Email today from Warrant Committee Cochair, Stephen Callahan, with the Budget Guidance for the upcoming budget cycle (FY25) –

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Medfield Budget Makers and Elected Officials

The Warrant Committee has implemented a new budget process this year that emphasizes upfront budget guidance for departments and elected officials and an earlier process to achieve our goal of a sustainable balanced budget within the Prop 2 ½ limits to bring forward to Town Meeting.

Last evening, we completed our due diligence on the FY 25 budget guidance and approved the attached communication to all budget makers and elected officials.   In addition to providing overall budget targets for departments, it provides additional information on process, expectations, and timelines for FY 25.  Feel free to reach out to me or Bob Sliney if you have any questions on these matters. 

The Warrant Committee looks forward to our upcoming reviews and meetings with departments to better understand the important services and needs for the FY 25 Budget.

Please feel free to forward to others that you feel would benefit from this communication. 

Hoping you all have a happy thanksgiving with your families.

Best,

Steve Callahan

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To: Medfield Budget Makers and Elected Officials                                                           

Date: November 13, 2023

From: Warrant Committee

Subject: FY 2025 Budget Guidance: Approach, Targets and Timeline

Summary and Background

A host of factors pushed up the growth rate of the Town’s budget in FY 23 and FY 24, including the inflation surge that began in mid- 2021.  Fortunately, inflation has moved down from its peak last year but nonetheless, the space between our forecasted fixed expenditures and the Tax Levy allowed under Prop 2 ½ continues to be under pressure.

While the tax rate moved down in FY 23 to $15.43, average tax bills rose 3.2%, amounting to an increase of $402 on the average home in Medfield – and tax bills will move up again in FY 24.  The property tax bills in Town have overall, risen about in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).  Given the anticipated ongoing slowing in housing prices and continued budgetary strains, the tax rate is likely to face upward pressure in coming years.

Taking all of this into account, the Warrant Committee intends to take a cautious approach to budgeting in FY 25.  In summary, after a review of FY 25 forecasted revenue and fixed costs, the Warrant Committee is recommending an overall 4.1% budget guidance for school and town departments.  Amounts of COLA for non-contract employees who are not covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreements and salary increases as stipulated by relevant Collective Bargaining Agreements for contract employees are expected to fall within this overall guidance.

COLA for non-contract employees (does not directly affect employees covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements)

Inflation has eroded everyone’s purchasing power since the surge that began in the middle of 2021, though inflation has moved lower recently, with the latest read on the CPI indicating that prices in the Northeast in September were 3.0 percent higher than 12 months earlier (3.7 for the US as a whole).  Wages have also been rising more rapidly during this inflation environment.  For example, the Employment Cost Index for State and Local governments employees rose 4.8% over the year ending in September.  That figure incorporates pay increases that went into effect at the start of the fiscal year in many jurisdictions (July 1, 2023), corresponding to Medfield’s FY 24 COLA (3.0%) that also went into effect July 1^st.

The COLA recommended by the Warrant Committee that will be brought forward to Town Meeting must balance the need to fairly compensate the hard work and dedication of Town employees against the burden of taxes.  By way of background COLAs were 3.0 % for FY 24, 2.0 % for FY 23 and 2% for several years before that.   As of this date, the Personnel Board has not decided on a COLA for FY 25.

Department Operating Budgets

As noted, budget pressures remain and are unlikely to abate in coming years.  Accordingly, we ask the school and Town departments to prepare budgets that do not exceed the guidelines of 4.1% and 4.2%, respectively.  Department heads should first work with the chief executives and elected boards (Superintendent/School Committee or Town Administrator/Select Board) in balancing the limitations of these guidelines with essential department needs and services in the face of unforeseen costs for essential goods and department needs.  For line items where increases are necessary to maintain essential services, or where costs have increased in an out of the ordinary way, we ask budget makers to provide specific explanations to their Elected Boards and the Warrant Committee and to consider whether a decrease in another line item could offset the increase. 

Lastly, if after review there are any unmet needs that could not be covered with either alternative revenue sources (grants, fees, etc.) or cost efficiencies, please identify these for the Warrant Committee along with specific explanations for essentials whose higher costs make Warrant Committee guidance inconsistent with providing an appropriate level of service.  The Warrant Committee asks that any significant requests that fall outside of the above guidance be identified and communicated early, since it may trigger a Prop 2 ½ override request at Town Meeting. 

The Warrant Committee looks forward to discussing particulars with the Superintendent, Town Administrator, and budget makers to ensure that essential and important services are provided, and that the Town’s overall costs and tax rate are controlled as well as possible.

Capital Budget requests should be handled through the Capital Budget Committee process. 

Timeline

December, 2023 – FY 25 budgets are due to Town Administrator and Superintendent

January, 2024- Budgets transmitted to School Committee, Select Board and Warrant Committee

December 2023 – February 2024 – Warrant Committee Liaison Member due diligence

January 16^th and 30^th, 2024– Warrant Committee budget review meetings with Town Departments

February 13, 2024 – Warrant Committee budget review meeting with School Department

As always, thank you for the hard work you undertake on behalf of Medfield taxpayers and the long-term future of the Town. We look forward to working with all policy and budget makers to produce an FY25 Budget that provides efficient, quality services to Town residents while continuing to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer revenue. 

Sincerely,

Medfield Warrant Committee

Stephen Callahan (Co-Chair), Deborah Cartisser, Emily McCabe, Peter Michelson, Brent Nelson, Jillian Rafter, Peter Saladino, Bob Sliney (Co-Chair), Edward Vozzella

Attachment – FY 25 Budget Forecast

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++