but that is the general concept of 259 00:11:26,085 --> 00:11:28,685 how the tax cap has worked for the town. 260 00:11:28,785 --> 00:11:30,885 So does anybody have any questions or comments, 261 00:11:31,195 --> 00:11:32,645 Mike, before you go to to that? 262 00:11:33,165 --> 00:11:35,005 I just, I apologize, we forgot. 263 00:11:35,005 --> 00:11:36,965 We have our, our, our other counselor here, 264 00:11:37,365 --> 00:11:38,485 counselor here is here. 265 00:11:38,505 --> 00:11:40,045 He just had a work commitment tonight. 266 00:11:40,275 --> 00:11:42,365 He's virtual, he is in in ether. 267 00:11:42,825 --> 00:11:46,405 But just wanna acknowledge that he is online so as well. 268 00:11:46,635 --> 00:11:49,445 Okay. I forgot that part. Alright, now questions. 269 00:11:49,915 --> 00:11:52,325 Alright, so yeah, if there's any questions, let me know. 270 00:11:52,325 --> 00:11:55,405 Otherwise we can roll on to item C on the agenda. 271 00:11:56,875 --> 00:12:00,725 Sure. So we're ecstatic that, not this meeting, 272 00:12:00,745 --> 00:12:04,405 but our next meeting will be finally rolling out our capital 273 00:12:04,405 --> 00:12:06,765 improvement plan that goes out to 2033. 274 00:12:08,265 --> 00:12:11,325 We had to make some adjustments due to the savings 275 00:12:11,665 --> 00:12:13,645 of the bond projects that are occurring 276 00:12:14,405 --> 00:12:17,685 significantly on the most recent at South Range, 277 00:12:18,465 --> 00:12:21,125 in which we had two separate PO projects 278 00:12:22,115 --> 00:12:24,325 that were anticipated that were combined into one 279 00:12:24,325 --> 00:12:26,125 with windows, doors, facade, roof. 280 00:12:26,325 --> 00:12:27,325 I know that sounds like a lot, but 281 00:12:27,325 --> 00:12:29,045 that all ended up being one bid 282 00:12:29,805 --> 00:12:32,685 which came significantly under what was projected 283 00:12:33,435 --> 00:12:34,805 when you guys were putting that together. 284 00:12:36,665 --> 00:12:37,925 And with 285 00:12:37,925 --> 00:12:41,925 that we are now developing basically an excess bond usage 286 00:12:41,925 --> 00:12:45,485 planned, which is gonna help pull away from some 287 00:12:45,485 --> 00:12:48,165 of the items that were initially on the capital improvement 288 00:12:48,285 --> 00:12:50,045 plan, which is great. 289 00:12:50,465 --> 00:12:53,845 So we're gonna be able to do some more jobs that, 290 00:12:54,715 --> 00:12:57,805 that are needed to to get our buildings up to a baseline 291 00:12:58,585 --> 00:13:01,125 and then that's gonna shift our CIP plan, 292 00:13:01,125 --> 00:13:02,205 which is also a benefit. 293 00:13:02,445 --> 00:13:04,325 'cause then you can move those items, it's a living document 294 00:13:04,325 --> 00:13:06,165 up sooner rather than later. 295 00:13:07,385 --> 00:13:10,165 So that's gonna be coming to the board next meeting. 296 00:13:10,905 --> 00:13:13,405 And that will be living on our website for the community 297 00:13:13,405 --> 00:13:14,685 to see what the targets 298 00:13:14,685 --> 00:13:16,765 and goals are at each rain each facility 299 00:13:17,465 --> 00:13:19,005 and anticipated spending. 300 00:13:20,625 --> 00:13:23,605 We this past year put a warrant article on 301 00:13:23,605 --> 00:13:27,845 to ask the community to approve continuing add 302 00:13:27,845 --> 00:13:29,125 to our capital improvement plan. 303 00:13:29,305 --> 00:13:30,925 So that passed unanimously. 304 00:13:30,945 --> 00:13:33,045 So we were able to add $500,000 to 305 00:13:33,045 --> 00:13:34,125 that capital improvement plan 306 00:13:34,545 --> 00:13:36,245 and we went right to work this past summer. 307 00:13:37,865 --> 00:13:40,925 We changed out nearly 20,000 square feet 308 00:13:40,945 --> 00:13:42,765 of flooring in all the schools. 309 00:13:43,685 --> 00:13:45,245 So we were able to chip away at some 310 00:13:45,245 --> 00:13:47,005 of those CIP plans earlier. 311 00:13:47,225 --> 00:13:48,965 So, you know, Mike 312 00:13:48,965 --> 00:13:50,485 and I have talked about ma, 313 00:13:50,625 --> 00:13:53,085 our capital improvement plan becoming a big part 314 00:13:53,085 --> 00:13:55,445 for the community so that we can have those discussions on 315 00:13:56,905 --> 00:13:59,805 not not having spikes with our community members in regards 316 00:13:59,805 --> 00:14:01,325 to being more predictable. 317 00:14:01,485 --> 00:14:03,285 I think that's our real goal that we continue 318 00:14:03,285 --> 00:14:05,365 to say in the school side is we wanna become predictable 319 00:14:05,365 --> 00:14:08,085 for the community so that it's not where did this come from? 320 00:14:08,105 --> 00:14:09,765 Why are we, why are we asking for it now? 321 00:14:09,785 --> 00:14:12,525 So it's a little bit of the overview of what we have coming, 322 00:14:13,435 --> 00:14:15,085 anticipated it being done a little bit earlier, 323 00:14:15,145 --> 00:14:16,205 but that the, the savings 324 00:14:16,205 --> 00:14:17,645 that we had at our last facilities meeting, 325 00:14:17,645 --> 00:14:20,325 we really wanna make sure we use the bo the bond fund money 326 00:14:20,465 --> 00:14:21,925 to full effect. 327 00:14:23,275 --> 00:14:25,045 Okay. So I do, 328 00:14:25,205 --> 00:14:28,205 I just have one question on the tax cap fraud town. 329 00:14:28,205 --> 00:14:30,285 Sure. Have you ever been in a deficit? 330 00:14:30,755 --> 00:14:32,725 Like you've done this for, 331 00:14:32,745 --> 00:14:35,325 you said 30 years you've been under a tax cap. 332 00:14:35,635 --> 00:14:37,365 Have we ever been in a deficit from that? 333 00:14:37,825 --> 00:14:40,885 No. So to my knowledge there's never been any 334 00:14:41,245 --> 00:14:42,965 opportunity for an override. 335 00:14:43,425 --> 00:14:46,925 One of the interesting things that is a little nuance 336 00:14:46,925 --> 00:14:50,565 of the tax cap, let's say we have a benign inflation year. 337 00:14:50,565 --> 00:14:52,230 So we only only had, and we have had these 338 00:14:52,230 --> 00:14:56,765 where the tax rate can only go up by 1.2%, 1.4%. 339 00:14:57,155 --> 00:15:01,085 That sometimes strain your ability to do some other items 340 00:15:01,265 --> 00:15:02,605 for, for example, if you had 341 00:15:03,285 --> 00:15:06,085 a collective bargaining agreement where you had made a deal 342 00:15:06,085 --> 00:15:09,485 that you're paying 4% to each one of the members of 343 00:15:09,485 --> 00:15:12,165 that particular unit that continues on, that's a, 344 00:15:12,165 --> 00:15:13,365 an agreement that's been made, 345 00:15:13,425 --> 00:15:16,245 but your tax cap only allows 1.4% 346 00:15:16,835 --> 00:15:20,005 that has some issues within the rest of your budget. 347 00:15:20,185 --> 00:15:22,405 So fortunately for the town we've been able 348 00:15:22,425 --> 00:15:24,165 to put certain designated funds. 349 00:15:24,425 --> 00:15:27,285 So we have the ability in certain situations 350 00:15:28,065 --> 00:15:30,365 to utilize those funds as, you know, 351 00:15:31,235 --> 00:15:32,645 basically rainy day funds 352 00:15:32,705 --> 00:15:35,725 or un unrestricted fund balance to cover that. 353 00:15:35,745 --> 00:15:38,045 But you don't want to go to that well too many times 354 00:15:38,045 --> 00:15:39,925 because you deplete the fund balance. 355 00:15:40,025 --> 00:15:42,285 But to date we've been able to manage, and I, 356 00:15:42,285 --> 00:15:45,965 and I say this often, sometimes the town, you know, has 357 00:15:45,965 --> 00:15:47,445 to do without, there's certain things 358 00:15:47,445 --> 00:15:49,925 that maybe we don't have as many staff members as, 359 00:15:49,945 --> 00:15:51,605 as other peer communities would have. 360 00:15:51,605 --> 00:15:52,645 And I'll give you a good example. 361 00:15:53,065 --> 00:15:55,885 In the code enforcement department, you know, 362 00:15:55,885 --> 00:16:00,485 many other towns of our size have seven or eight inspectors. 363 00:16:00,785 --> 00:16:04,165 We were two up until July 1st, 2026, 364 00:16:04,305 --> 00:16:07,085 so we just added a third inspector for the town. 365 00:16:07,105 --> 00:16:09,245 So there's examples like that that maybe you have 366 00:16:09,245 --> 00:16:10,485 to be a little bit more lean, 367 00:16:10,905 --> 00:16:12,245 but overall we are able 368 00:16:12,245 --> 00:16:16,125 to deliver those services without going over the cap. Thank 369 00:16:16,125 --> 00:16:17,125 You. 370 00:16:20,385 --> 00:16:23,635 Okay, so to segue on what Mike had said, we, 371 00:16:23,935 --> 00:16:27,435 we were talking a little bit about the CIP project. 372 00:16:27,535 --> 00:16:30,155 So the town's process, again, 373 00:16:30,375 --> 00:16:32,475 we project out six years as well. 374 00:16:32,655 --> 00:16:34,955 So we will be looking, believe it 375 00:16:34,955 --> 00:16:39,355 or not, into fiscal 33 with our next next view on projects. 376 00:16:39,395 --> 00:16:40,555 A lot of what the town does, 377 00:16:41,225 --> 00:16:43,355 it's projecting a lot of equipment. 378 00:16:43,775 --> 00:16:45,395 So things such as, such 379 00:16:45,395 --> 00:16:48,235 as a fire truck might be $1.3 million 380 00:16:48,305 --> 00:16:49,715 with a three year lead time. 381 00:16:49,785 --> 00:16:51,675 Some of that has really stretched out 382 00:16:51,675 --> 00:16:53,715 because of some of the equipment difficulties. 383 00:16:54,115 --> 00:16:55,955 A dump truck might be, you know, 384 00:16:55,955 --> 00:16:57,595 a quarter million dollars now that we use. 385 00:16:57,855 --> 00:17:01,915 But we try to keep that rolling stock replenish so 386 00:17:01,915 --> 00:17:05,275 that we don't catch a year that if a truck is on year 11 387 00:17:05,455 --> 00:17:07,875 or 12 and it's starting to be a problem mechanically 388 00:17:08,105 --> 00:17:10,715 that we don't have a replacement in the line on that. 389 00:17:10,815 --> 00:17:13,435 So we rely on our department heads to look at that. 390 00:17:13,435 --> 00:17:14,875 Same thing with police cruisers. 391 00:17:15,975 --> 00:17:19,955 As far as major building projects we're, you know, 392 00:17:19,955 --> 00:17:22,235 we just finished the fire station at approximately 393 00:17:22,235 --> 00:17:23,995 $21.5 million. 394 00:17:24,495 --> 00:17:27,715 We have a 20 year repayment on that. 395 00:17:28,375 --> 00:17:30,075 The parking garage at Abbott Court 396 00:17:30,505 --> 00:17:33,675 that is also in a 20 year principal and interest payment. 397 00:17:33,985 --> 00:17:38,035 That project had a $23.3 million bonding 398 00:17:38,155 --> 00:17:39,235 issue or bond issue. 399 00:17:39,455 --> 00:17:42,395 And that was also, that's within the TIF district. 400 00:17:42,415 --> 00:17:46,035 So that is covered within the captured values of one 401 00:17:46,035 --> 00:17:48,355 of the two TIF districts that we have in the community. 402 00:17:49,945 --> 00:17:51,685 At some point we're gonna be looking at 403 00:17:51,755 --> 00:17:53,485 perhaps a, a police station. 404 00:17:53,705 --> 00:17:56,965 We haven't worked out any of the details on, you know, when 405 00:17:56,965 --> 00:17:59,045 and how, but I think that would be an example of 406 00:17:59,065 --> 00:18:01,605 how we would want to coordinate discussing 407 00:18:01,605 --> 00:18:04,445 with the school district what are your big projects when, 408 00:18:04,745 --> 00:18:07,685 how, and, and what those impacts were so that we could, 409 00:18:08,305 --> 00:18:09,925 you know, figure out where we would be 410 00:18:10,105 --> 00:18:12,445 and where we would want to be relative to that. 411 00:18:12,715 --> 00:18:13,805 Otherwise, most 412 00:18:13,805 --> 00:18:16,365 of the large projects are under the enterprise fund, 413 00:18:16,505 --> 00:18:18,445 so they're water and sewer projects. 414 00:18:18,445 --> 00:18:21,485 So those are generally covered by the rate payers as opposed 415 00:18:21,505 --> 00:18:23,045 to the tax levy. 416 00:18:23,185 --> 00:18:27,405 So that's just a general idea, but as we move forward, Mike 417 00:18:27,405 --> 00:18:29,645 and I, you know, are committed to talking 418 00:18:29,645 --> 00:18:30,925 through the various items 419 00:18:31,065 --> 00:18:33,165 and the timing of that just for the purposes 420 00:18:33,165 --> 00:18:34,685 of the confidence that, you know, 421 00:18:34,685 --> 00:18:36,165 we are coordinating those items. 422 00:18:37,665 --> 00:18:40,485 So. All right. Any questions on that? Let's go. 423 00:18:40,485 --> 00:18:41,525 Good. Just quick, 424 00:18:42,465 --> 00:18:44,645 how much is in your reindeer fund, just outta curiosity? 425 00:18:45,265 --> 00:18:49,245 So as it stands right now, we are forced to retain 426 00:18:49,265 --> 00:18:51,845 by our policy $13.5 million. 427 00:18:52,285 --> 00:18:54,525 I think we, the last audit, 428 00:18:54,655 --> 00:18:58,245 which was June 30th, 2025, we had about 429 00:18:59,045 --> 00:19:00,325 18.5 million. 430 00:19:00,385 --> 00:19:03,885 So about 5.6 million over the, over 431 00:19:03,885 --> 00:19:04,965 what the retain percentage. 432 00:19:05,015 --> 00:19:07,845 We're gonna have a new number for June 30th, 2026. 433 00:19:07,905 --> 00:19:10,125 As we're going through the audit, I do expect that 434 00:19:10,125 --> 00:19:12,965 to grow a little bit, we probably will be somewhere in 435 00:19:12,965 --> 00:19:14,805 that 21 to $22 million. 436 00:19:18,225 --> 00:19:22,005 And that's just to remind people the importance of that 437 00:19:23,035 --> 00:19:25,365 unended fund balances in capital projects like this, 438 00:19:25,555 --> 00:19:29,725 this building was built using those funds. 439 00:19:30,945 --> 00:19:34,485 So it's, it's, we think of it of as being a big number, 440 00:19:35,215 --> 00:19:38,085 which it is, but it helps keep our bond rating down 441 00:19:38,825 --> 00:19:40,525 or bond interest costs down. 442 00:19:41,585 --> 00:19:45,325 It helps fund the CBA trust, which is one of the ways 443 00:19:45,355 --> 00:19:49,565 that he was alluding to, to prevent those spikes, 444 00:19:49,565 --> 00:19:53,965 particularly if we have a lean year to fund the contracts. 445 00:19:54,865 --> 00:19:57,525 So it, it helps smooth things out 446 00:19:58,145 --> 00:20:01,725 and it's one of the things that I'm glad 447 00:20:01,725 --> 00:20:04,285 to see you're putting into a capital reserve fund 448 00:20:04,285 --> 00:20:07,285 and having this, 'cause I can, I can remember 449 00:20:07,905 --> 00:20:09,405 not too long ago, it was 450 00:20:09,405 --> 00:20:10,605 before all of you were on the board 451 00:20:10,605 --> 00:20:12,645 that there was a major mechanical issue at the school 452 00:20:12,645 --> 00:20:14,525 and you didn't have a, a fund balance 453 00:20:14,525 --> 00:20:16,885 or a capital reserve to draw to repair it. 454 00:20:18,425 --> 00:20:20,725 If we, god forbid, wreck a fire truck 455 00:20:21,065 --> 00:20:22,885 or something like that, that's a million dollar 456 00:20:22,885 --> 00:20:26,845 expense. So 457 00:20:27,755 --> 00:20:30,085 Yeah, I mean the options that the school district has 458 00:20:30,185 --> 00:20:31,285 for this are very limited. 459 00:20:31,415 --> 00:20:35,445 Right. You know, we can do a, you know, a trust fund, which 460 00:20:35,445 --> 00:20:38,205 of course requires a town vote in March. 461 00:20:38,205 --> 00:20:40,645 Yeah. You know, even to move money from the unreserved fund 462 00:20:40,645 --> 00:20:43,125 balance into a trust fund requires a vote of the town. 463 00:20:43,125 --> 00:20:44,445 Correct. And 464 00:20:44,685 --> 00:20:47,645 and we do have, you know, we can create a contingency fund 465 00:20:47,645 --> 00:20:50,645 where we can move money from the last year's unserved fund 466 00:20:50,645 --> 00:20:51,765 balance into a contingency fund. 467 00:20:51,795 --> 00:20:54,845 That was something that is from way I understand you 468 00:20:54,845 --> 00:20:57,285 explained is something that's fairly recently only 469 00:20:57,285 --> 00:20:58,365 allowed by the law. 470 00:20:59,265 --> 00:21:00,445 It was fairly recent. Yeah. 471 00:21:00,445 --> 00:21:03,445 And there was actually a law that passed this year 472 00:21:04,075 --> 00:21:06,085 that would've eliminated the contingency fund 473 00:21:06,225 --> 00:21:08,685 and it took a veto over the governor to save it. 474 00:21:12,355 --> 00:21:15,525 Just outta curiosity, how, how I assume 475 00:21:15,525 --> 00:21:19,165 that $18 million took a long, took a while to build up. 476 00:21:19,165 --> 00:21:21,005 Right. It's not something over years. 477 00:21:22,195 --> 00:21:25,445 Yeah. And the council has set a, 478 00:21:26,905 --> 00:21:31,565 by their policy, a percentage of retained costs. 479 00:21:31,625 --> 00:21:35,085 So essentially what you do is you take the total tax levy 480 00:21:35,155 --> 00:21:38,765 from town plus school plus the county. 481 00:21:38,965 --> 00:21:40,805 I think we leave out the swept on that part of it. 482 00:21:41,185 --> 00:21:46,165 And we've determined that 9.5% is the retained percentage 483 00:21:46,165 --> 00:21:48,285 and that's just a, an accounting standard. 484 00:21:49,025 --> 00:21:50,565 You can take different standards. 485 00:21:50,565 --> 00:21:53,525 There's a range of like between five and 17%. 486 00:21:53,855 --> 00:21:56,165 We've talked on the town council level, do we want 487 00:21:56,165 --> 00:21:58,605 to increase that to 10, 10.5%? 488 00:21:59,405 --> 00:22:00,525 That's on the table. But 489 00:22:00,525 --> 00:22:02,205 that's a decision that they're going to make. 490 00:22:02,205 --> 00:22:04,685 But you're right, it, it's been a slow, you know, 491 00:22:04,685 --> 00:22:05,925 process to build up to that. 492 00:22:05,945 --> 00:22:08,845 And as the budgets have increased, what we've had 493 00:22:08,845 --> 00:22:11,165 to retain has also increased. 494 00:22:11,505 --> 00:22:12,365 Gotcha. Thank you. 495 00:22:16,315 --> 00:22:19,125 Okay, so we put in the agenda 496 00:22:20,185 --> 00:22:22,725 future legislation, state legislators. 497 00:22:22,865 --> 00:22:25,245 So if that's a topic that anybody wants 498 00:22:25,245 --> 00:22:27,005 to jump on, feel free. 499 00:22:27,305 --> 00:22:29,085 Can I speak to that before we get going? Yeah, yeah. 500 00:22:29,245 --> 00:22:31,485 I do wanna be mindful before we go down this road 501 00:22:31,835 --> 00:22:35,445 that there is a candidate there, there candidates present. 502 00:22:35,545 --> 00:22:39,365 It is election season and we do have to cross that line. 503 00:22:39,465 --> 00:22:40,805 We don't wanna cross that line 504 00:22:40,805 --> 00:22:42,245 to electioneering in this moment. 505 00:22:42,425 --> 00:22:44,685 So asking things about the future 506 00:22:44,865 --> 00:22:47,245 of legislation may not be appropriate at 507 00:22:47,245 --> 00:22:48,405 this moment in this meeting. 508 00:22:49,755 --> 00:22:53,165 Okay. So if barring, if there's anybody that we can, 509 00:22:53,165 --> 00:22:55,805 You can try to ask question, your answer may be we can't 510 00:22:55,805 --> 00:22:57,925 talk, like we shouldn't talk about that right now. 511 00:22:58,645 --> 00:23:00,765 I mean if the consensus is that there's really nothing 512 00:23:00,785 --> 00:23:02,485 to talk about here, that's okay too. 513 00:23:02,505 --> 00:23:04,365 We can move on to, to f 514 00:23:05,055 --> 00:23:06,055 Ready? 515 00:23:06,475 --> 00:23:10,245 Yeah. So Jane's just gonna give a brief overview of 516 00:23:10,315 --> 00:23:14,925 what we already know and what we are still to come 517 00:23:15,705 --> 00:23:16,885 in regards to adequacy. 518 00:23:17,385 --> 00:23:19,405 So when we're looking at adequacy, the, 519 00:23:20,455 --> 00:23:21,455 Sorry Jake. 520 00:23:21,455 --> 00:23:25,325 That's okay. The swept account is where we expected 521 00:23:25,465 --> 00:23:27,045 and adequacy actually came in 522 00:23:27,675 --> 00:23:29,285 just within a couple thousand dollars of 523 00:23:29,285 --> 00:23:30,365 what we had budgeted. 524 00:23:30,745 --> 00:23:34,405 Now it's still over 400,000 less 525 00:23:34,915 --> 00:23:36,725 than our current year, 526 00:23:37,305 --> 00:23:39,685 but it's pretty close to what we had estimated. 527 00:23:39,785 --> 00:23:44,165 So at least there's not a huge shift in in our estimations, 528 00:23:44,305 --> 00:23:47,605 but they just released that number just 529 00:23:48,215 --> 00:23:50,365 maybe two weeks ago, somewhere around there. 530 00:23:52,225 --> 00:23:54,365 So we're right on target where we thought we would be 531 00:23:55,955 --> 00:23:57,765 With The loss direction. 532 00:23:57,825 --> 00:24:01,365 Yes. Yeah. 533 00:24:01,385 --> 00:24:04,565 And are we anticipating it decreasing again next year 534 00:24:04,955 --> 00:24:06,125 with the way the formula is working? 535 00:24:06,145 --> 00:24:07,685 The whole harmless, right, the whole harmless end. 536 00:24:07,755 --> 00:24:10,005 Yeah, yeah. That's phasing out, chipping away at our numbers 537 00:24:11,185 --> 00:24:12,645 and I mean that is a, a cause 538 00:24:12,645 --> 00:24:14,925 to be concerned about this tax cap question the way 539 00:24:14,925 --> 00:24:16,005 that it's constituted 540 00:24:16,435 --> 00:24:19,525 because the, you know, there are two methods 541 00:24:19,525 --> 00:24:21,605 that were already in state law for a tax cap. 542 00:24:21,605 --> 00:24:22,845 You had a local tax cap 543 00:24:23,145 --> 00:24:24,805 and then a school district budget cap. 544 00:24:25,585 --> 00:24:26,805 So this question 545 00:24:26,805 --> 00:24:28,365 that's gonna be on the ballot November is 546 00:24:28,365 --> 00:24:29,405 gonna be a tax cap. 547 00:24:29,465 --> 00:24:32,165 So it would, you know, it would limit the tax assessment. 548 00:24:33,145 --> 00:24:35,365 We don't have a ton of funding sources. 549 00:24:35,585 --> 00:24:37,805 You know, the core of our funding is the local tax 550 00:24:37,805 --> 00:24:39,685 assessment and the state adequacy 551 00:24:40,185 --> 00:24:42,245 and there's a few other, you know, much smaller, 552 00:24:42,785 --> 00:24:43,845 you know, sources of revenue. 553 00:24:44,065 --> 00:24:45,285 But that's the bulk of it. 554 00:24:46,305 --> 00:24:50,725 And a lot of years when the, the state aid goes down, 555 00:24:51,065 --> 00:24:53,045 you're making up for that in a local assessment. 556 00:24:53,905 --> 00:24:57,125 So if we have a year possibly where we're anticipating 557 00:24:57,705 --> 00:24:59,285 the state aid going down 558 00:24:59,745 --> 00:25:02,765 and then we're also capping the assessment, you know, 559 00:25:02,765 --> 00:25:04,525 you're being squeezed from both sides. 560 00:25:06,465 --> 00:25:08,805 So just to give you an idea, as far as revenue 561 00:25:08,835 --> 00:25:10,565 that we receive from the district, there are really 562 00:25:11,285 --> 00:25:13,925 probably four areas where we would collect more than a 563 00:25:13,925 --> 00:25:15,045 hundred thousand in revenue. 564 00:25:15,045 --> 00:25:17,285 Revenue. And one of them would be our tuition 565 00:25:17,505 --> 00:25:18,645 for our preschoolers 566 00:25:19,625 --> 00:25:22,565 and also Medicaid reimbursement, 567 00:25:23,675 --> 00:25:28,205 special education aid reimbursement and adequacy. 568 00:25:28,815 --> 00:25:32,125 Those are our only areas of revenue for the district 569 00:25:32,145 --> 00:25:36,525 and local taxation swept and local taxation. 570 00:25:41,265 --> 00:25:43,205 One other thing that I think for, for the good 571 00:25:43,205 --> 00:25:47,085 of the public to talk about is one other avenue 572 00:25:47,785 --> 00:25:50,205 is looking at new growth within the community. 573 00:25:50,225 --> 00:25:51,765 One of the things that we continue 574 00:25:51,765 --> 00:25:54,685 to talk about on the town side is growth. 575 00:25:54,825 --> 00:25:59,685 And, and again, when you have more valuation in your system, 576 00:25:59,945 --> 00:26:02,445 you have more ability to meet the needs 577 00:26:02,625 --> 00:26:04,565 of the school and the town. 578 00:26:04,745 --> 00:26:07,285 So we've been growing quite well over 579 00:26:07,285 --> 00:26:08,405 the last couple of years. 580 00:26:09,345 --> 00:26:14,245 In the last year, the tax year 2025, we grew by $55 million. 581 00:26:14,305 --> 00:26:16,485 We had projected $20 million 582 00:26:16,745 --> 00:26:18,965 and we had a much better year than anticipated. 583 00:26:19,405 --> 00:26:22,125 I don't have the new numbers yet for 2026, 584 00:26:22,455 --> 00:26:24,125 those are gonna get a little skewed 585 00:26:24,125 --> 00:26:26,525 because we did a revaluation in 26. 586 00:26:26,625 --> 00:26:28,245 So most, for example, 587 00:26:28,245 --> 00:26:31,085 single family properties went up about 10% on 588 00:26:31,085 --> 00:26:32,165 their valuation. 589 00:26:32,505 --> 00:26:34,805 In theory that's just a balancing exercise 590 00:26:34,805 --> 00:26:37,085 between all the properties. 591 00:26:37,785 --> 00:26:42,325 But we were anticipating, again in our budget $55 million 592 00:26:42,385 --> 00:26:44,885 of new valuation. 593 00:26:44,985 --> 00:26:47,685 So prior to the revaluation 594 00:26:48,385 --> 00:26:53,285 we were at about $5.7 billion in valuation. 595 00:26:54,395 --> 00:26:56,205 That represents a 1% increase. 596 00:26:56,205 --> 00:26:57,245 Doesn't sound like a lot, but 597 00:26:57,245 --> 00:27:00,885 that does create some opportunities for meeting 598 00:27:01,605 --> 00:27:03,445 future cap meeting some of the needs 599 00:27:03,445 --> 00:27:04,965 that we have within the community. 600 00:27:05,785 --> 00:27:08,405 And that's the whole concept by behind some 601 00:27:08,405 --> 00:27:11,885 of the developments that you're seeing going on, you know, 602 00:27:13,365 --> 00:27:15,045 regardless of your opinion on four A 603 00:27:15,105 --> 00:27:17,445 and some of the other, you know, projects that we have, 604 00:27:17,445 --> 00:27:20,045 we've got a lot of construction going on in the community, 605 00:27:20,625 --> 00:27:23,605 but the whole idea behind this is the infrastructure's going 606 00:27:23,605 --> 00:27:26,685 to drive opportunities for economic development. 607 00:27:26,785 --> 00:27:28,965 So when you see an apartment complex 608 00:27:28,965 --> 00:27:31,405 that goes up on Rockingham Road, well 609 00:27:31,795 --> 00:27:35,045 that project is generating a loan $34 million in 610 00:27:35,105 --> 00:27:36,445 new valuation. 611 00:27:36,485 --> 00:27:39,125 I just looked it up, I'm not sure that's the full valuation 612 00:27:39,125 --> 00:27:40,765 because that was as of April 1st. 613 00:27:41,105 --> 00:27:42,725 But that's an example of a project 614 00:27:42,875 --> 00:27:46,205 that again will contribute to new valuation. 615 00:27:46,425 --> 00:27:48,845 So we're gonna continue to see these projects, 616 00:27:48,865 --> 00:27:51,205 the economic development staff, the planning staff, 617 00:27:51,225 --> 00:27:53,845 the planning board, everybody's been on board with trying 618 00:27:53,845 --> 00:27:56,725 to find the right type of development for the community. 619 00:27:56,945 --> 00:27:59,405 And I think that continued growth is going 620 00:27:59,405 --> 00:28:02,525 to give us opportunities to meet the needs of both 621 00:28:02,525 --> 00:28:04,525 of our, both of our entities. 622 00:28:04,625 --> 00:28:06,405 So, you know, that's just an important point 623 00:28:06,405 --> 00:28:10,165 to put out there regardless of the, you know, the tax cap 624 00:28:10,165 --> 00:28:11,885 and some of the other items that we talked about 625 00:28:11,885 --> 00:28:16,125 that math growth is gonna be a key component to continue 626 00:28:16,125 --> 00:28:18,125 to keep this wheel moving in the right direction. 627 00:28:20,345 --> 00:28:21,565 And of course we wanna make sure that 628 00:28:21,565 --> 00:28:24,845 that growth is balanced between residential, industrial, 629 00:28:25,015 --> 00:28:26,285 commercial uses. 630 00:28:26,355 --> 00:28:28,405 It's like, you know, if we focus too much on residential, 631 00:28:29,155 --> 00:28:31,325 more housing units there are in town, the more of a stressor 632 00:28:31,325 --> 00:28:32,765 that that is on the school district, 633 00:28:32,765 --> 00:28:34,925 the more money it costs to operate the schools. 634 00:28:35,345 --> 00:28:39,365 So really when you have more commercial, 635 00:28:39,515 --> 00:28:41,645 more industrial development that is going 636 00:28:41,645 --> 00:28:43,125 to benefit the taxpayers more 637 00:28:43,125 --> 00:28:45,685 because you know a commercial business isn't putting 638 00:28:45,685 --> 00:28:46,845 kids in the schools, right? 639 00:28:47,955 --> 00:28:49,245 Yeah, unfortunately I think the way 640 00:28:49,245 --> 00:28:54,085 that this town is developed, the land available 641 00:28:55,225 --> 00:28:57,205 is for what we view 642 00:28:57,205 --> 00:28:59,045 as industrial development just isn't there. 643 00:28:59,545 --> 00:29:00,765 And we have to look at, 644 00:29:00,875 --> 00:29:03,245 like I don't look at exit four A as a development project. 645 00:29:03,805 --> 00:29:06,165 I look at exit four A as a redevelopment project. 646 00:29:07,285 --> 00:29:10,005 There are some sections of land that 647 00:29:10,645 --> 00:29:13,645 hopefully we can develop commercially such as 648 00:29:15,425 --> 00:29:16,765 the stuff across 649 00:29:16,915 --> 00:29:20,925 from Rockingham Road. 650 00:29:20,925 --> 00:29:24,805 But just going north, there's a pumping station 651 00:29:25,565 --> 00:29:29,805 just north of clam aven that's, there's potential for there. 652 00:29:30,445 --> 00:29:31,445 I think what we really have 653 00:29:31,445 --> 00:29:33,405 to look at is not only develop a land, 654 00:29:34,105 --> 00:29:36,005 but we have to look at demographics 655 00:29:36,005 --> 00:29:40,765 because in essence we are, we've provided services to people 656 00:29:41,225 --> 00:29:44,125 and our primary cost is people, you know, 657 00:29:44,275 --> 00:29:48,165 municipal budget is 94 to 97% personnel cost. 658 00:29:48,935 --> 00:29:53,125 Yours is gotta be very similar. Yeah, we have other things. 659 00:29:53,125 --> 00:29:55,445 So when we have to look at our expenditures, we have 660 00:29:55,445 --> 00:29:58,005 to also look at the demographics. 661 00:29:58,635 --> 00:30:01,525 What is the population growth in town 662 00:30:01,545 --> 00:30:03,525 and what age groups our population? 663 00:30:03,525 --> 00:30:05,245 Because that's gonna drive where you have 664 00:30:05,245 --> 00:30:08,725 to target your services and we have to sort of predict those 665 00:30:09,985 --> 00:30:11,165 and look at them 666 00:30:13,635 --> 00:30:15,205 with a five year look ahead. 667 00:30:15,955 --> 00:30:19,005 Because if you, if you don't, 668 00:30:21,465 --> 00:30:22,725 you just get behind the curve. 669 00:30:23,105 --> 00:30:25,845 So if you're looking at a, at an aging population, 670 00:30:25,845 --> 00:30:27,525 then maybe we have to begin looking at 671 00:30:27,525 --> 00:30:29,245 what services we have to provide for that. 672 00:30:29,305 --> 00:30:31,325 If we're looking at now we're having influx 673 00:30:31,325 --> 00:30:33,125 of younger people, are they having two 674 00:30:33,125 --> 00:30:34,205 kids or are they just having one? 675 00:30:34,225 --> 00:30:37,445 Are they having three kids? And how is that going to find 676 00:30:37,985 --> 00:30:40,645 the population in five years when they're six? 677 00:30:43,145 --> 00:30:45,285 So sorry if I talk a lot. 678 00:30:47,905 --> 00:30:49,245 No, and I, and I think, you know, 679 00:30:49,305 --> 00:30:51,125 we all share the same goal in terms 680 00:30:51,125 --> 00:30:52,965 of responsible developments 681 00:30:53,385 --> 00:30:57,005 and we want items that are going to enhance this community 682 00:30:57,025 --> 00:30:58,205 for quality of life 683 00:30:58,305 --> 00:31:02,845 and also areas that it will create a good tax base for us. 684 00:31:02,865 --> 00:31:04,645 So again, it's been incremental. 685 00:31:04,785 --> 00:31:08,965 We haven't obviously had the same scope of development 686 00:31:08,965 --> 00:31:11,165 that you would see in London Dairy or Salem 687 00:31:11,165 --> 00:31:12,525 and I'm, I'm not sure sure that 688 00:31:12,525 --> 00:31:15,405 that would be necessarily an answer for dairy just 689 00:31:15,405 --> 00:31:18,405 because of the way that we have been built out in the past. 690 00:31:18,585 --> 00:31:21,405 But I think it's careful development. 691 00:31:21,605 --> 00:31:23,725 I think we are trying to target the right types 692 00:31:23,745 --> 00:31:24,845 of development 693 00:31:25,065 --> 00:31:28,285 and with that we are seeing, you know, incremental growth 694 00:31:28,285 --> 00:31:30,805 that we're gonna continue to, to prosper and, 695 00:31:30,805 --> 00:31:31,805 and move forward on. 696 00:31:32,065 --> 00:31:34,805 So I think that's something to put some confidence out there 697 00:31:34,825 --> 00:31:35,965 for the public on that. 698 00:31:37,435 --> 00:31:41,115 Alright, wanna talk about 699 00:31:41,265 --> 00:31:42,595 item G on the agenda? 700 00:31:42,775 --> 00:31:45,515 So town and school collective purchasing opportunities. 701 00:31:45,535 --> 00:31:49,275 So one of the things that when we talk about budgeting and, 702 00:31:49,275 --> 00:31:51,475 and what we do on the town and, 703 00:31:51,475 --> 00:31:54,755 and obviously I've coordinated with Jane on numerous years, 704 00:31:55,115 --> 00:31:57,195 numerous times on various projects and, 705 00:31:57,195 --> 00:32:00,795 and we talk often about, you know, various commodities and, 706 00:32:00,855 --> 00:32:03,235 and so one of the concepts that we've always gone 707 00:32:03,235 --> 00:32:05,515 with is averted costs, right? 708 00:32:05,655 --> 00:32:08,315 So some of the things you can't control, such as 709 00:32:08,835 --> 00:32:12,755 electricity costs, natural gas costs, fuel costs, 710 00:32:13,455 --> 00:32:15,475 but where we can, the town 711 00:32:15,655 --> 00:32:19,475 and school where possible have collaborated on these larger 712 00:32:19,845 --> 00:32:21,115 collective purchases. 713 00:32:21,255 --> 00:32:23,315 So we've always had a very long history 714 00:32:23,335 --> 00:32:25,235 of combining our electrical use 715 00:32:25,615 --> 00:32:29,795 and usually the, the answers to that had been, you know, 716 00:32:29,865 --> 00:32:31,995 we'd get a rate that was 7 cents 717 00:32:32,055 --> 00:32:34,435 and the market rate from Eversource was 9 cents. 718 00:32:34,435 --> 00:32:37,475 So you would be saving money by virtue of combining those 719 00:32:37,475 --> 00:32:39,245 and there was no impact to your service. 720 00:32:39,855 --> 00:32:42,005 We've done that on, on natural gas now 721 00:32:42,025 --> 00:32:43,725 for probably about 15 years. 722 00:32:43,985 --> 00:32:46,125 Matter of fact, back in the day the school district, 723 00:32:46,385 --> 00:32:49,125 how many gallons did, did you used to have a contract? 724 00:32:49,125 --> 00:32:53,285 We were up around 180,000 gallons a year for fuel, for oil. 725 00:32:53,385 --> 00:32:55,005 So imagine at $5 726 00:32:55,145 --> 00:32:56,765 and 50 cents a gallon 727 00:32:56,875 --> 00:33:00,125 what you'd be paying right now for oil, right? 728 00:33:00,595 --> 00:33:04,365 Instead we have a great, you converted over all 729 00:33:04,365 --> 00:33:06,685 of the buildings to natural gas where we could 730 00:33:07,465 --> 00:33:10,725 and those facilities are now burning natural gas. 731 00:33:11,005 --> 00:33:12,245 I believe the market rate 732 00:33:12,245 --> 00:33:15,365 for the supply this year on a three year contract combined 733 00:33:15,365 --> 00:33:17,965 with the town is 74 cents per therm. 734 00:33:18,585 --> 00:33:19,965 The rate that the 735 00:33:20,755 --> 00:33:24,445 default utility from U Liberty is a dollar 74, right? 736 00:33:24,635 --> 00:33:26,325 It's a dollar per therm. 737 00:33:26,765 --> 00:33:29,845 I think we burn combined about 80,000 thes per year. 738 00:33:29,845 --> 00:33:33,485 That's $80,000 that was averted that we don't have to spend 739 00:33:33,585 --> 00:33:34,805 and can be used elsewhere. 740 00:33:34,825 --> 00:33:36,805 So there's a number of stories like that 741 00:33:37,075 --> 00:33:39,045 that we continue to work together. 742 00:33:39,465 --> 00:33:42,405 We work hard to try to, to stretch every dollar 743 00:33:42,405 --> 00:33:45,845 that we can in these fuel commodities in a market where, 744 00:33:46,185 --> 00:33:48,085 you know, prices continue to grow. 745 00:33:48,665 --> 00:33:50,885 You know, we talked about heating oil on the Townside, 746 00:33:51,145 --> 00:33:53,725 we still have some facilities that we can't convert. 747 00:33:53,835 --> 00:33:55,405 It's a much smaller contract now. 748 00:33:55,865 --> 00:33:58,565 We locked in at $4 and 39 cents. 749 00:33:58,625 --> 00:34:00,245 So we're doing better than probably 750 00:34:00,245 --> 00:34:01,765 what the market's gonna be this summer. 751 00:34:02,055 --> 00:34:05,045 Again, those costs are things that we're not having to shell 752 00:34:05,045 --> 00:34:07,285 that money out and make concessions in other areas. 753 00:34:07,465 --> 00:34:11,005 So, you know, we've had a long history Jane and I 754 00:34:11,425 --> 00:34:13,285 and looking at, you know, ways 755 00:34:13,285 --> 00:34:17,045 that we can collaborate salt purchases looking at, you know, 756 00:34:17,485 --> 00:34:19,965 formally I think the, the school district used to go out 757 00:34:19,965 --> 00:34:21,965 and buy its own and paid more 758 00:34:21,965 --> 00:34:23,525 because it was a smaller contract. 759 00:34:23,625 --> 00:34:26,365 Now the trucks just come over, we fill 'em up and, 760 00:34:26,365 --> 00:34:29,205 and so I think there's been a long history of, 761 00:34:30,105 --> 00:34:33,445 of collaboration that maybe the story hasn't been told well 762 00:34:33,445 --> 00:34:35,725 enough, but I think we're gonna continue to do that, 763 00:34:36,505 --> 00:34:39,245 you know, where possible in many of those commodity areas. 764 00:34:39,505 --> 00:34:42,605 So just wanted to kind of put that out there as far as, 765 00:34:42,625 --> 00:34:44,965 you know, we are diligent about that. 766 00:34:45,065 --> 00:34:46,565 So Janie, do you have anything else you 767 00:34:46,565 --> 00:34:48,165 wanted to add on on that? No, 768 00:34:48,165 --> 00:34:49,725 And I think we looked at other areas too. 769 00:34:49,725 --> 00:34:51,925 Yeah. But the, the ones that 770 00:34:52,515 --> 00:34:54,605 made the most sense were the ones 771 00:34:54,605 --> 00:34:56,285 that you've mentioned mostly utilities. 772 00:34:56,985 --> 00:34:59,165 But we worked together on a lot of projects where we can, 773 00:35:00,385 --> 00:35:03,605 excuse me, we've called the town when we, if we needed help 774 00:35:03,605 --> 00:35:06,245 with equipment so the town's come over 775 00:35:06,245 --> 00:35:08,885 and whether it's digging out a hole 776 00:35:08,985 --> 00:35:12,845 for a pro maintenance project, it's a cost saver for us. 777 00:35:13,015 --> 00:35:14,765 We've been able to collaborate with the town. 778 00:35:15,985 --> 00:35:19,125 So vice versa, we've had a really good working relationship 779 00:35:19,225 --> 00:35:21,805 on trying to find any area for cost savings 780 00:35:23,905 --> 00:35:25,725 And you know, I think that's a credit to the people. 781 00:35:26,035 --> 00:35:28,725 It's a credit to you Jane, in terms of, of you know, 782 00:35:28,795 --> 00:35:30,245 your long tenure here and, 783 00:35:30,245 --> 00:35:32,125 and we've always had that great relationship. 784 00:35:32,225 --> 00:35:34,645 So I just wanna make sure that the public hears that 785 00:35:34,645 --> 00:35:37,045 that is something that, that goes on every day and, 786 00:35:37,150 --> 00:35:38,670 and there's always discussions about 787 00:35:39,105 --> 00:35:42,805 how do we save collectively money across the board 788 00:35:42,825 --> 00:35:45,245 and commodities utilities are, are one way that, 789 00:35:45,245 --> 00:35:47,085 that we have collaborated heavily over the 790 00:35:47,085 --> 00:35:48,285 past number of years. 791 00:35:48,465 --> 00:35:50,925 So, alright. Ask 792 00:35:50,925 --> 00:35:51,925 A quick question. 793 00:35:51,925 --> 00:35:53,325 Sure. So I know you guys are studying health 794 00:35:53,325 --> 00:35:54,405 insurance costs, which is great. 795 00:35:56,465 --> 00:35:59,565 One thing I'm not up on and I don't have the answer for, 796 00:35:59,565 --> 00:36:01,325 and maybe you guys do when it comes 797 00:36:01,325 --> 00:36:02,965 to our collective bargaining agreements, 798 00:36:03,785 --> 00:36:05,285 can you switch out health insurance 799 00:36:05,285 --> 00:36:06,725 during a bargaining agreement as long 800 00:36:06,725 --> 00:36:09,885 as you provide the same services and same employee cost? 801 00:36:10,785 --> 00:36:12,605 Or is that something you have to work? 802 00:36:12,745 --> 00:36:15,165 Is it a rope have moved 803 00:36:15,165 --> 00:36:16,165 Through? 804 00:36:16,165 --> 00:36:18,365 So it's, it's probably, it's a complicated question. 805 00:36:18,565 --> 00:36:20,525 I think it would vary between the unit, 806 00:36:20,665 --> 00:36:24,685 but typically the asset we put together 807 00:36:24,835 --> 00:36:28,125 with Health trust is what if we took the school district 808 00:36:28,125 --> 00:36:30,645 and the town and just give us a combined number. 809 00:36:30,745 --> 00:36:33,565 So what I've been told is October 7th is the date 810 00:36:33,565 --> 00:36:34,885 that we are gonna see the release 811 00:36:34,885 --> 00:36:35,965 of the health trust numbers, 812 00:36:37,185 --> 00:36:38,725 and then within probably 10 days 813 00:36:38,725 --> 00:36:40,765 after that we'll get a what if it's, 814 00:36:40,765 --> 00:36:42,485 it's just a pricing quote that we have. 815 00:36:43,635 --> 00:36:46,445 History has kind of proven, not dairy specifically, 816 00:36:46,445 --> 00:36:50,045 but across the state when when bargaining units are faced 817 00:36:50,045 --> 00:36:52,005 with any changes to their plan 818 00:36:52,075 --> 00:36:53,605 that they feel are substantive, 819 00:36:53,635 --> 00:36:55,765 that puts them into the impact bargaining. 820 00:36:55,765 --> 00:36:58,405 So you might have to talk to them on that 821 00:36:59,025 --> 00:37:00,645 if you can simply just do 822 00:37:00,645 --> 00:37:03,925 what we're asking is if the school district keeps theirs 823 00:37:03,925 --> 00:37:06,405 and the town keeps theirs, does that improve the pricing 824 00:37:06,585 --> 00:37:08,765 for either or both or not at all? 825 00:37:08,765 --> 00:37:10,925 So that's really the question we've tasked them with. 826 00:37:11,065 --> 00:37:12,445 So we didn't really get into the nuts 827 00:37:12,445 --> 00:37:14,285 and bolts of let's, you know, 828 00:37:14,475 --> 00:37:16,245 eliminate this prescription drug, 829 00:37:16,295 --> 00:37:17,725 let's eliminate that service. 830 00:37:18,075 --> 00:37:19,685 That wasn't really what the ask was. 831 00:37:19,805 --> 00:37:21,805 I mean, that's a, a larger question maybe 832 00:37:21,805 --> 00:37:23,805 that school district would handle on its own 833 00:37:23,805 --> 00:37:25,405 and the town would handle on its own. 834 00:37:25,585 --> 00:37:29,845 But from a pricing exercise, it's just current situation. 835 00:37:30,475 --> 00:37:32,325 I've been on that side of where I have both 836 00:37:33,145 --> 00:37:35,205 worked on changing health insurance while 837 00:37:35,205 --> 00:37:37,965 as a union member town wide. 838 00:37:37,985 --> 00:37:40,165 And this was back in 1995. 839 00:37:40,185 --> 00:37:44,325 And and the best way to do that is you have to get 840 00:37:44,955 --> 00:37:48,205 your union involved at ground zero. 841 00:37:49,665 --> 00:37:51,605 If you're looking at doing a major change. 842 00:37:51,625 --> 00:37:54,325 And a major change, for instance, could be going 843 00:37:54,325 --> 00:37:56,285 with a self-funded health insurance 844 00:37:56,495 --> 00:38:00,005 where you have a third party administrator, you have a, 845 00:38:00,285 --> 00:38:02,125 a gap insurance or umbrella insurance 846 00:38:02,125 --> 00:38:04,885 that covers both major personal expenditures 847 00:38:05,105 --> 00:38:07,205 and major costs to there. 848 00:38:07,465 --> 00:38:10,125 But you still need to get your employees involved 849 00:38:12,545 --> 00:38:13,605 and, you know, 850 00:38:13,605 --> 00:38:15,645 health insurance is probably your second largest 851 00:38:16,275 --> 00:38:17,685 expenditure next to wages. 852 00:38:18,065 --> 00:38:20,565 So it's, it's a way 853 00:38:20,565 --> 00:38:22,685 that you can have a real positive impact in your budget, 854 00:38:23,345 --> 00:38:26,285 but the, the hidden cost is vacancies. 855 00:38:26,945 --> 00:38:29,165 So if you're got all these vacancies 856 00:38:29,165 --> 00:38:30,525 because people says, I don't want to go there 857 00:38:30,525 --> 00:38:31,765 because their benefits suck, 858 00:38:33,955 --> 00:38:35,885 that drives up costs on another end. 859 00:38:35,885 --> 00:38:38,125 So it's a really fine balance, 860 00:38:38,665 --> 00:38:42,445 but the best way is get, get you, they're, you're, 861 00:38:43,275 --> 00:38:46,205 they're vested in having as good a health plan 862 00:38:46,205 --> 00:38:49,125 as they can get, but they're also invested in the balance 863 00:38:49,825 --> 00:38:53,085 of, well, if I have the Cadillac health plan, 864 00:38:53,965 --> 00:38:55,445 I can only afford a fiat. 865 00:39:01,625 --> 00:39:02,785 I hear you. Yeah, Thank you. 866 00:39:02,815 --> 00:39:05,185 Yeah, we, we had some rates last year that 867 00:39:05,485 --> 00:39:08,545 for a family plan, total cost employer 868 00:39:08,605 --> 00:39:13,225 and employees share that are approaching $50,000 per year. 869 00:39:14,045 --> 00:39:15,505 That's unbelievable. 870 00:39:15,505 --> 00:39:17,025 We're, we're trying our best to try 871 00:39:17,025 --> 00:39:19,305 to mitigate those cost increases, 872 00:39:19,365 --> 00:39:22,465 but I, I don't know that there's any easy fix 873 00:39:22,605 --> 00:39:24,505 to reducing health costs. 874 00:39:24,605 --> 00:39:26,785 It might be a function of just trying to, to 875 00:39:27,335 --> 00:39:30,385 slow down the rate of increase on, on that going forward. 876 00:39:30,565 --> 00:39:33,345 But we'll have a better idea at least on the townside 877 00:39:33,345 --> 00:39:35,345 October 7th when they release those rates. 878 00:39:35,405 --> 00:39:37,905 And, and that'll obviously roll us into some 879 00:39:37,905 --> 00:39:39,945 of the other calculations that we need to have 880 00:39:40,405 --> 00:39:43,065 as we go into our next fiscal 28 budget. 881 00:39:46,095 --> 00:39:48,585 Okay. All right. 882 00:39:48,585 --> 00:39:51,185 So the last item on the agenda that we felt was 883 00:39:52,185 --> 00:39:54,865 relevant was other topics, open discussion. 884 00:39:54,925 --> 00:39:58,465 So this is an opportunity for anybody to, 885 00:39:59,285 --> 00:40:01,865 to throw out there any questions, any statements 886 00:40:01,865 --> 00:40:03,665 that they'd like to make for both sides and, 887 00:40:03,665 --> 00:40:05,905 and obviously, you know, I think we've covered a lot 888 00:40:05,905 --> 00:40:08,785 of various topics tonight on the financial side. 889 00:40:12,085 --> 00:40:14,865 I'm just, can I go briefly? 890 00:40:15,105 --> 00:40:19,385 I, I just want to thank the dairy police department 891 00:40:20,365 --> 00:40:22,105 in their partnership over the past 892 00:40:22,215 --> 00:40:23,505 15 months that I've been here. 893 00:40:23,505 --> 00:40:27,465 Now it's been really phenomenal to work 894 00:40:27,465 --> 00:40:30,665 with Chief Foli and, you know, captain Breen there, 895 00:40:30,805 --> 00:40:33,065 but they've been so responsive 896 00:40:33,065 --> 00:40:35,145 and I know they're dealing with staffing challenges, which, 897 00:40:35,235 --> 00:40:36,665 which then impacts our s 898 00:40:36,665 --> 00:40:38,825 so SROs we do not have any currently, 899 00:40:39,605 --> 00:40:42,465 but at the same time they've been doing drive-bys 900 00:40:42,465 --> 00:40:43,785 and walkthroughs regularly, 901 00:40:43,965 --> 00:40:46,985 so it doesn't feel like we're missing a beat. 902 00:40:48,465 --> 00:40:52,145 I just think that their responses to our students 903 00:40:52,365 --> 00:40:53,905 and our families, the help that they've 904 00:40:54,105 --> 00:40:57,105 provided really is another avenue of showing partnership 905 00:40:57,825 --> 00:40:59,225 between the town and the schools. 906 00:41:00,565 --> 00:41:03,585 And I just want to thank them for, for all the time 907 00:41:03,585 --> 00:41:05,065 and efforts that they put in 908 00:41:05,085 --> 00:41:06,345 for our families and our students. 909 00:41:06,485 --> 00:41:07,485 So 910 00:41:11,345 --> 00:41:13,025 I, I just wanna stress that I think one 911 00:41:13,025 --> 00:41:15,265 of the most important things that the public should be aware 912 00:41:15,265 --> 00:41:17,945 of about is, is the coordination we try 913 00:41:17,945 --> 00:41:19,665 and keep between the town 914 00:41:19,685 --> 00:41:22,105 and the school district as far as all the, 915 00:41:22,205 --> 00:41:23,745 the huge capital projects. 916 00:41:24,045 --> 00:41:25,785 You know, labor costs are one thing, 917 00:41:25,785 --> 00:41:28,305 but we know that the capital projects are the ones 918 00:41:28,305 --> 00:41:30,425 that always make the news 919 00:41:30,425 --> 00:41:33,025 because monetarily they're just, 920 00:41:33,110 --> 00:41:34,445 just big elephants in the room. 921 00:41:34,665 --> 00:41:35,685 And the fact that we try 922 00:41:35,685 --> 00:41:37,805 and coordinate 'em so that you are not trying 923 00:41:37,805 --> 00:41:40,405 to build a new school at the same time we're gonna build a 924 00:41:40,405 --> 00:41:41,965 police station and oh by the way, 925 00:41:41,965 --> 00:41:43,885 your taxes just want up $10 a piece. 926 00:41:43,905 --> 00:41:47,525 You know, I, I think that coordination is, is a huge, 927 00:41:47,555 --> 00:41:48,565 huge step in the public. 928 00:41:48,565 --> 00:41:49,565 Should be aware of it. 929 00:41:58,835 --> 00:42:00,555 I actually, the Only other thing I would say is, 930 00:42:01,935 --> 00:42:03,995 you know, we have our budget process coming up in the 931 00:42:03,995 --> 00:42:05,035 next month or so. 932 00:42:05,185 --> 00:42:08,195 Obviously people here listen online, they should watch 933 00:42:08,195 --> 00:42:11,155 that process 'cause more feedback that we get 934 00:42:12,135 --> 00:42:13,595 and it, I think 935 00:42:13,595 --> 00:42:15,275 for some people it would be an eye-opening experience of 936 00:42:15,275 --> 00:42:18,035 what we can actually mitigate 937 00:42:18,415 --> 00:42:22,195 and do to try to keep the numbers as manageable as possible 938 00:42:22,815 --> 00:42:26,995 and, you know, just watch and, and share ideas with us. 939 00:42:28,995 --> 00:42:32,875 'cause there's a very small pie that we can actually affect 940 00:42:33,515 --> 00:42:36,555 when it comes to the budget process, especially 941 00:42:36,555 --> 00:42:37,715 with health insurance labor 942 00:42:37,895 --> 00:42:41,275 and all that kind of stuff that, you know, is scheduled 943 00:42:41,275 --> 00:42:42,715 to go up at high numbers. 944 00:42:43,055 --> 00:42:44,835 That's all I gotta say about that. It's just something 945 00:42:44,835 --> 00:42:46,155 that I would hope people would do. 946 00:42:46,355 --> 00:42:49,395 'cause you know, the things you read, things you hear, 947 00:42:49,665 --> 00:42:53,075 even when you read 1300 and they talk about tax cap 948 00:42:53,075 --> 00:42:55,595 and there's a line there that says this will, 949 00:42:55,595 --> 00:42:58,675 this will not affect classroom 950 00:42:59,145 --> 00:43:00,915 classroom expenses. 951 00:43:01,595 --> 00:43:04,555 I don't know how you can make that claim when, if you don't. 952 00:43:04,875 --> 00:43:06,355 I just, if you've watched a budget process, 953 00:43:06,355 --> 00:43:07,555 you can't make that claim. 954 00:43:07,895 --> 00:43:10,435 And I, and I, and I wonder when people talk about it like 955 00:43:10,435 --> 00:43:14,035 that, I just don't know how that is a viable point 956 00:43:14,055 --> 00:43:15,835 of, you know, point to make. 957 00:43:15,935 --> 00:43:18,515 So I encourage everyone to, you know, run in for office 958 00:43:19,475 --> 00:43:21,355 families, whatever, just watch the process 959 00:43:21,455 --> 00:43:23,035 and give any input that you have. 960 00:43:24,415 --> 00:43:26,595 To that point too, you know, you guys are, you know, 961 00:43:26,595 --> 00:43:28,835 under a charter and, and you set your budget. 962 00:43:29,535 --> 00:43:31,555 All the school board does is we propose a budget 963 00:43:32,575 --> 00:43:34,395 and then, you know, we have a, 964 00:43:34,595 --> 00:43:36,315 there's a deliberative session where 965 00:43:37,875 --> 00:43:38,955 everyone in town can come and 966 00:43:38,955 --> 00:43:39,995 voice their opinion on the budget. 967 00:43:40,215 --> 00:43:42,035 The people in that room get to vote on 968 00:43:42,035 --> 00:43:43,035 what the budget is gonna be. 969 00:43:43,175 --> 00:43:44,955 You know, anyone in that room can propose 970 00:43:45,995 --> 00:43:47,315 a change to what we proposed. 971 00:43:47,375 --> 00:43:50,675 And if the people in the room are, a majority of them agree 972 00:43:50,675 --> 00:43:52,675 with that, then that's what goes to the ballot. 973 00:43:53,495 --> 00:43:56,635 And then once something comes outta that room 974 00:43:56,655 --> 00:43:58,435 and gets on the ballot, then you have another chance 975 00:43:58,455 --> 00:44:00,075 to vote on that or the default budget. 976 00:44:00,255 --> 00:44:03,715 So I would especially encourage, you know, everyone in town 977 00:44:03,715 --> 00:44:05,155 to pay attention to the budget process 978 00:44:05,185 --> 00:44:06,595 because it's your budget. 979 00:44:09,765 --> 00:44:13,375 Yeah. I think people forget that 94 to 97% 980 00:44:13,375 --> 00:44:16,735 of our budgets right now are all personnel costs. 981 00:44:17,285 --> 00:44:18,375 Doesn't leave much room. 982 00:44:18,875 --> 00:44:21,935 So that if you want to say, oh, we need to cut, cut here, 983 00:44:21,955 --> 00:44:23,655 cut there, you have to ask, okay, 984 00:44:24,685 --> 00:44:25,895 what personnel are you cutting? 985 00:44:25,895 --> 00:44:27,095 What services are you cutting? 986 00:44:28,205 --> 00:44:30,175 Yeah. Yeah. I mean that's absolutely right. 987 00:44:30,175 --> 00:44:32,725 You know, I mean on our, our side that's, 988 00:44:32,725 --> 00:44:33,925 those are the big movers, right? 989 00:44:34,235 --> 00:44:35,685 Personnel and benefits. 990 00:44:36,945 --> 00:44:39,565 You know, we can cut these little things that are, you know, 991 00:44:39,565 --> 00:44:40,845 they're not gonna have a big impact. 992 00:44:40,865 --> 00:44:42,405 You know, if you have to make a big cut, 993 00:44:43,385 --> 00:44:44,405 that's the bulk of it. 994 00:44:45,635 --> 00:44:46,845 Yeah. I think to the point too, 995 00:44:46,955 --> 00:44:49,325 when Jane mentioned the adequacy numbers, you know, 996 00:44:49,325 --> 00:44:52,165 we lost half million dollars coming into this fiscal year. 997 00:44:52,265 --> 00:44:55,045 So, you know, you get costs going up whatever it is, three, 998 00:44:55,045 --> 00:44:57,765 four, 5% and you lose half a million dollars on, you know, 999 00:44:57,795 --> 00:45:00,325 it's just one more thing that you have to take people 1000 00:45:00,325 --> 00:45:02,245 that need to understand and take in consideration. 1001 00:45:07,235 --> 00:45:10,205 Okay. So I think those are all the items 1002 00:45:10,275 --> 00:45:13,805 that we had at least developed on our agenda. 1003 00:45:14,265 --> 00:45:16,445 So I think for purposes of the council, 1004 00:45:16,445 --> 00:45:19,085 because we are still in to aurn. 1005 00:45:19,185 --> 00:45:22,005 Yep. So other than that, I guess we'll hand it over 1006 00:45:22,005 --> 00:45:23,565 to Aaron. 1007 00:45:25,025 --> 00:45:26,405 So from the town council side, 1008 00:45:26,465 --> 00:45:27,805 is there a motion to adjourn? 1009 00:45:27,895 --> 00:45:30,365 There is a motion to adjourn. My favorite motion. 1010 00:45:31,705 --> 00:45:33,365 All right. We have a motion by Council Mills 1011 00:45:33,365 --> 00:45:35,685 and a a second by Councilor Foote. 1012 00:45:36,065 --> 00:45:38,445 And we have Councilor Healy remote. 1013 00:45:38,445 --> 00:45:39,645 So we have to seek a roll call vote. 1014 00:45:39,645 --> 00:45:42,485 So I'll start with Councilor Flood? Yes. Councilor Foote. 1015 00:45:42,585 --> 00:45:45,365 Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes. Councilor Mills? Yes. 1016 00:45:45,365 --> 00:45:48,085 Councilor Webb? Yes. Councilor Healy. Are you still there? 1017 00:45:50,435 --> 00:45:53,005 Sure. If he's able to. All right. 1018 00:45:53,005 --> 00:45:54,965 Well, we've got a majority. So council votes? 1019 00:45:55,065 --> 00:45:56,645 Yes, I got chair votes. Yes. 1020 00:45:56,645 --> 00:45:58,565 And council is adjourned. Thank you everybody. 1021 00:45:59,025 --> 00:46:01,045 All right. For the school board, we will be in recess 1022 00:46:01,055 --> 00:46:03,525 until six 30 until we begin our regular meeting.