On Saturday June 18, voters will convene at the Windham High School auditorium for Windham’s Annual Town Meeting. Those present will be asked to vote on articles of the town warrant that concern the 2005-2006 municipal and school budgets.

Before polls opened for the town elections held on June 14 in the Windham High School auxillary gym, John Boyden, a former Town Council chairman, was chosen as the town meeting moderator for this year. As moderator, Boyden will present the warrant articles for debate at the annual town meeting.

The election of the moderator and the ballot election of Town Council and School Board officials comprise articles one and two of the town warrant. Articles three through six will deal with the approval of revenue sources for the municipal budget of 2005-2006. Voters will be asked to approve the use of excise tax, state aid, recreation fees and miscellaneous revenues for the municipal budget.

Article seven asks the public to apply $906,748 in unappropriated funds from Fund Balance to the budget. Fund balance, or surplus, is a municipal account where appropriated money, carried over from past years, is kept. $3.8 million is currently held in fund balance with $1.9 million as reserved funding for town projects that have yet to be completed.

Article eight asks voters to approve the entire municipal budget of 2005-2006. Article eight reads as follows: “Shall the Town vote to authorize a total Municipal budget for fiscal year 2005-2006 of $12,855,750 as approved by the Town Council?”

If article eight is not approved by public vote, the moderator will then discuss articles nine through 18 which deal with each individual municipal service and department budget.

The municipal budget for the coming fiscal year will be 11 percent more than last year. This figure has changed since last reported on May 27 due to amendments made at the May 24 Town Council budget workshop.

$120,000 was amended to administrative services (article nine) to adjust the salaries of entry-level municipal employees. This will increase the base pay for non-union entry-level employees to make these salaries more competitive with surrounding towns. It has been 15 years since such an adjustment has been made.

$30,000 was added to public works budget (article 10) with $15,000 to go toward the reopening of the “silver bullet” recycling program and another $15,000 to go toward hazardous waste disposal.

$50,000 was added to the property and inspection services (article 14) for the reassessment of property in Windham.

$200,000 was added to Capital Outlay and Fixed Charges (article 17) for work on the new town office annex.

Articles 19 through 22 will deal with the Windham’s school budget for 2005-2006. Article 19 asks voters to approve the $21.45 million for “the total cost of funding public education as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act.” Under the Essential Programs and Services act, this amount is the mininum the Windham School System can spend on education with the municipality raising $9.32 million of this sum in order to be eligible for state funding.

Article 20 asks voters to approve a payment of $916,063 on debt services. Article 21 asks voters to authorize the appropriation of $4.22 million in additional local funds, tuition and other revenue as well as $150,000 from the carry-over fund.

Article 22 will then ask the public to authorize the entire school budget ($26.59 million) with debt service and additional local funds included in the final sum.

Article 22 will read: “Shall the town vote to authorize a budget of $26,590,177 from the School Department’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from Kindergarten to Grade 12…”

The school budget has increased 9.23 percent from the 2004-2005 budget. This increase is primarily due to the first principal payment ($2.2 million) on debt service for the past construction and renovation of the new Windham High School. Both the rise in fuel cost and insurance premiums (about an $80,000 increase for property and liabilty insurance) have also contributed to the overall budget increase.

Unlike the municipal budget, if article 22 is voted down, it is not possible for voters to amend specifics or make cuts to that budget at town meeting. A special town meeting would have to be called in order to redraft the school budget.

The remaining articles 23 and 24 will ask for the appropriation of $169,527 for the local share of adult education funding and the authorization of any additional funds that may be provided by the state.

Along with moderator John Boyden, Town Council Chairman Robert Muir, Town Manager Anthony Plante and School Board Chairman Michael Duffy will be in attendence to talk with the public about each of the 24 articles on the warrant. After discussion, the public may vote to approve, disapprove or amend the proposed article. However, if an article is amended, monetary amounts in the article may only be reduced, not increased. All Windham residents are invited to attend the town meeting at 10 a.m. on June 18. Registrars will be on site to register new voters who present proof of residency.

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