The Select Board, in a joint meeting with the School Committee, voted to drop school bus transportation fees for this school year. The bus transportation account returned $263,000 at the end of FY09. The school department has negotiated a bus contract that did not increase for three years. We are in the third year of that contract, so we know that the cost will not raise dramatically this year. The town has budgeted the same amount as last year so we should have enough to offset the loss of the fees. The total collected in transportation fees last year was only slightly more than $90,000.
There was some discussion, ...
... prompted by Mr. Lynam of the Finance Committee, about removing other fees and funding the difference from one time revenue at the Fall Town Meeting. Mr. Lynam said that he felt that this challenging economic time is one in which the town can help struggling families, even if it is temporary. The School Committee agreed to go back and look into the dropping fees for this year. The Select Board would ask the Town Meeting to approve a line item transfer or appropriation to replace the funds lost from fees. The total collected from fees, not including transportation, brought in about $115,000 last year. High school parking fees are not included in that amount. The school administration did not support dropping parking fees because of limited parking space available. I do not support dropping those fees because I do not want any more teenage driving miles.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
School bus fees dropped
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58 comments:
GREAT NEWS! This takes a great burden off families who are struggling to get by. I assume the families that bought passes already will get reimbursed? I agree that the parking fees should stay now that the busses are free again more students will be using them. Thanks.
yes they will be reimbursed if they have alreay paid their fees. I fully support this move by the Select Board
Thank you, these fees are a burden.
Very good, a great burden lifted off the shoulders of the parents.
Pass the stuffing, please.
Just because the town has some (extra monies ) for this fiscal year, don't feelwe are out of the woods. Good management skills, and no raises, is the biggest reason for this surplus. The school committee members, and the teacher's union, will find a way to spend this3.3 million.
To Jack - the school committee nor the teacher's union has a say in how to spend the turn back money. I wonder why this town feels that even the slightest bit of good news can't be appreciated for what it is - good news.
I think we are seeing the results from better management that started after the big override failed. I only hope that the newest members of the SB will not drop the ball on what Michaud and Trimble started. With the recent trend of job losses, this is probably the best fee that could be eliminated.
To Mister MeOff,
the money is the towns not the schools. the schools have no say how the town spends it. If the town sees fit they can give some to the schools but the school committee has no money to give anyone.
Thank goodness for that!
michaud and trimble? the credit should go to the department heads. They are the ones who cut and consolidated
Isnt michaud adding another position to the DPD for a "friend" from Hodgeson's Sherriff's Dept. Nice to have freinds isnt it, Joe?
Most of the turn backs are one time expenditures. It is not recurring revenuue saved. although the surplus was on behalf of the frugallity of our Department heads and other town emplyees, they deserves the biggest congrats!!!
What has Joe Michaud done?
This is good news! This is a result of the direction that the Select Board has given to dept. heads and Ed I. as acting EA. All deserve kudos!
Now the schools should drop their fees for sports. Will the school com. agree to that?
What policies did the SB impose to create such a massive amount of savings?
We need a new school business manager, and new superintendent. Most, but not all school teacher, are worth the money they are now getting, but if salaries were based on merit, the right teachers, will be getting the right money.
Let's not forget our troubled student's. These so called students, who enjoy creating school problems, are the cause of teacher discontent. Some students, have become such a large dysfunctional part of the educational system, that the town police department, have a full time police officer assigned to the high school. Folk's, I know what you are saying, this guy is nuts, but the truth be told, the teachers are the ones who need the protection, not the school students. The school resource officer, (isn't this a nice title), for a full time police officer, assigned to arrest students for causing a school disturbance. You may not agree, but something is wrong with the state controlled public education system.
New Bedford, a city with a much larger school population, has never had a student/ teacher murdered.
A couple of years ago, two Dartmouth high school students, wanted for questioning in connection with a city murder, where escort out of Dartmouth high school, by the Dartmouth police. The school superintendent cried out, what happened to due process of law?? Do you notice something wrong with this picture? Our schools need a complete top level change, we need to go in a different direction. Folks, the select board/fincom have performed a great service. This group, with no salary/stipend, deserve all the credit, not the school officials.
Greg Lynam wrote-For FY09 the normal leftovers amounted to about $1.4 mil. Added to this were several unusual savings brought about due to better management. A change in employee healthcare programs resulted in a one time savings of $800,000. Savings in the school transportation costs returned $ 263,000. Police positions, just now being filled, were vacant in FY09 but by law we had to budget for those salaries. Those salaries not paid out in FY09 along with other miscellaneous Police tailings amounted to another $282,000. Better management and delays in spending in other areas lessened the drain on the reserve fund making it possible to return $531,000 to the General Fund. All this accounts for the $3.3 mil ... I see nothing that points toward the SB decisions that could have resulted into this surplus
Dropping the bus fees will hopefully encourage more kids to ride in on the bus, rather than pay to park.
The school department was able to return $263,000.00 back to the town because the parents paid for the bus transportation that should have come out of that budget money. Also it makes sense not to have the fees because the buses are almost empty. Some as few as 9 to 12 students on a bus. The town has to pay the same fee whether or not the buses are full or empty.
to longtime resident_ this surplus was a result of everything other than the SB. 800,000 just from insurance? 263,000 from school transportation 1.4 from annual left overs or turn backs(something that has occured for years)all these things had nothing to do with Joe Bill Nat or anyone else....I sense alot of back patting is going to come from the SB members, but dont be fooled they havent done a thing since they came into office that would have resulted in this type of savings
and if I am wrong please address i dont want to NOT give credit where credit is due,but according to Lynam this is one time revenue turn backs,nothing from significant policy changes
Do you really think the dept. heads or anyone else would have made such an effort for cost saving if it hadn't been because of the direction of the SB? I agree that everyone needs to be commended but please give credit to those who gave direction as well. I clearly remember Ed I. several years ago saying at a SB meeting that it was too much of a hassel to switch employees to other health plans. The SB at the time just accepted that. Thanks to Michaud, Trimble & yes, Gilbert that attitude changed and we now have better health care options for our employees. If we had continued on with the SB of 2006 & 07, the status quo would have remained and most dept. heads would have done nothing. Can you imagine Dias, Carney or McClean pushing for regionalization or service sharing? They certainly would not have been for hiring a new EA. Regardless of how you feel about Mr. Gagne, it was time for a change. I realize election time will be upon us soon so Joe Michaud will be the target of constant attacks but I for one am grateful for his service. Just having a new perspective vs. the old boy network has been a positive change for the SB.
Yes, the SB has talked about regionalization,but nothing has come to fruition. meetings are great but action is better, no action,no credit. Dept. heads were foced to change not at the direction of the SB but because of the economy...period what did the SB do to implement change? Nothing yet.
also you talk about Michaud as if he did anything yet....what he is tryinng to do is do favors for the sherriff...aint that nice. A DEPUTY CHIEF? why does Dartmouth need this? and why is he coming from Joe's buddy hodgeson's Department
I am not saying this because Michaud is up for election, I am saying this because people have the right to know, Michaud is using his position in Dartmouth to do favors for his freind,the sheriff. JOE WE DONT NEED A DEPUTY CHIEF!
Our own Finance committee has stated that this 3.3 million is not due to policies or by the direction of SB. It was due to circumstances beyond the control of the SB. Oil,gas and other expenditures were cheaper than suspected,but I know a future investment that will save the town money in the long run as well as immediately, The WIND TURBINES, the Alternative Energy Committee will save the town millions of dollars. That is the type of investment our SB needs to take the lead on to save money.
was a 15% budget cut nessecary? 3.3 million in turnbacks and the town hall didnt do a thing yet. Dartmouth is lean and mean fiscally, this 3.3 million proves one thing...the fiscal CRISIS this town was in, WAS NOT DUE TO MISMANAGEMENT...it was plain and simple the economy
the numbers prove it, numbers DO NOT LIE
Blah, blah, blah..
Can't anyone be positive! Good News! School bus fees are dropped! I'm happy! That's more money for my family! Thanks!
Agreed Dartmouth Mom!!! The bus fees are eliminated!!!
The school resource officer, (isn't this a nice title), for a full time police officer, assigned to arrest students for causing a school disturbance. You may not agree, but something is wrong with the state controlled public education system.
THAT IS NOT HIS ONLY JOB, IT MAY BE THE ONLY ONE YOU ARE PERSONALLY AWARE OF.
New Bedford, a city with a much larger school population, has never had a student/ teacher murdered.
SADLY DARTMOUTH HAS, A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN LOST HIS LIFE WHEN KIDS FROM NEW BEDFORD ATTACKED HIM INSIDE THE SCHOOL AND KILLED HIM.
Any other off the wall comments you would like to rant about??
Jack - just what is wrong with you?
why were fees implemented in the first place? If the contract was for 3 years didnt we know the costs going into this year without fees?
The bus fees and school fees were put in place as a result of the FinCom requesting departments to increase revenues as a way to offset deficits in the upcoming budget.
but didnt they know the school transportation budget going forward, seeing that it was a contract for three years
Well that certainly sounds good but if you recall the previous SB's answer to the economy was the $8.5 million override. You cannot say Michaud, Trimble & Gilbert had nothing to do with our current financial status. If nothing else, having that majority vote changed the whole mentality of the SB from we just need more money to we need to control our costs. The old board's answer was to saddle the taxpayers with a 25% tax increase while the new board asked dept. heads to find cost saving measures.
What did they vote on to bring our financial situation under control?
They "voted" to not let things, that is spending, continue in the same old, same old. Actually, it wasn't a vote, just a conscientious and responsible decision to move in a new direction toward fiscal responsibility, and that included tightening belts, really tight, if need be, and formulating a long-term financial plan, which had been lacking all these years.
Seems the SB did get it right, this time. Of course, we know there was opposition on the Board from some members who felt everything was hunky-dory all these years and the town was being administered just fine, thank you, so leave it alone.
I guess Ms. Gilbert, Mr. Trimble, and Mr. Michaud got it right, though, didn't they? Seems like a lot of people are happy to see the turnback and the resultant dropping of transportation fees.
It may have been the department heads who did the belt tightening, but if left alone still another year by a Board who was in love with the status quo and those adhering to it, what's the possibility that the town would not have recognized the turnback amount it has?
Thanks, Ms. Gilbert, Mr. Trimble, and Mr. Michaud. And let's give credit where its due also: Mr. Iacaponi apparently has no difficulty adhering to the policy of this new direction.
So the turnbacks were a result of the SB...what did they do? What new direction? honestly there is alot of talking,and no action.
We cut 15% out of the budget across the board this past June, for what? we have a surplus!!!
Dont you guys pay attention, listen to LYNAM...he said that the turnbacks were not from SB policies or anything the SB has talked about. It was specifically from normal turnbacks that happened for the last 20 years and also unfunded police positions and oil and gas costs going down.
I would like to address several comments made here :
First, the Fin Com has never, never asked any department to increase fees or revenues to address the fiscal situation. Our focus is now, and always has been, on cost reductions and efficiencies.
School transportation fees have nothing to do with transporting children, any more than beach and park fees have anything to do with parks and beaches. In both cases the fees are a means of raising operating revenues for the school department and the general fund respectively.
For those who are town meeting members if you look back at Article 14 on the your October 16th 2007 warrant you will see where the TM authorized the “School Bus Transportation Fees” to be collected and placed in a school revolving fund to be expended for educational needs of the students. This was necessary because transportation costs are not a part of the school operating budget, they are a responsibility of the general fund. Transportation costs are now, and always have been, funded in their entirety. In the past they have been simply added to the school appropriation and voted in a lump sum at TM. What is different this year is that the Fin Com asked that they be separately identified and voted so that we had a more accurate accounting of the actual transportation costs. The result of that accounting is what you see as a transportation turn back this year. In prior years the actual amounts were not really known accurately. Any overage was used by the schools to do needed maintenance in the school buildings over the summer.
As far as the Select Boards influence on our fiscal situation, it has been huge. They are expressly prohibited by our town charter from interfering in any departments operation. The Select Board has no power beyond the formulation of policies to be carried out by their one and only employee; the Executive Administrator. To the extent that that employee can or can’t, will or won’t, follow their direction determines whether we as a community thrive or suffer. After years and years of having do-nothing, know-nothing select boards we now have one that works hard and works together. When their policies were not being carried out they made a needed management change that has made all the difference in the world. Following the Select Boards direction Ed has done a fantastic job in cooperation with all department heads town wide ... including the Fin Com.
I realize people are not generally aware of the behind the scenes changes but from my seat on the Fin Com the changes have been dramatic, the results of which you are only now beginning to see. There is much yet to be done, and I am confident that it will be done.
Gregory Lynam
Dart Fin Com
Hey now wait one minute i seem to recall an Override in here somewhere...Yes yes there was an override back in April 2008.. It is possible that this went a long way to us having this surplus. Also we instituted a split tax system which also reduced the taxation burden on the residents of Dartmouth. All in all i think we are doing just fine here in Dartmouth.
with all due respect Mr. Lynam,what policies have the SB put in place that resulted in the current 3.3 million $$ surplus
"know nothing" SB of the past, Joe Michaud has been quoted himself saying HE is not qualified. op-ed standard times.
"Our focus is now, and always has been, on cost reductions and efficiencies."
Greg, is that the FIN COM reccomended the meal's tax?
One of the policies that came from the select board and contributed to the large monetary turnbacks was to offer HMO's to town employees. This saved money for both many employees and the town itself. Thank you Joe, Bill and yes, Diane. A policy from the more recent Select Board was to do an entire review of all our insurance needs. This also saved a substantial amount of money.
Over $100,000 to be exact on the insurance savings 2:08pm. See the chronicle article online from July.
the weekly town employee contribution is well over 125 dollars a week now for their health insurance.
Has anybody asked Joe Michaud why we need a deputy chief in this town? Also why it happens to be a person who works for Hodgeson?
3.3 million dollars surplus and allthe SB did was save our town 100G and placed more of the burden on our employees.
Employer based health insurance needs to be eliminated.
We are a community first, then a business, but Joe Michaud and everyone on that side of the fence,seem to believe otherwise. Fund the COA and all the "nice to haves" before making cuts. Some "nice to haves are essential to our community.
Bill, why are we looking into a deputy chief?
To those of you who claim to be for the elderly yet want so badly to raise taxes, The elderly are too wise for you. Their wisdom allows them to see right through your B.S. Shame on you for trying to deceive them.
Oh wise one, anon 4:30, explain to me how eliminating bus fees for parents of HS kids through the use of excess funds for buses from the previous year is trying to pull a fast on on the elderly? You must be really wise to connect the dots on that one. Please share your wisdom sensei.
I would be overjoyed to only pay $125 a week for my health insurance.
The bus fees have been eliminated. The next step should be to take any additional funds and give some relief to EVERY taxpayer by eliminating or reducing PAYT fees. Parents have been given some relief and I have no problem with that but any other savings should go to ALL taxpayers.
anon 7:25 You are the one who seems to be trying to connect dots and failing miserably. anon 4:30 was not referring to bus fees.
anon 8:11, please forgive me. I thought the title of this thread was 'School bus fees dropped'
oh wait a second.....
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