SHARON — With only a few questions for clarification, the Board of Finance unanimously approved the proposed town budget for 2023-24 submitted by the Board of Selectmen. The approval was voted at a special meeting on Tuesday, April 4.
The selectmen’s budget shows total expenditures of $5,333,728, an increase of $292,610 over the current year’s total of $5,041,118 (a 6.49% net increase).
The budget proposal submitted by the Board of Education, however, failed to win the finance board’s approval, drawing lengthy discussion about state policies, particularly the Minimum Budget Requirement (MBR) and how it is computed. Members of the finance board maintained that economies could be identified while also meeting the MBR provisions.
At a recent meeting, the Board of Education had voted not to act upon the finance board’s call for a budget expenditure reduction of $39,000 and had instead raised their budget by $1,756 in the capital line, citing MBR requirements.
Finance board member Cody O’Kelly led the discussion, suggesting that the Board of Finance consult directly with state officials for an explanation of MBR computations and how to find cost-saving opportunities.
“The state needs to approve any cost-efficiency calculation,” finance board alternate member Bob Whelan noted, as O’Kelly suggested specific line items where savings could be found.
Finance board member Jessica Fowler favored a three-way meeting to include the Boards of Finance and Education and state education officials.
Following lengthy discussion, the Board of Finance agreed to send a detailed list of questions to the Board of Education, anticipating a response before the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 18.
The public hearing on both the town and education budgets is scheduled for Friday, April 28, two weeks in advance of the annual town meeting on the budgets, scheduled for Friday, May 12. Both budgets must be voted upon as a single package at the town meeting.
Seeking to apply for a $1.3 million USDA loan for a water line replacement project, Steve Szalewicz, chairman of the Sewer and Water Commission, asked the Board of Finance to approve the application to enable the infrastructure project to be considered by voters at a town meeting. Slated for replacement would be the old water lines under Main Street, New Street and possibly Route 4.
The loan amount could be reduced by a 35% grant that would be applied for as part of the process. Although the Sewer and Water Commission would be applying for the loan, the town would need to approve it because the town would be responsible for repayment if for any reason the commission could repay it.
Szalewicz explained that due to the age of the water lines, it would be prudent to accomplish the water line replacement before the Green curbing project is done and the sidewalks are replaced, all excavations to be done before the state repaves Main Street. Szalewicz cautioned that the present lines are too fragile to withstand the disturbance of major excavation work.
