It starts here (scan up to follow the process) and end at the new cafeteria in Weston High School (above, right) Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at 8pm.  Other than Lachat Education Center, issues before the Town were:  high school auditorium linked to TOTAL roof repair ("What is the significance of it being called 'partial'?");  Citizen of the Year Lyette (Ms. EMT and Memorial Day Parade organizer for WVFD);  400 chairs set out for ATBM and most of far side of room emprt (above right).

 FY07-08 here;
BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS SCHEDULE:
We are done...or are we?  About 250 residents met for ATBM in the W.H.S. cafeteria.  Lachat Education Center item in Capital Budget ($450,000) pared to ZERO.  Some question re:  how it is legal to do this, but ATBM voters were sure what they wanted...and they didn't want this!  Where does this project go from here?  Major questions on other items were made by Westonites who were lawyers (or sounded like lawyers).  Our pictures highlight the event, including Capital Budget item on "Partial Roof Replacement" question, Citizen of the Year award, empty section of the cafeteria...

 ATBM Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 8pm at Weston High School CAFETERIA (above, center):  blow by blow, the legal notice, final result (mil rate, %change);
Fiscal 2006-2007 schedule (rec'd at Board of Finance 11-10-05)



FY06-07

CAPITAL BUDGET DRAWS FIRE.."Deliberation" meeting took place Thursday April 6th in the Town Hall Meeting Room.
Above, at left, former members of the Board of Education call for immediate repair to high school roof;  at right, speaker against Lachat Conservation Center proposal (withdrawn from Planning and Zoning earlier last year) calls for movement against Capital Budget item funding "Lachat Center."   About 100 or so Westonites show up for Board of Finance Public Hearing on the Budget FY'07.  April 6th the Board of Finance deliberated and cut $220,000 from Education budget, did not address the high school roof and we are not sure what they did re:  other Capital Projects (still must listen to tape).

 LAST STOP BEFORE ATBM ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19 (8p.m., W.H.S.)...the Board of Finance Public Hearing;
The Board of Finance Public Hearing April 4, 2006 on the 2006-2007 budget lasted 90 minutes and for the first time in memory, more speakers addressed the Town side of the budget than the Board of Education's budget!  Thanks to the Lachat Project's opponents, the Board of Education had an easy time.

There were few interested in commenting on the School Budget of $40,271,557.  Instead, the bulk of the speakers were intent upon speaking up against $450,000 for a Nature Conservancy-Lachat Center capital budget item.  A footnote in the budget packet distributed says "Amount ($450,000) presented is an existing loan repayment obligation resulting from prior Town Meeting appropriation."

Regarding the Lachat item in the Capital Budget, any number of complaints were registered - but the tone of the complaints were not as sharply phrased as in the past.  "About Town" audiotaped the meeting for the FORUM and took pictures for the record of all speakers.  Not everyone who spoke on this item was in agreeent in opposition.

On the way to ATBM...
A visit to the Board of Finance for the Board of Selectmen's budget, Debt Servcie and Capital PLUS the really big one, the Board of Education Budget...

 Monday evening, February 13, 2006, 7:45PM saw some criticisms of accounting techniques, and two "standing O's" for Town Road crew!!!
Wednesday was review of the Board of Education budget for 2006-2007.  "About Town" attended first part of Board of Education presentation and was impressed with p[resentation by Chair. and Superintendent - as well as questions from the Board of Finance members!
NESDEC ENROLLMENT HISTORY AND PROJECTIONS (Report to the Weston Board of Education, Nov. 21, 2005)

The two tables above, from NESDEC report, were part of the presentation by the Board of Education to the Board of Finance on Wednesday, February 15, 2006.

Selectmen send $58.47-million budget plan to finance board
FORUM
By BRIAN GIOIELE
Feb 3, 2006

The Board of Finance will be examining a proposed 2006-07 budget that calls for a 7.07% increase in the total net budget, a jump of some $3,652,147 over the current year’s budget.
 
The Board of Selectmen Thursday, Feb. 2, voted to submit both the first selectmen’s budget (proposed at $9,854,191, a 5.24% hike from this year) and the Board of Education’s number ($40,271,557, or 5.84% more than this year) as originally recommended.
 
The board also approved a capital budget proposal, which stands at $1,773,180 — a 149.88% jump over the current year. The original capital improvement request was reduced by $450,000, at the recommendation of the Capital Advisory Committee, with five school board items removed from the original list.
 
With debt service, the total gross budget stands at $58,473,871. Minus revenues, the net budget, at present, is $55,281,402. When factoring in the grand list, which will enjoy a 2.28% increase ($2,398,760,613 to $2,453,452,355), the mill rate is expected to rise 4.68% to 23.09 mills.
 
These budgets will be reviewed by the Board of Finance next week.
 
Within the capital budget, the school items that remain are work on the high school roof ($300,000), paving at the high school and middle school ($100,000) and a curtain drain project at Hurlbutt Elementary School’s East House ($50,000).
 
The school items removed from the capital improvement request list were front stair replacement at the middle school ($100,000), middle school asbestos abatement ($100,000), an electrical system upgrade and middle school window replacement, valued at $50,000 each, and replacement of the Hurlbutt North House windows, valued at $150,000.

Our report here:

FIRST SELECTMAN'S BUDGET REVIEW COMPLETED;  Board of Selectmen votes approval of this as well as Capital and Debt Service Budgets and compliments Board of Education budget...after reviewing Board of Education and Capital budgets, more work to be done re:  high school roof replacement - where to find the $1.6 to %2 million needed for this big project?  So no changes in numbers below for Town or School Budget FY2007.




No changes to First Selectman's Budget - this is now "The Board of Selectmen's" Budget.





Board of Education trims recommendation to 5.84% increase ($40.3 million) at January 23, 2006 meeting;  presents this proposed budget to Board of Finance Wednesday, February 15, 2006.



Below please find the requests from the Superintendent to the Board of Education.


Special Board of Education Meetings/Budget Workshops 2006 (Preliminary numbers above--will change as workshops, Board consideration/public input/remainder of Budget Process has its effect on bottom line);
Monday. January 9, 2006, 7pm, Town Hall Meeting Room - Agenda (#1)
 Thursday, January 12, 2006, 7pm, Town Hall Meeting Room - Agenda (#2)
 Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 7pm, Town Library - Agenda (#3)

And for some history...
A.T.B.M. WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2005, 8pm, WHS GYM
Please remember that this is a WEBSITE for "About Town" - we like to think we are accurate, BUT NOTHING HERE IS OFFICIAL!
A record short ATBM - three people asked 4 questions (and one person tried to cut the budget at the bottom line [not legal]) - moderator remarked that she would get home in time to surprise her children!


Budget History:
Source is Town of Weston published data, including summaries in tax bills or in ATBM handouts...or at meetings.

Town of Weston budget history FY 03,04,05'06...in dollars by fiscal year.
 

FY03
FY04
FY05
FY05(forecast)
FY 06(OK'd, Board of Finance,3/31)
$change05-06
%change05-06
Board of Selectmen
7,883,011
8,480,464
8,902,573
 8,933,278
9,304,870
402,297
4.52%
Board of Education
31,360,245
33,011,995
34,636,376
 34,636,376
38,049,656
3,413,280
9.85%
Capital Improvements
1,221,051
1,482,510
2,156,000
 1,993,500
709,600
(1,283,900)
-64.40%
DEBT service
2,229,488
3,127,536
3,715,045
3,711,740
6,408,093
2,693,048
72.49%
Total gross budget
42,693,795
46,102,505
49,247,494
 49,247,894
54,472,219
5,224,725
10.61%
LESS revenues
2,665,983
2,673,062
2,699,575
 3,365,526
2,767,392
67,817
2.51%
Total net budget
40,027,812
43,429,443
46,547,919
 45,909,368
51,704,827
5,156,908
11.08%
Grand List
1,743,222,777
1,780,047,085
2,355,051,040
2,355,051.040
2,399,797.010
 44,745,970
1.9%
Mill rate 97.6%
collection rate
23.30
25.00
20.25
 N/A
22.075
 1.824
9.0%
( )=minus

Historical perspective:
TAX BILL INCREASES FY00 (1999-2000) and FY01 (2000-2001);  figures for FY02 come from handout at 2002 PUBLIC HEARING OF BOARD OF FINANCE:
The following letter is always included with Weston tax bills sent in June:

"The enlosed tax bill is based upon the following approved town budget for fiscal year..." and below please find some history.

THE TOWN OF WESTON BUDGET HISTORY FOR FY02...
Board of Selectmen     $  7,343,974
Board of Education      $30,606,368
Capital Improvement    $    736,655
Debt Service              $  1,993,425
Total Gross Budget      $40,680,422
Less Revenues            $ 3,335,817
Total Net Budget         $37,679,422
Grand List               $1,714,880,274
MILL RATE@98% COLLECTION RATE - 22.42

WHAT CAME IN YOUR TAX BILL FOR PART ONE OF FY01...

BOARD OF SELECTMEN  $    7,121,760
BOARD OF EDUCATION  $  27,951,681
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT $      860,833
DEBT SERVICE              $   2,187,113
GROSS BUDGET            $  38,121,387
LESS:  REVENUES          $   3,335,817
NET BUDGET                $  34,785,570

MILL RATE* 21.23

WHAT CAME AS PART ONE OF FY00...

BOARD OF SELECTMEN  $   6,920,894.00
BOARD OF EDUCATION  $ 24,897,747.00
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT $      709,215.00
DEBT SERVICE              $   2,254,613.00
GROSS BUDGET            $  34,782,269.00
LESS: REVENUES           $   3,200,768.00
NET BUDGET                $  31,581,701.00

MILL RATE* 24.64

*(Definition of "mill" in "mill rate" is one-tenth of a cent...per assessed valuation)


Some notes made by "About Town" over the years...

BOARD OF FINANCE PUBLIC HEARING NEWS FROM MARCH 26, 2002:

A record short meeting (32 minutes), perhaps because the Board of Education members said nothing, perhaps because Westonites are still sober about September 11...fighting about money was never a true Weston way to do things...it really doesn't get us anywhere.  No one cared to ask questions this year and there were very, very few "citizens" (those without a vested interest) in the audience of perhaps 50 people.  Why do you think this was the case?

MORE HISTORY...

The Adjourned Town Meeting vote on June 28, 2001...
The people spoke--at least the people who were around or had filled out absentee ballots.  Item #4 was the direct choice for or against fees to proceed with schematic design of renovations to Weston High School and a new 3-4-5 school, and the result was "NO" by 15 votes.
Q.  Was there a significant difference in how Westonites voted on the separate items?  A.  YES, THERE CERTAINLY WAS.  1741 people voted on Question #4 (863 in favor and 878 opposed).  By comparison, 1754 votes were recorded on Question #1 (septic solution plus some related conservation items)--and the result was 1635 in favor, 119 opposed. 


In the recent past...
The bottom line. . . FY'02 School Budget affirmed 70% to 30% with 33% turnout at referendum April 24.
The buck paused there (at ATBM Tuesday, April 10)...standing count OK's Board of Education budget...but was it over?  Nope...vote at machines on Tuesday, April 24 (6am to 8pm at W.M.S. Gym):  'YES' means no to approved school budget;  'NO' means ATBM amount approved...stays as is.  'YES' did not win at the polls; ATBM action affirmed.
CLICK HERE FOR IMPORTANT  DATES ON THIS YEAR'S MEETING SCHEDULE;  the information about the budget process on the above link is from the League of Women Voters of Weston's WEBsite.