Fall Town Meeting Appropriations

The Fall Town Meeting is set for Oct 21 at 7PM in the Middle School auditorium. There are several appropriations on the warrant which may generate some controversy. The first are appropriations (articles Z and AA in the draft warrant)from FYO8 surplus revenue for settlement of contracts for the Police and Dartmouth Town Employees Association (DTEA). The DTEA contract is before the membership and may or may not be resolved by that time. These two unions have been working without contracts on FY08 and FY09. I believe that surplus revenue from FY08 is the proper source of funds for these two settlements since the obligation was incurred in FY08. Some, notably Mr Lynam of the Finance Committee, disagree.
The next appropriation which may generate some discussion is the article labeled O-1 in the draft warrant. It uses line item transfers from FY09 accounts ...

...to provide funding for wage increases in the negotiated contracts mentioned above. The Finance Committee has pointed out that these contract increases are putting the town further in the hole. I can't argue with their assessment. The increases result in a greater deficit in FY10, which was already projected to have a shortfall. The reason that I and the rest of the Select Board agreed to the increases was that it aligns the expiration of nearly every collective bargaining agreement in the town with the end of FY09. The hope is that the town can get reduced increases in wages and benefits at that time which can help our efforts to reach fiscal health. The Select Board has hired a labor negotiator and will initiate discussions on FY10 contracts with town bargaining units as soon as possible following the Fall Town Meeting.
Also in draft article 0-1 are appropriation requests for $20,000 for employee training and emergency heating oil for seniors. The Select Board wants to require non union employees to identify and complete a continuing education course every year as part of a merit based salary increase program. No funds were set aside in the FY09 budget, hence included is $10,000 for the purpose at this Town Meeting. Another $10,000 included in this request to continue training for various town departments in disaster preparedness. This preparedness program was begun several years ago but dropped due to budget constraints. I discussed the emergency oil program in this post (read the paragraph below the split).
The final appropriation, article CC, is for $300,000 for the school department to purchase a Reading Literacy and Textbook Package. The funding source is surplus revenue from FY08. While I support it, I believe that this article is in contravention of the adopted policy of both the Select Board and Finance Committee against the use of one time revenue for operating budgets. The Finance Committee has taken the position that this purchase is a capital expense so that they don't have to admit it violates our policy. I am willing to acknowledge it violates the policy but is of such importance that we will make an exception in this instance. But my support is for this sort of appropriation is for this one time only. I will oppose any further use of one time revenue for such use. The school department is going to get minimum required net school spending for the foreseeable future. They need to plan accordingly to live within that appropriation.
Avoiding the use of one time revenue is an important principle because it prevents us from carrying forward unsustainable expenses. If the school department had to buy these instructional materials from their normal budget, it would require them to cut budgets in other areas. By providing these one time revenues to make the purchases, they are relieved of the need to make the cuts, at least for this year. In subsequent years, they will have to do so or will find themselves short of funds. The school department must realize that and start planning now on how they are going to fund purchases within their normal budget.
I am usually surprised at Town Meeting by which articles generate discussion and those that do not. What are your thoughts on these articles?