Why you must be ever vigilant.

Since there has now been updated valuations, as in property values are valued higher now in Templeton, $1.00 per thousand will raise $597,000.00. Close enough to say 600 thousand, so $2.00 per thousand will raise 1.2 million dollars. Still, that is above the $1.74 per thousand you were told at town meeting back on November 9, 2015. That has been my biggest concern/complaint with much of Templeton's finances, lack of truth and clarity. For those who were at annual Town meeting back in 2013, the ambulance receipts account does not and will not completely pay for the ambulance service. Things like more full time employees salaries and benefit packages will have to come from taxation, period. Dispatch cost Templeton taxpayers more than 37 thousand dollars per year. Another lie from a past chief of police. With new prisoner cells in the Templeton police station, taxpayers will now be on the hook to house, keep track of, feed and take to hospital anyone locked up for a period of time, especially over say a weekend. There needs to be a meeting, a survey, questionnaire, something, to get feed back from residents on what services they want and what they are willing to pay for them. Do we wish to keep the senior center? There are selectmen who think that may need to go. Do you think Templeton should be in the ambulance business? Would you still be for it if Templeton could get a contract thru a private company and receive 100 thousand per year just for letting them provide that service to Templeton. Would you be in favor of raising Phillipston share of dispatch to at least 90 thousand per year? Would you be in favor of taking on a third town for dispatch service? Some thing (s0 have to give or residents will have to support an override, as a raise in taxes just to cover those costs for services. We need to determine what services residents need and want and what they are willing to pay for them.


posted by Jeff Bennett