In regards to the perpetual care fund balances and investments of the Town:

Massachusetts general law chapter 114;

Section 19: Deposits for care and improvement of burial places or lots; records; investment of deposits

Section 19. A city or town may receive, hold and apply any funds, money or securities deposited with the treasurer thereof for the preservation, care, improvement or embellishment of any public or private burial place situated therein, or of burial lots situated in such burial places. Such funds, money or securities shall be entered upon the books of the treasurer, and held in accordance with ordinances or by-laws relative thereto. A city or town may pass ordinances or by-laws consistent with law, necessary for the purposes of this section. Each treasurer shall invest such deposits under his control to insure a maximum income from such deposits. Upon the receipt of a deposit for the preservation, care, improvement or embellishment of individual lots in public burial places, said treasurer shall so inform the city or town clerk, who shall record the facts relating to such deposit in the margin of his records of said lots.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Things to check on for the new year: What are the balances of the funds that hold the perpetual care monies for the cemetery department. what is the balance of the fund that holds the building maintenance money. Are the selectmen, via the town administrator having the cemetery superintendent Alan Mayo take or attend management courses and if so, where is that money coming from. Are the selectmen, via the town administrator telling the highway superintendent to take over building maintenance for the town? Any answers to those questions will be posted here.


posted by Jeff Bennett

TOTAL CERTIFIED UNENCUMBERED EXCESS AND DEFICIENCY: $335,846.00. 

That is the amount listed for Narragansett regional school district for 2016. You can find this information on the MA dls website, under the gateway tab to the right of the website. Look for regional school district excess & deficiency and when you get to the list, scroll down to narragansett and then choose a year and see what was filed. In theory and very practical, it looks like the district has enough "free cash" left over through the years to be able to give back to the two towns that make up the district. The amount of $10,000.00 per town does seem to be out of reach. These funds could be used to help build both town's savings fund which in turn would result in better financial health for both towns. That usually results in better interest rates for the town's borrowing to benefit the schools. It is also possible that this action would put taxpayers in a better position or mood to support the schools better, from a financial stand point. That is my thought, anyway.


posted by Jeff Bennett