A GUIDE TO COSTING MUNICIPAL SERVICES 

What is the full cost of collecting and disposing of trash in your community? 

How much does it cost to provide fire protection? 

 What would it cost to increase service levels? 

How much could be saved by reducing services? 

 If you charge fees for municipal services, what percentage of the cost of service do they cover? 

Under what circumstances should fees be increased? 

 Could some municipal services be provided more efficiently by private firms? 

 As a local official – whether you are a mayor or selectman, manager or executive secretary, auditor or accountant, department head, member of the finance committee or any other member of municipal government – you may have asked these or other questions related to the cost of municipal services. Costing is a management and policymaking tool that helps to answer these questions.

 It differs from traditional municipal budgeting and accounting in three ways: 

 1. Costing looks at the cost of all resources used to provide services rather than expenditures made to operate municipal departments; 

 2. Costing includes all costs of providing a service, not just those found in the budget or financial reports of the department responsible for the service; 

 3. Costing focuses on the cost of the resources used to provide a service during a given period of time, regardless of when cash disbursements are made to purchase these resources. The purpose of costing is not simply to collect cost data, but to provide municipal managers and officials with information they can use to make better management decisions in several areas:

 The debt exclusion question that just passed at town meeting is for 4 million dollars and it is on the ballot for state election. there was no 1.2 - 2-million-dollar debt exclusion question. I would suggest calling the assessor's office of Templeton at 978-894-2760 and ask what $1.00 on the tax rate raises and then ask how 4 million would increase current tax rate. Keep in mind there still needs to be a tax classification hearing in front of the select board and the tax recap sheet still needs to be approved by state DOR. Remember, the tax rate can go down while your tax bill can still go up, due in large part to the revaluation process and the greatest increase in valuations in Templeton have been residential real estate, mostly because that is where the most sales have been happening. Financial history shows over the past 10 years to date, the greatest increase in taxes has been residential, no matter what the percentage increase may have been in this revaluation year, which happens every 5 years now. Again, simply call the assessors before you are told the sky is falling and an override is coming with it

 https://www.mma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/MMA-webinar-FirstAmendmentAudit-10.22.24.pdf

 Thank You to Templeton resident Robert May, he came to town meeting informed and prepared. That is how the legislative body needs to be when assembling for town meeting.

Thank You to those who attended.

A written report from advisory committee explaining each article with the pros and cons of each article would be helpful. Advisory budget has $760.00 in it for office supplies. A report does not have to be fancy and can be had for less than 100 bucks.

 https://www.atholdailynews.com/Board-votes-to-enact-sign-ban-on-town-property-57510063

 Good afternoon,

 

I hope everyone is doing well. I am pleased to be reaching out with the news that Templeton has been awarded in the FY25 round of the Community One Stop for Growth Grant Program. For context, this past June I submitted an application specifically to the Rural Development Fund for all costs associated with the design and engineering of the rehabilitation of all 3.9 miles of Barre Road. As shown in the attached award letter, we were lucky enough to be awarded $290,000 through the program, which will cover approximately 96% of Tighe & Bond’s proposed costs.

 

Currently, I am working with the Town Administrator as well as the Office of Rural Affair to iron out any and all project specifics prior to executing the grant contract. By the time my next quarterly report comes around, which I believe will be on the 11/6/24 Select Board Meeting, I should have a more substantial update on the project’s status and hopefully even more good new to share.

 

Thank you all for your support, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments.

 

Thank you,

 

Gracelyn P. Currie

Gracelyn P. Currie

Grant Writer Administrator

 Northern Tier Rail Line:

Good morning Jeff, 

I hope all is well with you! Thank you very much for the update and for your help with this, I really do appreciate it! I'll be sure to let the group know that Templeton is very interested in this project and would like to be considered for a stop as well. I appreciate all of the information you sent over and will be sure it gets where it needs to go. Should there be anything else needed for any reason, I'll be in touch and we can go from there.

Thanks again and I hope you have a great weekend!

Best,

-Nolan

Nolan King

Legislative Aide

State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik

2nd Worcester District

Ashburnham, Gardner, Templeton, Winchendon (Precincts 2 & 3)