Meeting Minutes of October 16, 2006

Minutes for Amherst School Committee meeting of October 16, 2006

Joint meeting with Select Board, Library Trustees, and Finance Committee

Town Room, AmherstTown Hall

Present: Alisa Brewer                                        Select Board members         

Tom Flittie                                           Finance Committee members

Andy Churchill, chair                          Library trustees

Elaine Brighty                                      Larry Schafer, Town Manager

Jere Hochman, Superintendent            John Musante, Town Finance Director

Press and public

Absent: Sonia Correa Pope                  

Mr. Churchill called the School Committee meeting to order at 7:04. 

The purpose of the meeting was for all four major
boards and committees to hear Mr. Musante’s preliminary financial
projections for FY08 budget planning. 

Mr. Musante provided a packet of information to
accompany his talk, and he explained the assumptions about revenue and
expenditures that he had built into his model.  The resulting
projection for Amherst produced a deficit of 3.3 million dollars.  He
ended with a list of options for various revenue and expenditure
categories which could change the FY08 financial picture.

Mr. Kusner, a member of the Amherst Select Board,
pointed out the inherent conflict between a tax rate limited to annual
increases of 2 1/2 and inflation which increases costs faster than
revenue.  He concluded that this can result in the need for an override
at some point in the future.

Mr. Musante reminded people that a newly elected
governor has until February 21 to present his proposed budget, a month
later than usual.  He also stated that even if local aid from the state
increased by the full 13% that some groups have proposed, it would be
insufficient to cover our entire fiscal problem.

The motion to adjourn the School Committee
meeting was made by Ms. Brighty and seconded by Mr. Flittie.  The vote
was unanimous.

The Amherst School Committee adjourned at 7:55

submitted by Elaine Brighty