Sunday, December 20, 2015

While I am looking back.........to think of the future. . . .

Looking at another old Gardner news article, I have a question for you; how does 62% of 47 million dollars add up to 22.9 million?  Reading a story in TGN by Andres Caamano addressing the new Athol school at a cost of $43,931,361.00 with 62.94 % coming from MSBA or $27,651,620.00 with the Town of Athol on the hook for $16,279,743.00. So board of selectmen, how come Templeton only gets 22.9 million?  Any one, anyone at all?

Jeff Bennett
A check of history. . . . . . .

In looking through some old stuff, I came across an interesting item, a story from the Gardner news. At the end of it, there was a couple of lines that read; Light commissioner Dana Blais also stated that the department (Templeton Light dept.) would cover the electricity bills for municipal buildings and street lighting expenses for the next fiscal year. The story is dated July 15, 2014 and that would be fiscal year 2015 so the next fiscal year should be FY 2016, which we are in now. This means that when the annual Town report comes out, we should be able to check on the electric expenses for Templeton Municipal buildings and street lighting expense for the Town.

Of course the thing about this is the electricity for these things comes from some where and has to be paid for. If there is no budget item within the Town budget, where will this money come from? In my opinion, it is safe to say that everyone in Templeton will see an increase in their bill. You may also wish to check your water bill for any increases in the water service charge. Templeton water website says it is $237.16 per year! Rather than those costs coming from revenue from property taxes, you will be paying for it in other ways, which is just another tax! seems like more of the same stuff that has been going on for a long time in Templeton and it is policy that is the decision of the selectmen.

I wonder what the cost of wood chips are for the furnace at NRHS?

Jeff Bennett