Public Discussion: FY19 and Beyond

June 20, 2017

7PM

Police Station

Agenda

• Introduction and Ground Rules 10 Min

• Financial History Review 15 Min

• Preliminary Projections FY2019 15 Min

• Discussion: Vision and Priorities 30 Min

• Discussion: Input on Opportunities 30 Min

• Next Steps 20 Min

Ground Rules

• Today is for brainstorming and broad discussion – we will use a Parking Lot

• Interactive Process• All ideas are welcome and please be clear when

expressing opinions as opposed to facts• All residents matter: try to avoid stereotyping groups of

residents• Focus on problem solving and our future• Please be concise, we will limit comments to 3 minutes

per person• Assume positive intent and seek to understand

Muni Speak

• Fiscal Year – July 1, xxxx to June 30, yyyy• yyyy Equals the Fiscal Year

– Level Funded vs. Level Service

– Cherry Sheet• Local Aid

• State Assessments

– Stabilization Fund

– Others?

Current State of the Town

• FY2018

– Less than Level Funding for Departments

– Fixed Costs Outpacing Revenues

– Reduced Local Aid From the State

– Increasing Unfunded Mandates

• All Departments

• Multiple Sources

How did get we here?• Ten Year Lookback– Economic Downturn in Calendar 2008 and 2009• Significant Contributing Factor

• 9C Cuts to Local Aid – January 2009

• Continued Reduction in Net Local Aid from the State

– How the Town Responded• Restructuring of Union Contracts

• Reduction in Hours

• Utilization of Stabilization Fund to Balance Budget

– Unsustainable Model

Where are we going?

• Preliminary FY2019 Projections

– Based on Historical Averages

• Assumes State Aid Based on Five Year Average

• Assumes Increases in Fixed Costs Based on Five Year Average

– Less Than Level Funding Again

– Departmental Budgetary Impact

• Beyond FY2019

Vision and Priorities for the Town

• What Makes North Attleborough an Attractive, Vibrant Community (Our Assets)

– Location, Location, Location

– Quaint Downtown

– High Performing School System

– Parks/Pool/Playgrounds/Zoo

– Engaged and Active Citizens

– Town Owned Electric Department

Vision and Priorities for the Town• Opportunities – Economic Development

• Definition• Downtown Revitalization

– Transportation Overlay District» 21 East Street» GATRA Transportation Hub

• Revitalization of Neighborhoods– Webster Building– Ferarra Building– Courtois Property– Other Opportunities

• Balancing Residential, Open Space, Commercial, Industrial• Helps With Sustainability

Vision and Priorities for the Town

• Maintain and Restore Services

– Education

– Public Safety

– Community Services

– Operational Services

Vision and Priorities for the Town• Maintain and Restore Services– Education

• North Attleborough Public Schools

• Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School

• Bristol Agricultural

• Foxboro Charter School

• Bi-County Collaborative

• SPED Tuition Out – Other

• TEC Academy – Virtual School

• Transportation for Homeless Students

• Library

Vision and Priorities for the Town• Maintain and Restore Services

– Public Safety

• Police

• Fire

• DPW

• Health

• Building

• Solid Waste

• Animal Control

• Conservation

Vision and Priorities for the Town• Maintain and Restore Services– Community Services

• Veterans Services• Council on Aging

– Meals of Wheels

• Parks and Recreation– WW1 Park and Zoo– Summer Programs– Pool

• Lenore’s Pantry• Nursing Services• Commission on Disabilities• Historical Commission

Vision and Priorities for the Town• Maintain and Restore Services

– Town Hall Operational Services

• Operational and Financial Services– Town Clerk

– Elections

– Assessors

– Collections

– Treasury

– Accounting

– Purchasing

– Administration

Savings and Revenue Opportunities• Savings Opportunities– Fixed Costs

• Health Insurance– M.G.L Mandate– Plan Design Changes

• Pensions– State Retirement System (PERAC) – M.G.L. Mandate

• Tri-County Tuition Out– Program Offerings at NAHS– Attract Middle School Students

• State Assessments– Retired Teacher’s Health Insurance – Charter School Tuition

– Departmental Operating Budgets• Service Delivery Impact

Run the Town Like a BusinessMG Corporation

• Profit Based• Evaluate Current Business

Lines and Model– Supply vs. Demand

• Eliminate Unprofitable Business Lines

• Restructure and Consolidate • Evaluate New Product Line

Opportunities• Chapter 11

– Maintain Some Control

• Raise Prices to Support Existing Model– Voted by the Board of Directors

Town of North Attleborough• Not for Profit• Evaluate Current Services and

Needs of the Community– Demand vs. Supply

• Diverse/Necessary Community Services

• Restructure and Consolidate • Economic Development and

Redevelopment• State Recievership

– Abdicate Control

• Raise Taxes Through a Proposition 2 ½ Override– Voted by the Consumer

Savings and Revenue Opportunities

• Increase Revenues

– Development of Open Space

– Sale of Town Owned Land

– Redevelopment/Revitalization

– Proposition 2 ½ Override

TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH

2018 Departmental Budget Recommendations

Level Amount Adjusted STIPENDS

Requested Funded To Balance Balanced (All in Dept.

Budget Budget the Budget Budget Requests)

RTM Coordinating Committee 1.00 1.00 (0.00) 1.00 REQUESTED BUDGET

By-Law Study Committee 1.00 1.00 (0.00) 1.00 REQUESTED BUDGET

Board of Selectmen & Town Hall 697,222.06 696,266.00 (4,245.02) 692,020.98 5,200.00 REQUESTED BUDGET LESS STIPENDS

Finance Committee 13,426.17 11,516.00 1,910.17 13,426.17 REQUESTED BUDGET

Town Accountant 243,254.77 251,850.00 (8,595.23) 243,254.77 REQUESTED BUDGET

Board of Assessors 251,930.91 235,390.34 (0.00) 235,390.34 9,000.00 REQUESTED BUDGET LESS STIPENDS

Treasurer/Collector 541,237.62 523,779.38 (2,241.76) 521,537.62 REQUESTED BUDGET, TAX TITLE AND INTEREST ON ABATEMENT LEVEL FUNDED BUDGET

Legal Counsel 127,157.00 195,307.31 (30,040.12) 165,267.19 REQUESTED BUDGET PLUS A PLUG TO BALANCE

Human Resources 242,649.32 243,230.88 (581.56) 242,649.32 REQUESTED BUDGET

Information Technology 480,719.70 481,235.19 (515.49) 480,719.70 REQUESTED BUDGET

Town Clerk 84,822.08 84,889.00 (66.92) 84,822.08 REQUESTED BUDGET

Elections 147,526.00 170,072.02 (29,046.02) 141,026.00 6,500.00 REQUESTED BUDGET LESS STIPENDS

Conservation Commission 100,800.00 99,961.00 839.00 100,800.00 REQUESTED BUDGET

Planning Board 127,272.51 121,562.66 2,959.85 124,522.51 2,750.00 REQUESTED BUDGET LESS STIPENDS

Zoning Board of Appeals 13,988.00 12,602.00 1,386.00 13,988.00 REQUESTED BUDGET

Police Department 5,033,003.37 5,012,399.00 (19,989.20) 4,992,409.80 LEVEL FUNDED PLUS CUTS

Fire/Ambulance 4,852,521.20 4,852,540.00 (19,192.23) 4,833,347.77 LEVEL FUNDED PLUS CUTS

Building Inspector 246,804.97 262,591.37 (15,786.40) 246,804.97 REQUESTED BUDGET

Animal Control 122,690.00 122,322.00 368.00 122,690.00 REQUESTED BUDGET

School Department 39,085,304.00 37,833,231.00 (61,304.72) 37,771,926.28 LEVEL FUNDED PLUS CUTS, TRANSPORTATION REQUESTED BUDGET

Crossing Guards 46,000.00 46,000.00 (0.00) 46,000.00 REQUESTED BUDGET

DPW Administration 343,465.00 339,614.07 575.93 340,190.00 3,200.00 LEVEL FUNDED PLUS CUTS

Highway, Forestry & Fleet 959,318.00 961,069.43 (7,060.46) 954,008.97 LEVEL FUNDED PLUS CUTS

Board of Health 246,718.14 250,959.03 (5,490.89) 245,468.14 1,650.00 REQUESTED BUDGET LESS STIPENDS

Council on Aging 178,953.84 174,639.12 4,314.72 178,953.84 REQUESTED BUDGET

Veterans Services 477,272.00 476,391.00 881.00 477,272.00 REQUESTED BUDGET

Library 560,215.20 553,396.00 (0.00) 553,396.00 LEVEL FUNDED BUDGET

Park Department & Pool 434,455.32 440,011.96 (5,556.64) 434,455.32 REQUESTED BUDGET

Historical Commission 3,540.00 934.24 0.00 934.24 LEVEL FUNDED BUDGET

Total Departmental Budgets 55,662,269.18 54,453,762.00 (196,478.00) 54,257,284.00 28,300.00

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Town of North Attleborough - Budget Makeup

Debt Service

Cherry Sheet Assessments

Other Costs (Overlay, Etc.)

Regional School Assessments

Fixed Costs

Departmental Budgets

16

17

18

19

20

21

22M

illio

ns Town of North Attleborough - Net State Aid

Series1

TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGHHistory of Stabilization Fund

0.00

500,000.00

1,000,000.00

1,500,000.00

2,000,000.00

2,500,000.00

3,000,000.00

S & I

S & I

FY'14 FY'13

FY'12

FY'11

FY'10

FY'09 FY'08

School Supp.

S & I

S & I

FY '15

S & I = Snow & Ice

FY '16

FY '17

TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH

Preliminary 2019 Budget Projection Summary

Source FY 2018 FY 2019 + OR - % Change

Property Taxes 50,362,115.00$ 51,906,176.00$ 1,544,061.00$ 3.07%

State Aid 23,884,019.00 24,168,239.00 284,220.00 1.19%

Local Receipts 6,754,848.00 6,892,909.00 138,061.00 2.04%

Other Available Funds 2,072,444.00 2,075,218.00 2,774.00 0.13%

83,073,426.00$ 85,042,542.00$ 1,969,116.00$ 2.37%

Departmental 54,257,284.37$ 53,992,858.00$ (264,426.37)$ -0.49%

Fixed Costs 16,012,695.00 17,421,702.00 1,409,007.00 8.80%

Regional School 3,888,489.00 4,327,204.00 438,715.00 11.28%

Debt Service 4,020,232.63 4,100,637.00 80,404.37 2.00%

Cherry Sheet Assessments 3,929,294.00 4,126,233.00 196,939.00 5.01%

Overlay & Other 965,431.00 1,073,908.00 108,477.00 11.24%

83,073,426.00$ 85,042,542.00$ 1,969,116.00$ 2.37%

Revenue Increase 1,969,116.00$

Budgetary Drivers:

Health Insurance 8.68% (914,297.00)

Pension Assessment 8.68% (264,991.00)

Other Fixed Costs 9.47% (229,719.00)

Tri-County & Other Regional 11.28% (438,715.00)

Debt Service 2.00% (80,404.37)

Cherry Sheet Assessments 5.01% (196,939.00)

OPEB 33.33% (63,477.00)

CIP Budget 65.32% (45,000.00)

Amount Available for Departmental Budgets (264,426.37)

2019 BUDGET SUMMARY PROJECTION

Prepared By: Town Accountant Revised 6/20/2017

Education 71%

Public Safety 22%

Community Services 2%

Operational Services 5%

Town of North Attleborough - Fiscal 2018 Budget

The following ideas, recommendations and questions were gathered at the FY19 and Beyond public discussion held on June 20, 2017.

Residents asked for more clarity around the definition of debt service, how capital •improvements are fit into budget, how the town attempts to keep debt payments consistent year to year, the Capital process. Is there a possibility of increased State Aid because of Federal changes passing increased •money to the States? Is it realistic to assume State Aid will continue to go down? Will the Federal Government pass additional money to the States and will the States pass it to Towns?In the extrapolation of State Aid, in 2028, what would it represent as a percentage of the •budget over time. Should we fund fields, specifically the Turf field? Could we use that money to fund other •needs? How would we handle overall field maintenance if this money was diverted from fields?Master Plan - The Recommendation to complete the zoning bylaw review - Ongoing •opportunity to facilitate economic developmentPossible over-55 for Courtois or other properties?•Address parking problem downtown•Marketing plan for the town to attract growth•Opportunity to sell our low tax generating properties?•Marijuana facility in Allen Avenue School? - probably zoning issues •Walkable downtown housing is desirable •Responsible building and zoning practices to manage environmental and flood impact•Conversion of old mill buildings if possible to incubators?•Improved facilitation between departments to encourage relevant growth•Marketing of some of the town's assets, signs entering town, Mason Box, the Signage in park •across from TD North in centerRemember many of the properties in town are privately owned and some have environmental •issues, the Town can't simply force the owners to do what is best for the TownCouncil on Aging is a mandated state reporter and contribute to public safety•The residents desire a better understanding of Proposition 2 1/2, the impact on the tax rate, •how assessments affect individual taxes, if the levy can only go up 2 1/2%, how is it that individual property taxes go up more or less than that - suggest an education session so residents better understand that the 2 1/2% applies to the total Town tax levy. Individual taxes are based on individual property assessments and how those assessments change over time.Idea to advertise in town publications which town departments have supporting 501 c(3)'s and •which one's are eligible for United Way matching (501 c(19) for veterans)Desire to resume skiing at the Sunrise ski hill at WW1 park•Is there an opportunity to convert to GIC (Group Insurance Commission)? It is important to •understand that GIC plans are issued by county and do not provide plans for employees who are out of state (in our case Rhode Island) residents, so converting to GIC is not likely - however we can design a plan that is equivalent to this plan and the Town Administrator is exploring this.Better understand why Tri-County students leave, can we do more to retain them?•There was a UMass Study conducted several years ago - The full theoretical residential •buildout would be 42,000 residents; if this was done, the tax ratio would be 95:5 (residential:business) - Reinforces the need to follow Master Plan zoning recommendationsEngage Community via Survey or other means in the development of the Vision?•Precinct Meetings to better facilitate communications?•

Leverage Town Website/Economic Development webpage to market our businesses?•Charge for zoo, charge for Whitings Pond?•Can we negotiate with Bank of America for use of parking lot after hours?•Expanded enforcement of permits to drive additional revenue? With the reduced staffing that •currently exists due to the budget shortages, could we figure out a way to do more monitoring?

Next Steps

• Continued Discussions Regarding Fiscal State of the Town and Its Future

• Drill Down a Level– Revenue History and Projections

– Departmental History and Projections

– Fixed Cost History and Projections

• Development of a Vision

• Plan for FY2019 and Beyond