Templeton Tax Rate set!

Yesterday, Tuesday, December 15, I spoke to the deputy assessor and was informed that the tax rate has been approved and set by the MA DOR. It was set at $16.47 per thousand. And here I thought the Town administrator stated at the last selectmen meeting on December 7, 2015 that the tax rate was set then?? You can check the Gardner news or the minutes of the meeting or the video.

The simple truth is, the selectmen do not set the tax rate, the elected members of the board of Assessors with approval from the department of revenue set the tax rate. As for it going down, that may not be a good thing either. As for the increase in taxes from the recently voted debt exclusion for the police station, that will not appear on your tax bill until January of 2017.

If you have any questions or concerns, call or visit the office of the Board of Assessors. One thing that you won't find out is how much your taxes will be when the police station or school debt tax increase will be because the assessors do not know that because they do not know what the tax rate will be then. Remember that this was a reval year and there was some new growth which is one time money and there was about 145 thousand in money from MSBA which is also one time money. I seem to remember most people in agreement that one time money should not be counted on in figuring out a budget. So why does it seem like the selectmen are again doing the same things that got the Town in trouble to begin with. Why use one time money from the planning board for highway dept. expenses? Oh, just for laughs, the Planning Board is now looking for additional money for the Town master plan which makes it look like a bad idea to give certain funds away to the highway when you need them for something else! Seems like the dog is still chasing it's tail.

Jeff Bennett