As a refresher from past information I have "published" in the past, here is a part of 963 CMR 2.00
CMR = Code of Massachusetts Regulation.
(3) School Building Committee.
(a) The Eligible Applicant shall formulate a school building committee for the purpose of
generally monitoring the Application process and to advise the Eligible Applicant during the
construction of an Approved Project.
(b) he school building committee shall be formed in accordance with the provisions of the
Eligible Applicant’s local charter and/or by-laws and it is recommended that the city, town,
regional school district, or independent agricultural and technical school make a reasonable
effort to include one or more of the following individuals: the local chief executive officer
of the Eligible Applicant, or, in the case of a town whose local chief executive officer is a
multi-party body, said body may elect one of its members to serve on the school building
committee; the town administrator, town manager, or city manager, where applicable; at least
one member of the school committee, as required by M.G.L. c. 71, § 68; the superintendent
of schools; the local official responsible for building maintenance; a representative of the
office or body authorized by law to construct school buildings in that city, town or regional
school district, or for that independent agricultural and technical school; the school principal
from the subject school; a member who has knowledge of the educational mission and
function of the facility; a local budget official or member of the local finance committee;
members of the community with architecture, engineering and/or construction experience to
provide advice relative to the effect of the Proposed Project on the community and to
examine building design and construction in terms of its construct-ability.
So if somewhere along the line you were told or you feel you were led to believe that it is a requirement to absolutely have a superintendent on the school building committee, you were lied to, in my opinion, if we are to rely on and believe the above mentioned CMR. It clearly states, "it is recommended to make a reasonable effort" and you can see the law only requires one member of the school committee to be appointed to it. You can of course read the entire 963 CMR 2.00 for yourself by way of google.
Jeff Bennett
Sunday, January 17, 2016
State of Templeton spending:
This is not a case for or against anything, it is just the facts.
So far, the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year which begins July 1, 2016 (FY 17), the largest expense item is for education/schools at $6,236,480.00 for both Monty Tech and NRHS. That is followed by a combined insurance, retirement and town buildings followed by public safety, DEBT and highway.
With the total cost estimate to operate the entire Town at $7,459,822.00, you can see the already large chunk of money Templeton contributes to schools "for the kids." What will the additional debt contribution be for the new school is anyone's guess, as has been reported, the most MSBA will contribute is "up to 22.9 million dollars. That is not guaranteed money because it is only a maximum dollar figure, it could be less as that is always an ongoing evaluation as to what dollar amount will be covered or not by MSBA. That is why the Town, as in you, have to borrow the entire cost estimate of the project. When the bills come due and if you did not take time to vote at the ballot or Town meeting, that would be the time to look in the mirror and ask yourself why the hell I did not take time to attend and vote. The bill still has to be paid but perhaps it will be a wake up call to take the time and participate.
Jeff Bennett
This is not a case for or against anything, it is just the facts.
So far, the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year which begins July 1, 2016 (FY 17), the largest expense item is for education/schools at $6,236,480.00 for both Monty Tech and NRHS. That is followed by a combined insurance, retirement and town buildings followed by public safety, DEBT and highway.
With the total cost estimate to operate the entire Town at $7,459,822.00, you can see the already large chunk of money Templeton contributes to schools "for the kids." What will the additional debt contribution be for the new school is anyone's guess, as has been reported, the most MSBA will contribute is "up to 22.9 million dollars. That is not guaranteed money because it is only a maximum dollar figure, it could be less as that is always an ongoing evaluation as to what dollar amount will be covered or not by MSBA. That is why the Town, as in you, have to borrow the entire cost estimate of the project. When the bills come due and if you did not take time to vote at the ballot or Town meeting, that would be the time to look in the mirror and ask yourself why the hell I did not take time to attend and vote. The bill still has to be paid but perhaps it will be a wake up call to take the time and participate.
Jeff Bennett
ASHBURNHAM -- Residents will be paying an average of almost $500 more next year on their tax bills, due to a tax-rate increase from $19.83 to $22.28.
At the Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday night, the Board of Assessors presented their plan to up the tax rate for fiscal 2015. Ashburnham has always had a single tax rate for residents and businesses, unlike some larger cities in Massachusetts, and this will not change. What is new this year, according to Board of Assessors member Donna Burton, is the amount at which the rate will increase.
"It's gone up a little bit more than normal," Burton said. "Usually the impact on an average bill (from year to year) is about $200, and this time it's gone up almost double that."
In part because the average single-family home in town is valued relatively low compared to other communities in the state, at $201,657 for fiscal 2015, the tax rate is one of the highest in Massachusetts. Based on this $201,657 valuation, the average Ashburnham family will be paying an estimated $4,493 next tax season, a $496 increase from this year.
The rate, Burton said, is going up "basically because of the brand new Briggs Elementary School."
The new tax rate yet isn't finalized yet, she added, but only because the state has yet to sign off on it.
"We didn't set the tax rate yet because the Deparment of Revenue didn't certify it yet," she explained. The certification is pending, and once it is final, the selectmen just have to vote to approve the new rate.
Information from Ashburnham Assessors office shows the tax rate in 2008 at $12.93 per thousand and in 2012 at $18.34 per thousand. This is a Town that recently built a new school with MSBA.
This is not a for or against a new school, rather just an example shown as to what can happen as a result of a new school. Consider that there is also a 2 1/2% yearly increase in levy limit as well as revaluation every three years, unless the law is changed to every five years. This is information available to every voter and or taxpayer in Templeton. I do not believe there are any real fortune tellers out there but I do not expect any tax bill to be going down anytime soon in Templeton. You can contact the Templeton Assessors office to check on the next revaluation year, how that works as well as how the tax rate is determined. That is part of your government and you should use it.
Jeff Bennett
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