The Town of Pepperell is facing a structural budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2011: projected expenses are expected to exceed currently projected revenues. The deficit amount will depend on pending information about future revenue to the Town, including very uncertain State Aid amounts, and departmental expense budgets.

As was the case last year, there are no easy answers to balancing the Town budget, particularly given last year's deep departmental cuts. This page will be updated as new infomration becomes available and citizens are encouraged to learn about the Town budget and what the possible options are.

• Town Budgets
• North Middlesex Regional School District budget
• Nashoba Valley Technical High School District budget
• Meeting Schedules
• Employment contracts for Town and school district employees
• Make a suggestion or ask a question

Town Budget

The Finance Committee is working now with all departments on Fiscal 2011 budgets, having requested both a level-funded departmental budgets and 5% reduction budgets. Final recommendations will be presented at Town Meeting in May, but now is the time to make suggestions. The public is encouraged to attend Finance Committee meetings and read approved minutes from previous meetings.

While the FY2011 budget is not yet set, you can review:

• Budget cuts currently being considered by FinCom: nothing is final, theses are only considerations and subject to change
• Letter from Pepperell FinCom to Representative Hargraves and Senator Panagiotakos
• Town expense budgets: actual expense for FY2006-2009, budgeted expenses for FY2010
• Town Revenues: actual revenues from FY2006-2009, estimated revenues FY2009-2014
• Weekly Forecasting statements: (*** these projections attempt to predict the future and change daily as information becomes available)
  Dated Apr 18, 2010
  Dated Apr 2, 2010
  Dated Mar 24, 2010
  Dated Mar 4, 2010
  Dated Feb 25, 2010
  Dated Feb 16, 2010
  
• Past Town Meeting Warrants and results

The total FY2011 budget is expected to be just over $22 million, roughly half of which will go to the two school districts (North Middlesex Regional School Disctrict and Nashoba Valley Technical High School). More than 15% is controlled by the three Enterprise Funds (Water, Sewer, and Transfer Station) and does not affect property taxes, but must still be listed in the budget. The balance of funds Town Goverment and Town Services.

North Middlesex Regional School District Budget

The NMRSD School Committee is currently working with the Superintendent on the FY2011 budget. The Budget Sub-Committee has established a "level services" starting point which would increase the budget overall and assessment to the towns. However, Dr. Marshall has proposed cuts in school services that total up to $2,000,000 that would get the district close to a level-funded budget.

• NMRSD Budget Information page
• Review a presentation of potential service cuts

School Committee meetings are open to the public and are held at the North Middlesex Regional High School auditorium. The meeting schedule is available on the School Committee section of the NMRSD website. Agendas and approved minutes from past meetings are also available for review on this page of the School Committee webpage.

Nashoba Valley Technical School District Budget

Pepperell assessment to the Nashoba Valley Technical School District is likely to increase due in large part to an increase in the number of Pepperell students attending the School.

• Review the FY2011 budget proposal presentation by NVTHS to Pepperell officials on February 5, 2010.

Approved minutes are available on the School Committee section of Nashoba Tech's webpage.

Meeting Schedules

Town of Pepperell meeting calendar.

• The Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee will hold a Public Budget Forum on April 24 beginning at 8:00am at the Pepperell Senior Center to answer questions and hear citizen comments about the Fiscal Year 2010 Town budget.
  
• Board of Selectmen: Typically meets every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 7:00pm in Town Hall Conference Room A.
  
• Finance Committee: Scheduled to meet every Thursday at 7:00pm in Town Hall Conference Room B until Annual Town Meeting in May at 7:00pm.
  
• North Middlesex Regional School Committee: The NMRSC meetings schedule can be found on the School Committee section of the district's website.
  
• Nashoba Valley Technical High School Committee: Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month in the NVTHS Conference Room at 7:30pm. The School Committee meetings are posted on the school calendar.

Employment Contracts

Pepperell services and Town government local union and employment contracts are posted for citizen review on this website.

North Middlesex Regional School District union and administrative employment contracts are available for review ont he District's website.

Nashoba Valley Technical High School union and employment contracts are posted for citizen review on this website.

Make a Suggestion/Ask a Question

This page will be updated regularly as budget information becomes available. However, if there's is specific information that you would like to see here, please contact webmaster, Jeff Sauer, by email or by using the form below. Or if you have a suggestion about the budget or the budget process, your feedback is welcome and will be directed to the appropriate person, Board, or Committee.