Two local communities that have turned to accounting services rather than a town employee.
This demonstrates a move (s) to save tax dollars, provide same service and cut down on future taxpayer funding obligations; retirement and health insurance - OPEB. It may have impact on other future costs such as unemployment insurance rates and workers comp. costs.

Ashburnham, MA - current tax rate of $22.55 per thousand (from tax recap sheet - fy2019)

Accounting service costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$54,000.00
Audit costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $18,000.00
MA municipal accounting dues . . . . . . . . . . . .  .  $     200.00
Office supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$     500.00
Business travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ..  .  . $     750.00


Hubbardston, MA - current tax rate of $15.22 per thousand (from tax recap sheet - fy2019)

Accounting service costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$42,000.00
Audit costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $19,000.00
Office supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$     200.00

Templeton has a town employee as an accountant.

Templeton, MA - current tax rate of $17.24 per thousand (from tax recap sheet - fy2019)

Accountant salary costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $68,414.00
assistant accountant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,813.00
employee support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..  $  2,500.00
Audit costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $28,000.00
Office supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$     500.00

*employee support includes MA municipal accounting dues, business travel, etc.

While this only demonstrates one department, it does show that doing business in a different way or taking another approach, it may be possible to provide same service without a tax increase and without cutting service. This differs from the current philosophy or commentary currently coming from the Templeton selectmen office, which has been so far "either we increase taxes or we cut services." It really comes down to how high do taxes have to get before towns people ask the question; is there a different way to do things?


The above information takes some time to find, but it can be checked out.