Northamption Visual Budget

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Revenue & Expense Trends

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This chart shows the historical and forecasted total amounts of revenue received and expenses appropriated. The surplus shown in the early years has been accumulating in our stabilization fund, to be spent down  in the later years. Since the long-term forecast is unsustainable, future budgets will need to be balanced with either revenue increases (tax hike) or expense reductions (service cuts).

 

trends

School Enrollment

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Our total school population is projected to increase by 30% in 20 years (2005-2025), but the next decade’s growth will mostly be at the secondary-school level, as large cohorts currently in the elementary schools move up to the Middle and H.S., requiring additional classroom space soon. After studying the situation and options, the School Enrollment Task Force has recommended the following:

  • Add six additional permanent classrooms at the Thompson Elementary School, with temporary modular classrooms on site in the interim. The approximately $4,000,000 addition would be funded through exempt borrowing (a debt exclusion, in excess of Prop 2 1/2 limits), if approved by a vote on June 14, 2016. More information about the elementary school
  • Re-open the Gibbs School as either a second middle school (6,7 & 8), or create a 6th grade only school for the entire town, with 7th and 8th grades remaining in the Ottoson. The estimated $25,000,000 would be funded through exempt borrowing if approved on June 14, 2016. In the meantime, temporary modular classrooms may be sited at the Ottoson. More information about the middle school issues and options can be found on the Arlington schools web site: http://www.arlington.k12.ma.us/administration/facilitiesenrollment/middleschool/

For a good introduction to the enrollment issue, watch this discussion with Finance Committee member Dean Carman and former Selectman Annie LaCourt:

These reports from McKibben Demographic Research document the projections which are used for planning purposes, and the methodology used for the projections:

In September, HMFH Architects which summarizes the enrollment forecasts, existing schools and available space and expansion potential, alternatives for supporting the increasing enrollment, and reference materials such as floor plans of the elementary schools.

In November 2015, the School Enrollment Task Force was formed to study the problem of supporting the increasing number of students and make recommendations to the Town authorities.

YourTown Visual Budget Explainer

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The YourTown Visual Budget Explainer has been created to help citizens and elected officials of YourTown engage in informed discussions about YourTown’s financial management, budgets, challenges, and upcoming decisions. The Explainer provides easy access to the most accurate, timely and relevant information about all budgetary issues.

The Revenues, Expenses and Funds pages are detailed visualizations of the major components of the budget, showing historical information, this year’s budget, and the working forecasts that guide the town’s financial management.

The Glossary page has the accepted definitions of the complex terminology of municipal finance. The Process page describes how YourTown’s budgets are developed and approved. The Documents page is an index of direct links to the primary sources of budget information. The Who Does What page identifies all the decision-making parties in the budget process.