Doors open Saturday at 8:30 AM.
A Bake sale to raise money for a Grade 5-6 field Trip will be taking place.
So come early, get registered, have breakfast and study the warrant and handouts!
TOWN OF WORTHINGTON
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
June 7, 2025
9:30 AM
RH Conwell School Gymnasium
DOWNLOADS:
Town Meeting Handouts, including a signed copy of the Warrant can be found here.
Hampshire ss:
To either of the Constables of the Town of Worthington in the County of Hampshire.
GREETINGS: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in election and in Town affairs to meet at the RH Conwell Elementary School in said Worthington on Saturday the Seventh of June, 2025, at 9:30 AM, then and there to act on the following articles:
ARTICLE ONE: To Choose all other Town officers as are not required by law to be elected by ballot.
Almoners of the Whiting Street Fund
Bruce Barshefsky, Catherine Whitcomb, Diane Meehan
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers
Bart Niswonger, Kevin Porter, Darlene Millman
Surveyors of Wood and Timber
Keith Manley, Sam Powell, Clarence Witter
ARTICLE TWO: To Act upon the reports of the Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Selectboard, Almoners of the Whiting Street Fund and other elected or appointed officers or committees of the Town.
ARTICLE THREE: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $1,715,620.51 the total Worthington School District Budget for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| Worthington School District Appropriation | FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action |
| Elementary | $1,154,491.46 | $1,185,990.14 | Recommended | Recommended |
| OUD Tuition &Trans. | 145,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended | |
| SPED Summer School | 16,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended | |
| Secondary | 342,901.03 | 368,130.37 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total | $1,497,392.49 | $1,715,620.51 |
ARTICLE FOUR: To see if the Town will vote pursuant to the provisions of Section 53E ½ of Chapter 44 M.G.L. to re-authorize the amount of $1,680.00 as the annual spending limit for the Conwell School Laptop Protection Plan revolving fund, such limit to be applicable for Fiscal Year 2026, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE FIVE: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $3,976.15 from the Conwell Stabilization Fund for payment of the RH Conwell Sprinkler System Repair, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
The following article submitted by citizen petition:
ARTICLE SIX: ACCEPTANCE OF LEGISLATION: School Bus Camera Enforcement Systems:
To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 399 of the Acts of 2024, or any other applicable laws, to permit the installation, operation and maintenance of school bus violation detection monitoring systems on school buses, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE SEVEN: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $366,217.10 for Vocational Education, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| Vocational Education | FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action |
| $286,826.00 | $366,217.10 | Recommended | Recommended |
ARTICLE EIGHT: To see if the Town will vote to fix the salaries or compensation of all elected officers of the Town, as provided by MGL Chapter 41, Section 108 as amended, and to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $76,988.00 for these salaries and compensation to be as of July 1, 2025, as follows, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Selectboard, Chair | $3,587.00 | $3,677.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Selectboard, Clerk | 3,075.00 | 3,152.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Selectboard, Member | 3,075.00 | 3,152.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Bd. of Health, Chair | 2,185.00 | 2,240.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Bd. of Health, Clerk | 2,185.00 | 2.240.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Bd. of Health, Mem. | 2,185.00 | 2,240.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Moderator | 100.00 | 100.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Clerk | 18,450.00 | 18,911.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors, Chair | 7,409.00 | 7,594.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors, Clerk | 23,675.00 | 24,236.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors, Member | 6,725.00 | 6,924.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tree Warden | 2,460.00 | 2,522.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total | $75,111.00 | $76,988.00 |
ARTICLE NINE: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $554,287.73 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
GENERAL GOVERNMENT:
| FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Selectboard Expenses | $3,500.00 | $3,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors’ Expenses | 1,750.00 | 1,750.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Classified Advertising | 2,500.00 | 2,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Map Maintenance | 1,900.00 | 2,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors’ Software Support | 7,208.00 | 7,641.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors’ Revaluation | 6,200.00 | 6,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Online Tax Maps | 3,000.00 | 3,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Clerk’s Expenses | 1,700.00 | 1,700.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Election Expenses | 5,680.00 | 1,012.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Registrars’ Expense | 50.00 | 50.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tree Warden’s Expenses | 20,000.00 | 20,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Collector | 22,664.00 | 23,704.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Asst Tax Cltr/Asst Treasurer | 10,329.00 | 10,795.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Collector’s Expenses | 4,200.00 | 4,300.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Collector’s Software | 9,450.00 | 9,900.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Accounting Services | 34,200.00 | 35,100.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Accounting Software | 4,690.00 | 4,923.90 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Treasurer | 22,664.00 | 23,704.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Treasurer’s Expenses | 4,500.00 | 4,700.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Treasurer’s Software | 1,673.00 | 1,756.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Payroll Service | 4,200.00 | 4,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Executive Assistant | 69,077.00 | 72,218.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assistant Secretary | 9,464.00 | 10,020.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Recording Secretary | 8,000.00 | 7,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Bd. of Appeals Expense | 600.00 | 600.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Conservation Comm. Exp. | 900.00 | 700.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Historic Commission Exp | 250.00 | 250.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Off. Maint. & Sup. | 3,750.00 | 3,750.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Hall Maintenance | 4,500.00 | 4,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Hall Custodial Services | 3,420.00 | 3,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Telephone Exp. | 21,000.00 | 23,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Building Heating | 24,000.00 | 25,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| War Memorial & Town Bldgs | 300.00 | 300.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Conwell Bldg. Expenses | 147,149.00 | 147,544.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| IT/Comptr. Replenishmt plan | 4,000.00 | 4,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Comptr. Maint. & Supplies | 2,000.00 | 2,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Computer Maint. Labor | 3,200.00 | 3,200.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Web Site | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Webmaster | 2,000.00 | 2,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Planning Board Expenses | 500.00 | 400.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| P.V.P.C. | 224.00 | 228.83 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Parks & Rec Comm. Exp. | 4,145.00 | 4,145.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Founder’s Day | 4,000.00 | 0.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Finance Comm. Expense | 150.00 | 165.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Reports | 1,250.00 | 1,250.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Law Account Expense | 15,000.00 | 15,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Taking-Collector | 1,200.00 | 1,200.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Title Foreclosure Treas. | 2,185.00 | 7,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Title Foreclosure Maint. | 2,000.00 | 3,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Audit Expenses | 12,500.00 | 14,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Council on Aging | 14,600.00 | 14,600.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| COA Building Lease | 9,981.00 | 10,181.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total | $544,203.00 | $554,287.73 |
ARTICLE TEN: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $5,800.00 from the General Stabilization Fund for payment of the Town Hall Gable Cornice Roof Replacement, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE ELEVEN: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $25,247.25 for the Worthington Library, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Worthington Library | $24,045.00 | $25,247.25 | Recommended | Recommended |
ARTICLE TWELVE: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $22,295.00 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Maintenance of Cemeteries | $17,995.00 | $18,395.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Cem. Commission Expense | 500.00 | 500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Grave Openings | 3,400.00 | 3,400.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total: | $21,895.00 | $22,295.00 |
ARTICLE THIRTEEN: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of$790,580.94 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Hampshire Cty Retirement | $323,278.00 | $280,341.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Unemployment Comp. | 3,500.00 | 3,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Workers Compensation | 16,300.00 | 17,089.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Group Insurance | 391,038.00 | 389,936.94 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Insurance and Bonds | 62,570.00 | 71,714.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Medicare | 25,000.00 | 28,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total: | $821,686.00 | $790,580.94 |
ARTICLE FOURTEEN: To see if Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $233,470.23for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY:
| FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Emergency Mgmt. Salary | $1,164.00 | $1,193.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Mgmt. Expenses | 600.00 | 0.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Reverse 911 | 1,368.00 | 3,375.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Animal Control Officer Salary | 1,912.00 | 1,960.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Animal Control Officer. Exp. | 300.00 | 350.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Hilltown Comm. Ambulance | 63,482.00 | 66,011.08 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Constable | 100.00 | 100.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Animal Inspector | 798.00 | 818.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Building Commissioner | 14,102.00 | 12,475.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Local Building Inspector | 9,385.00 | 9,812.40 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Building Inspector’s Expenses | 2,500.00 | 2,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Online Permitting Software | *NEW* | $8,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Plumbing Inspector | 1,732.00 | 1,775.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Plumbing Inspector’s Expense | 500.00 | 500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Wiring Inspector | 3,916.00 | 4,014.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Wiring Inspector’s Expense | 1,000.00 | 120.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assist. Wiring Insp. Expense | 300.00 | 300.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Gas Inspector | 1,361.00 | 1,395.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Board of Health Expenses | 200.00 | 200.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Board of Health Agent | 4,000.00 | 4,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Ctrl. Hamp. Veterans’ Service | 6,179.00 | 6,271.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Veteran’s Aid | 12,000.00 | 12,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Disposal Works | 66,500.00 | 73,125.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Disposal Attendant | 14,244.00 | 14,864.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Hilltown Resource Mgt. Coop. | 7,004.00 | 7,411.75 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Streetlights | 1,350.00 | 1,400.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total: | $218,609.00 | $233,470.23 |
ARTICLE FIFTEEN: To see if Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate $68,311,00 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
| FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Fire Dept. Operating Exps. | $33,000.00 | $30,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Department Fuel | 2,500.00 | 2,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Clerical | 6,381.00 | 6,671.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Chief Salary | 7,091.00 | 8,863.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Dept. Grant Writer | 1,441.00 | 1,477.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Code Inspection Comp. | 1,500.00 | 2,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Dept. Call Comp. | 16,000.00 | 16,800.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total | $67,913.00 | $68,311.00 |
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE SEVENTEEN: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $64,900.00 from the General Stabilization Fund for the repair and upgrade of the Fire Department parking lot, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE EIGHTEEN: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $86,829.00 from the General Stabilization Fund for a new F-150 Fire Department Incident Command Vehicle to replace the 2007 Silverado 2500 Truck, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE NINETEEN: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate $220,608.40 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
| FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Police Dept. Expenses | $21,550.00 | $21,550.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Police Chief Salary | 89,918.00 | 89,918.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Police Dept FT Wages | 65,083.00 | 0.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Police Dept PT Wages | *NEW* | 20,000.00 | ||
| Police Clerical Wages | 12,761.00 | 13,341.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| IMC Software Maint. | 991.00 | 991.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| CJIS Yearly Maintenance | 750.00 | 750.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total | $191,053.00 | $146,550.00 |
ARTICLE TWENTY: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $626,090.00 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
| FY2025 Adopted | FY2026 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| General Highway Maint. | $40,000.00 | $40,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Road Sweeping | 6,500.00 | 6,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Mowing | 12,000.00 | 12,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Winter Highway Maint. | 110,000.00 | 110,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Wtr. HWY Overtime Wages | 11,850.00 | 11,850.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Highway Dept. Wages | 239,554.00 | 213,657.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Highway Wages Clerical | 6,381.00 | 6,671.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Highway Superintendent | 91,707.00 | 90,397.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Hwy.Supt. Add’l Wtr. Comp. | 2,500.00 | 2,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Garage Maintenance | 15,000.00 | 15,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Machinery Maintenance | 30,000.00 | 30,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Highway/Police Fuel | 33,500.00 | 33,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Superintendent’s Expense | 600.00 | 600.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| FRCOG Group Purchasing | 3,250.00 | 3,415.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Secondary Rd. Improvemts. | 50,000.00 | 50,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total: | $652,842.00 | $626,090.00 |
ARTICLE TWENTY-ONE: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $154,285.00 from the General Stabilization Fund to purchase a new F-600 Truck with added Features/Components for the Highway Department, or take any action relative thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer a sum of $10,000.00 from the General Stabilization Fund for the one-time repair and secondary road maintenance on South Worthington Road, or take any action relative thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-FOUR: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $2,100.00 from the General Stabilization Fund for the purchase of eight new 5’ round tables for the Town Hall, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-FIVE: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer from the General Stabilization Fund the sum of $5,663.50 to replace monies from an AP Warrant mis-posting to the Whiting Street Fund, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-SIX: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to establish a Reserve Fund to provide for extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures, as provided by M.G.L. Chapter 40, Section 6, as amended, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-SEVEN: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate as available funds the total sum of $422,654.27 from Chapter 90 funds or any other amounts from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for highway construction and/or maintenance, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $223,525.00 from Free Cash to the General Stabilization Fund, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-NINE: To see if the Town will vote to Authorize the Selectboard to enter into contracts with the Massachusetts Highway Department for construction and/or maintenance of public highways for the Fiscal Year 2026, and further to authorize the Selectboard on behalf of the Town to accept any money from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for highway construction and/or maintenance, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE THIRTY: To see if the Town will vote to Authorize the Selectboard to apply for Massachusetts State or Federal grant programs and to further Authorize the Selectboard to expend monies received through such programs following a public hearing, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE THIRTY-ONE: To see if the Town will vote to ask the Planning Board to examine the establishment of distinct zoning districts within the town for the purposes of having non-uniform frontage requirements, in continuance of the 2021 request by the Town to consider such a change to our zoning bylaws, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Articles for Prior Years’ Bills
ARTICLE THIRTY-TWO: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate
the sum of $363.00 to pay an FY23 bill for a Workers’ Compensation Audit Adjustment, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
Given under our hands May 30, 2025 I have served this warrant as directed.
Date of Posting:
Constable
Selectboard
ATTEST
GLOSSARY
APPROPRIATION: An authorization granted by a Town Meeting to make expenditures and to incur obligations for specific purposes. A “specific” appropriation is carried forward year to year until spent for the designated purpose or transferred by Town Meeting vote to another account.
AVAILABLE FUNDS: Free Cash, reserves and unexpended balances available for appropriation.
CHERRY SHEETS: Named for the cherry-colored paper on which they were originally printed, the Cherry Sheets are the official notification of the next fiscal year’s state aid and assessments to communities and regional school districts from the Commissioner of Revenue. State aid to municipalities and regional school districts consists of two major types — distributions and reimbursements. Distributions provide funds based on formulas while reimbursements provide funds for costs incurred during a prior period for certain programs or services. In addition, communities may receive “offset items” that must be spent on specific programs. Cherry Sheet Assessments are advance estimates of state assessments and charges. Local assessors are required to use these figures in setting the local tax rate. Because these figures are estimates, it should be noted that based on filing requirements and/or actual information, the final aid or assessment may differ.
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS: Estimate of money to be received by the Town from various sources, such as MVE excise, licenses, fees, state reimbursements, etc. The estimate is deducted by the Assessors from the gross amount to be raised by taxes when the tax rate is set.
EXCESS LEVY CAPACITY: The difference between the levy limit and the amount of real and personal property taxes actually levied in a given year.
FISCAL YEAR: A twelve-month period commencing July l, to which the annual budget applies and at the end of which a Town determines its financial position and the results of its operations.
FREE CASH: Unrestricted funds from operations of the previous fiscal year that are certified by the Director of Accounts as available for appropriation. Remaining funds include unexpended free cash from the previous year, receipts in excess of estimates shown on the tax recapitulation sheet, and unspent amounts in budget line items. Unpaid property taxes and certain deficits reduce the amount that can be certified as free cash. The calculation of free cash is based on the balance sheet as of June 30, which is submitted by the town accountant. A community should maintain a free cash balance to provide a hedge against unforeseen expenditures. Maintenance of an adequate free cash level is not a luxury but a necessary component of sound local fiscal management. Credit rating agencies and other members of the financial community expect municipalities to maintain free cash reserves and make judgments regarding a community’s fiscal stability, in part, on the basis of free cash. “Free Cash” is also referred to as “Available Funds”.
OVERLAY: (Overlay Reserve or Allowance for Abatements and Exemptions) An account established annually to fund anticipated property tax abatements, exemptions and uncollected taxes in that year. The overlay reserve is not established by the normal appropriation process, but rather is raised on the tax rate recapitulation sheet.
OVERLAY SURPLUS: Unused, accumulated amount of the Overlay for various years, which may be voted for any lawful purpose and reverts to Free Cash at the end of each Fiscal Year.
RESERVE FUND: An amount set aside annually within the budget to provide a funding source for extraordinary unforeseen expenditures. The finance committee can authorize transfers from this fund for “extraordinary or unforeseen” expenditures. Other uses of the fund require budgetary transfers by town meeting.
STABILIZATION FUND: A fund designed to accumulate amounts for capital and other future spending purposes, although it may be appropriated for any lawful purpose. (MGL Ch. 40 § 5B). Towns may appropriate into this fund in any year by a simple majority vote. Any interest shall be added to and become a part of the fund. A two-thirds vote of town meeting is required to appropriate money from the stabilization fund.
SURPLUS REVENUE: The amount by which the cash, accounts receivable and other assets exceed the liabilities and reserves.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT: A written order calling for an Annual or Special Town Meeting and containing a list of items to be acted upon. Warrants are posted at the official posting place.