TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF FINANCE
WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 24, 2003
PRESENT: Michael Guarco, Chairman; Gordon Bischoff, Christopher Comer, Richard O’Brien, Alfred Wilke, and Francis Brady
Chairman Michael Guarco called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
The Intra-Town Cooperative Advisory Committee has asked for ideas from the Board of Finance as to issues they feel would improve the town and school departments working more efficiently together.
Discussion of Items for the Intra-Town Cooperative Committee
Miscellaneous comments:
a. Mr. Bischoff commented that he feels the Board of Finance shouldn’t just try to save money. The purpose of the Committee is to improve operations.
b. Don’t be constrained by past decisions in order to make a long-term change for the better
Suggested Items:
1. Establish one Fiscal Office for the town and school that could be a Board of Finance resource. This would handle budget and payroll.
2. Have single control over all playing fields in town for upkeep and maintenance.
3. Control maintenance of all buildings, town facilities, athletic field, etc.
4. Storage of equipment. Duplication of Town/BOE equipment.
5. Technology – combine: Internet, web sites, phone systems for efficiency. Have all areas work together with technology to cut out unnecessary steps in some procedures.
6. Start joint effort to lobby for impact taxes.
7. Dealing with Community Conversations – three Boards get together annually/bi-annually. Still need to complete the process from prior Community Conversations meeting. All new residents – set up a “Welcome to Granby” meeting, explaining how the town works.
8. Library systems (GPL & Cossitt) and school systems should work closer together than it appears they do.
9. Budget process improvement – go to a 2-year budget cycle. This may require a change in Statute.
10. Defined reporting process. When an item has been by the Board of Selectmen, other boards should be kept informed.
11. Portion of Small Capital Funds could be used to make transitions easier on operating budget.
Preliminary Discussion of Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Guidelines
Mr. O’Brien stated that the finance model LT 2004-1 shows for the next four years a 5.9% mill rate increase. The Board of Finance indicated the public won’t look on the increase favorably and steps should be taken to try and keep the mill rate increase below 5%.
A discussion was held regarding the budget guideline process and the finance model LT 2004-1. Some highlights were:
· Because of the fiscal condition of the state and our own budget concerns, a priority list is very important for the upcoming fiscal year.
· If given a 4 or 5% guideline to the boards, a partial priority list would be unacceptable. We need to know what items drive the budget to increase.
· Some thoughts are to give a 0% increase to the budget to the boards. Ask for a priority list of what else is needed that the proposed new tax rate increase could afford.
· Not all members seem to be in agreement with a 0% tax increase idea. If the Board of Finance sets the increase in the budget guideline for the boards at 3 or 4% then that’s where they need to be in order to receive reasonable expectations from the operating boards.
· Look at known increases on the Revenue side.
· It was noted that the Board of Finance reviewed contracts regarding increases, steps, and other issues as related to the budget.
· It was questioned if the surrounding towns also do the budget process at the same time frame as Granby. Is there a better time to do this, when a critical mass of information has been collected?
Chairman Guarco reviewed the reasons for “Guidelines” and the need for them. Board of Finance is two months ahead of setting a guideline for the budget. It was noted that the public input doesn’t usually come until close to the end of the budget process. The Board indicated that there is a need to see constraints from both boards by presenting reasonable numbers regarding the Plus One Budget. It would be nice to receive the Plus One Budget from both boards by December 19th.
CONFIRM DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was determined that the workshop scheduled for December 8th at 6:30 p.m. is no longer necessary. The next regular meeting of the Board of Finance is scheduled for Monday, December 8, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. in the Police Department Community Room.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting ended at 9:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Christian
Acting Recording Secretary
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