The Finance Committee has a responsibility for preparing the budget for the Town, as well as providing for recommendations on articles in the Town Meeting Warrant. The committee reviews each article on the Warrant, listens to presentations, asks questions, discusses, and finally votes for a recommendation.
While our recommendations are printed in the warrant, we are presenting additional information about our recommendations in advance of Town Meeting. It is our hope and goal that making this additional information available will be of benefit to the voters.
Articles Expected to be Indefinitely Postponed
Recommend: Approval 6-0-0
The following group of articles is expected to be indefinitely postponed, and therefore have no recommendation from the Finance Committee
Article 4 – Bills of Prior Years
Article 5 – General Bylaw Amendment – Revolving Funds
Article 7 (Items 10-14) – Community Preservation Budget-Fiscal Year 2021
Article 8 – Bylaw Amendment – Universal Changes
Article 9 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 1, General
Article 10 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 2, Town Elections
Article 11 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 3, Town Meeting
Article 12 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 4, Town Meeting Procedure
Article 13 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 5, Officers of the Town
Article 14 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 6, Board of Assessors
Article 15 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 7, Board of Health
Article 16 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 8, Bedford Housing Authority
Article 17 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 13, Finances
Article 18 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 20, Historic District Commission
Article 19 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 21, Zoning Board of Appeals
Article 20 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 29, Historic Preservation Commission
Article 21 – General Bylaw Amendment – Article 49, Control and Management of Hazardous Materials
Article 22 – Zoning Bylaw Amendment – Accessory Dwelling Units
Article 24 – Bond Authorization – Police Station Addition/Renovation
Article 25 – Bond Authorization – HVAC Replacements – Bedford Free Public Library
Article 26 – Bond Authorization – Land Acquisition for new Fire Station
Article 29 – Supplemental Operating Budget for FY 2020 and Articles of 2019 Annual Town Meeting
Article 30 – Salary Administration Plan Bylaw Amendment – Classification & Wage Schedule
Article 33 – Salary Plan Additional Funding
Article 34 – Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund Appropriation
Article 35 – Supplement Accrued Leave Fund
Article 36 – 300th Anniversary Stabilization Fund Appropriation
Article 37 – Stabilization Fund Appropriation
The Finance Committee recommends approval of the indefinite postponement.
Article 2 – Debate Rules
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
This article proposes the adoption of procedures for Town Meeting. These are the usual procedures under which we operate Town Meeting. They provide a means by which an orderly and efficient meeting may be run.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Article 3 – Consent Article
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
This article represents a number of items which have been regularly voted upon in prior Town Meetings and need yearly approval. It also provides for the ongoing ability to conduct short-term borrowing, if necessary, in anticipation of revenue, as well as funds for the annual financial audit. Additionally, it accepts state law provisions for property tax exemptions. And, it allows the Selectmen to accept easements on behalf of the Town without the necessity of scheduling a Town Meeting to do so.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Article 6 – General Bylaw Amendment – Revolving Fund Expenditure Limits
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
The Town has a number of revolving funds established in the Town’s General By-Laws. These funds are allowed under state law to separately account for specific revenues and expenditures of a related purpose. This article sets an upper limit on the amount that may be expended from each fund within a given year. The Finance Committee views these limits as prudent.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Article 7 – Community Preservation Budget – Fiscal Year 2021
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
The Community Preservation Committee presented its FY2021 budget to the Finance Committee. The budget met with the approval of the Finance Committee for the items being recommended at Annual Town Meeting.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Article 23 – Proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Capital Projects Plan
Recommend Approval 9-0-0 ~ Items 21-2 through 21-4
Recommend Approval 9-0-0 ~ Items 21-8 through 21-30
This article would appropriate $2,519,677 from the FY 2021 Free Cash to partially fund the proposed FY2021 capital projects plan in the amount of $5,748,323. The remaining $3,228,646, if approved, would be funded through bonding, water/sewer rates, Chapter 90, Operating Budget, and Community Preservation. The Finance Committee discussed the FY2021 proposed Capital projects in detail and supports its funding. The Finance Committee believes maintaining Town assets is integral to its fiscal health.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Article 27 – Demand Fee Increase
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
At the January 13, 2020, Select Board meeting, the Town Manager presented a proposed fee/permit increase for FY2021. As part of this analysis, the Town surveyed several communities to determine how the fees compare to Bedford. At this meeting, the Selectmen voted to increase several of the permit and miscellaneous fees, including recommending an increase to the Demand Fee to $20 on delinquent tax bills. The Finance Committee believes this fee increase is prudent.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Article 28 – PEG Access and Cable Expense Related Budget Fiscal Year 2021
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
The Community Media Committee’s responsibilities include managing the Town’s PEG Access and Cable Related Fund. It is a special revenue account and as such must adopt an annual budget. This year’s budget of $282,500 is fully funded by license fees collected from Comcast and Verizon cable customers. The funds are used for PEG access programming including licensing and operation of cable television in Bedford.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Article 31 – Operating Budgets-Fiscal Year 2021
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
This article presents the Town’s operating budget, which is projected to increase by 3.76% for Fiscal Year 2021. It is constructed considering the needs and requirements of all departments, balanced against current and expected decrease in revenues and expenditures. Additional details of the budget will be provided at Annual Town Meeting.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Article 32 – Ambulance Enterprise Budget-Fiscal Year 2021
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
This article presents the Town’s Ambulance Enterprise budget for Fiscal Year 2021. This budget is generally self-supporting, with a modest $24,000 subsidy from the Town’s General Fund.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Article 38 – Free Cash
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
The term “free cash” represents unspent funds and unexpected revenue from prior years. It is prudent financial policy, and it is recommended by the State Department of Revenue, that “free cash” be used for one-time (non-recurring) items within the budget. Our fiscal policy states “An ample Free Cash balance shall be maintained to provide the Town with financial flexibility and stability for the future”. The policies further state a free cash amount of no less than 1% of the operating budget should be maintained. Free cash in excess of these guidelines may be used to reduce the tax levy. For Fiscal Year 2021, the budget makes use of $5,656,584 from free cash.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Special Town Meeting
Special Town Meeting/Article 1 – Debate Rules
Recommend: Approval 6-0-0
This article proposes the adoption of procedures for Town Meeting. These are the usual procedures under which we operate Town Meeting. They provide a means by which an orderly and efficient meeting may be run.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article
Special Town Meeting/Article 2 – Tax Increment Financing Agreement
Recommend: Approval 8-0-0
The proposed TIF agreement is effectively an inducement to get the Ultragenyx Corporation to locate to Bedford. It reduces the amount of property tax that the company would otherwise pay without the TIF agreement in place. Underlying assumptions are that Ultragenyx would not locate to Bedford without this benefit and that the proposed location would not otherwise generate property taxes in excess of the amounts payable even with the TIF in place.
The Finance Committee recommends approval of this article.
Members of the Finance Committee
Ben Thomas, Chair; Elizabeth McClung, Vice-Chair; Paul Mortenson, Clerk
Members Tom Busa, Stephen Carluccio. Karen Dunn, Erica Liu, David Powell, and Stephen Steele
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