Area items of interest - take notice.

On Hubbardston Town website, there is a link titled Rumors regarding Hubbardston Center School which addresses apparent Town rumors. An example of a board trying to communicate with the Town. Another item from Hubbardston is what comes to your mail box, A report from the Finance Committee, Town meeting and special Town meeting warrant with the budget included. Also an explanation of what a yes or no vote means for some ballot questions tied to contingency votes from town meeting. Hubbardston Town meeting is scheduled for June 7, 2016 and this item was received by residents this past week. 

Some how Hubbardston has their budget completed and in the mail to residents at least two weeks prior to Town meeting. Apparently their "living breathing document" is in better condition than Templeton's. Imagine being able to go over the warrant and budget for two weeks before going to meeting and if you have any questions, plenty of time to track someone down and talk or ask questions.

They even have explanations about limitations of revolving accounts.

Take note the Town Administrator's salary is budgeted at $86,800.00 for FY2016 and FY2017 proposed at $81,500.00.

According to the Town's website, there is a Town Administrator and one secretary with a salary of $24,977.00. 

There is an indication that the Town no longer employs an accountant as a town employee but now has accountant services as roughly the same salary expense of the former employee but without the benefits package, which other communities may be looking at or may be forced to look at due to rising budget costs.

Look no further than Phillipston using Templeton's dispatch service for on the cheap. Think of it, Templeton taxpayers are spending at least one million dollars for police station updrades and pays all of the maintenance costs of the building and equipment along with all of the salaries and benefits for the dispatch employees and all phillipston pays is $54,000.00 per year with perhaps a 10 thousand dollar increase proposed?  

posted by Jeff Bennett