Yesterday while watching a recent meeting of the advisory committee, I saw and heard something that is indicative of the financial problem in Templeton. One member stated the town administrator should go pound on the desk of John Driscoll, manager of Templeton light & water and demand that the light dept. give the town some money. That should not happen. Templeton needs to look at how much it can raise by way of property tax and local receipts. From property taxes, realize you will probably not collect more than 92% of that total. The town should attempt to collect as close to 100% as possible while understanding that a collection rate of 96 - 97% is very good. The town needs to stop holding it's hand out in order to provide services. Do not even count on state aid, especially if the selectmen plan on begging the state for a school loan and use state aid as collateral.

The town administrator is trying to say that the school loan will not put the town outside of the 5% loan max and that school debt is not part of that equation. My only question is this; if borrowed, will the town owe that money/ Is the town ultimately responsible for all borrowed money on behalf of the town, such as the new water tank?

In my opinion, we cannot say we have to live within our means then turn around with your hand out to the light department, or any other entity, and ask for money to help us out.

posted by Jeff Bennett