Paicos Proposes New Budget Committee

Town Manager, Kevin Pacios, proposed the idea of creating a Budget Committee at the Board of Selectmen meeting on May 31.

The Budget Committee would be comprised of the three Chairs for the Selectmen, School Committee and Advisory Committee. The Superintendent of Schools, business agent, Finance Director and Town Manager would also be included.

Paicos explained that after going through his first budget cycle with the town, he noticed a few "weaknesses" in the process and believes this new committee would allow for more open communication regrading the constantly changing budget situation.

"Randy Scollins [Finance Director] and I [Paicos] have our eyes on the revenue situation and it changes sometimes 3 times in a day. We get millions of dollars in State aid - the House version comes out in March, the Senate version comes out in April and everytime we get one of those versions -  it changes the assumption we assumed we were going to get in state aid," said Paicos.

Starting in October, Paicos briefs the School Committee, Selectmen and the Advisory Committee on the revenue forecast. Paicos continually updates the revenue forecast with the 3 boards right through the time the budget is adopted in May.

"That forecast changes many times and it is not practical for us to try to update the Advisory Committee, School Committee, and the board everytime it changes," noted Paicos.

The new Budget Committee would begin meetings in September. Scollians would update the committee every few weeks on the revenue forecast.

"Its a simple idea but I would recommend it as something I have seen work effectively," said Paicos.

The meetings would not be open to the public; however the information discussed would not remain confidential as it would come back to the parent boards.

According to Paicos, the non-public meetings will give them the opportunity to discuss issues more openly and leaves less room for "posturing for political reasons." No quorum of any board will be present (the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly), therefore the Budget Committee can legally meet in private.

"It's good to get input from the policy makers from the get go," echoed Paicos.

School Committee Chairman Bruce Gardner supported the proposal adding that "it might be helpful to have more tough points than less."