Annual Town Meeting warrant Draft - article 24 operating budget for FY 2018, shows a transfer from ambulance receipts - "anticipated receipts to be received by the treasury. In a conversation with the Town Accountant and what the T/A stated Tuesday night at BOS meeting, there would have been a deficit in that article because the $325,000.00 would not have actually been in the fund to transfer. In fact the T/A stated at that meeting that it was possible for a resident to ask what is the fund balance at that time and you (selectmen) would have to state there is in fact not $325,000.00 in the fund.

Now on the signed Town Meeting Warrant, with the order and number of articles having been changed, article 18 - operating budget now has a transfer from ambulance receipts in the amount of $225,000.00. Advisory Committee received this Wednesday, April 26, the evening of it's meeting

In a memo from Templeton T/A states ' DOR advises that we must show there is sufficient cash on hand at the time of the vote to satisfy the transfer.".

jeff bennett

 

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Wed 4/26, 6:01 AM

Handym@dor.state.ma.us

Sent Items

Ms. Handy;

While attending a selectmen meeting last night, Tuesday, April 24, 2017, it was stated that the intent of the selectmen (one option) is to go into Town meeting and propose a spending plan (budget) in deficit from the start. It is a proposed transfer from a fund that will not have enough money in it at the time of the vote to cover said transfer. It was stated that the DOR is okay with this. The alternative option is to reduce a line item by the $100,000.00 and fill that line back in in a fall Town meeting. The question is, is it legal to propose an un-balanced budget or one that is in deficit knowingly from the start? Talking of this on the same night after just being told from an auditor of all the things that have been done incorrectly in Templeton including back in 2009/2010 when the Town had a bond rating, had all financials completed and turned in on time or early and a CPA doing it's books, well, this seems like a dumb thing to do, quite frankly. I do not expect an answer but I do want someone outside of the Springfield office knowing of these things.

regards;
Jeff Bennett

DOR DLS Law <dlslaw@dor.state.ma.us>

 

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Yesterday, 9:18 AM

You

Inbox

Mr. Bennett –

Your email has been forwarded to our Bureau. Please provide me with a telephone number where you can be reached so I can obtain some additional information regarding the below. Also, a good time for me to call today or Monday would be helpful.

Thank you,

Patricia F. Hunt, Tax Counsel

Dept. of Revenue, Division of Local Services

Bureau of Municipal Finance Law

100 Cambridge St.

Boston, MA  02114

617-626-2400

huntp@dor.state.ma.us

posted by Jeff Bennett