← Appropriations & Oversight Committee · 2025-04-14 · Appropriations and Oversight Committee Meeting
APPRO-2025-17 : An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $250,000 to the Special Education Reserve Fund (Fund #8408).
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APPRO-2025-17 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $250,000 to the Special Education Reserve Fund (Fund #8408). Ought to Pass City Council
Transcript
▶ 1:18:18 Speaker 1: Councilor Ro? Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Karen Chetty? Yes. Cremsky? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Vanderberg? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Elli? Yes. Chair Garipay? Yes. Motion passes.
▶ 1:18:33 Mark Garipay: This will be recommended to the full counsel. Next up is ID 1, 2, 5, 8, 9. And appropriation from free cash account 0 1 3 2 4 0 0 1 in the amount of 250,000 to the special education reserve fund. Fund number 8 4 0 8.
▶ 1:18:54 Speaker 1: With, um, free cash, we try to always invest back in ourselves and put money in the stabilization fund. So the certified free cash was about $5.9 million, so the goal would be to put roughly 20% of that in stabilization funds. So we looked at the different, um, stabilization reserve funds and tried to identify which ones make most sense for next year, just based on, um, kind of what's going on right now. So the current balance, um, of the special education fund is 7 6 6 8 0 3. And if this is approved, it would bring it to 1 million 16 8 0 3.
▶ 1:19:42 Speaker 5: Any questions? Council, Fanucchi? Yeah,
▶ 1:19:43 Speaker 3: I just have a quick question. Thank you. Um, what is this? Would this money be used towards? Um, specifically?
▶ 1:19:51 Speaker 1: So typically we've taken this, if there's unforeseen special education costs, if there's midyear move-ins or, um, kids that require transportation midyear. So this fund would be used to address those things. Okay. Um, and then I think there's the overarching concern, um, with the federal government and just changes with, uh, special education. Yeah.
▶ 1:20:13 Cal Finocchiaro: Well, we know special education is very expensive. The everything, um, revolving. So Thank you
▶ 1:20:21 Speaker 5: Counsel Stewart.
▶ 1:20:23 Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, do you have any forecast
▶ 1:20:25 Robb Stewart: to draw down on what this is gonna be next year?
▶ 1:20:30 Speaker 1: Um, we don't right now. Um, have for fiscal 26, you mean? Correct. Yes. No, we don't have an estimate of, um, what could potentially be drawn down.
▶ 1:20:41 Robb Stewart: Okay. What, what's, what do you typically see like, year on year?
▶ 1:20:45 Speaker 1: Um, we've had as much as a half million dollars. Yeah. Um, taken out in a given year. Um, I don't think we took anything last year from it. Um, and we, we put money away. Um, and fiscal 25 is not over yet, so you never know, but,
▶ 1:21:02 Jen Grigoraitis: Right. No, I just wanna be sure that we got enough in there. Okay. Yes. Thank you. And the, the federal allocation to Melrose Public Schools for special education is about $1.2 million. So should we see a decrease or an elimination of that funding as has been discussed? Um, you know, we wanna recognize that we would need, we certainly can't fill all of that, but wanna be as prepared as Possible. Right. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
▶ 1:21:27 Speaker 4: Welcome. I'll make a motion to recommend second motion
▶ 1:21:28 Mark Garipay: to recommend by Councilor Kim Chatty, seconded by Councilor Romanul on discussion.
▶ 1:21:39 Cal Finocchiaro: Do you wanna say one more thing? Um, I think it's really important that we put money away for stabilization funds, especially something like special education where we have to stay in compliance.
▶ 1:21:48 Speaker 3: So, um, I think this is a smart move.
▶ 1:21:54 Speaker 5: That's all. Anyone on discussion? Anyone else?
▶ 1:21:58 Speaker 5: Madam Clerk, can you please call the roll?
▶ 1:22:00 Speaker 1: Councill Noro? Yes. Council Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Karen Chetty? Yes. Councillor Bruski? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Council Williams? Yes. Present mere Yes. Chair Ape?
▶ 1:22:13 Speaker 5: Yes. Motion Passes.
▶ 1:22:14 Mark Garipay: I'll be recommended to the full counsel. Next up is ID 1 2 5, 9 1 in appropriation of free cash account 0 1 3 2 4 0 0 1 in the amount of 750,000 to Capital stabilization Fund. 8 4 0 5.