Budget Summit Five Concludes

At the fifth and final Budget Summit forum, held at the last night, Lexington officials nailed down the final fiscal 2012 budget – to within $1.

Town Manager Carl Valente walked the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee, and the Appropriation and Capital Expenditures committees through the final numbers.

The town’s total budget for fiscal year 2012 is a projected $152.7 million, with $74.8 million going to the schools, $28.3 million to municipal expenses and the remainder going to benefits, insurance, debt, reserved, facilities and other funds.

It all comes without additional tax support from Lexington residents.

“The Board of Selectmen set a goal of not asking for an override and we were so far able to accomplish that,” Valente said after the meeting fifth meeting, which came almost five months after the first forum in October.

The meeting went so well it lasted less than 40 minutes. Even better, when officials learned there was a $1 shortfall, the selectmen offered to make up the difference, the School Committee held up a dollar and a few others offered to contribute as well, which means there’s probably a $3 excess.

The selectman will conclude the budget deliberations at the next few meetings and a Feb. 22 vote to approve and accept the budget is expected.

That acceptance allows the town to send Town Meeting Members and the committees the annual book of the budget via the Internet. They’ll have the required month to go over the numbers in advance. (Residents receive the book a few days later).

Town Meeting begins on March 21. On March 28, the third night of Town Meeting, when the month-long requirement is fulfilled, Town Meeting Members can start deliberations.

At Thursday night's summit, Superintendent Paul Ash also shared the news that the Massachusetts School Building Authority had voted to See the complete story by clicking the link.