In a frustrating setback to the Commonwealth's climate goals, Massachusetts drivers incinerated 24 million more gallons of gasoline in 2023 than they did in 2022, according to state tax collection data.

That represents the third consecutive year of rising gasoline consumption in the Commonwealth since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The trend undermines the state's climate strategy, which calls for fossil fuel use to converge quickly toward zero in the next two decades.

Those reports show that Massachusetts collected $612 million in fuel taxes in calendar year 2023. At a tax rate of 24 cents per gallon, that implies that Massachusetts drivers bought and burned 2.55 billion gallons of gasoline last year.

 Looking at finance information from MA division local service (DLS) in fiscal year 2024, Templeton spent 43.80% of it's general fund (GF) budget on education, followed by 15.64% on unclassified, 12.94% on public safety. 11.06% on GF debt service, 8.18% on general government, 6.59% on public works and 1.80% on other.

FY2025, GF revenue was 64.80% tax levy (real estate and personal property tax) 16.29% local receipts (vehicle excise tax and fees to town) 9.62% other and 9.29% state aid.

From this, majority of money to run town comes from real estate taxes and most of that goes to operate the school district. Low on the totem pole is fixing, maintaining and building new sidewalks, etc. Funny how that works, the one thing that everyone and everything moves on, the roads, get little funding. Look at capital improvement plan/recommendations, alot of trucks, tractors, etc., not much of anything for roads, bridges sidewalks, storm drainage, etc. Anything on cross walk signage lights, etc.?

 MGL chapter 140D Section 28A. (a)(1) With respect to a credit card which may be used for extensions of credit in sales transactions in which the seller is a person other than the card issuer, the card issuer may not, by contract or otherwise, prohibit any such seller from offering a discount to a cardholder to induce the cardholder to pay cash, check or similar means rather than use a credit card.

(2) No seller in any sales transaction may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means.

(b) With respect to any sales transaction, any discount from the regular price offered by the seller for the purpose of inducing payment by cash, check or other means not involving the use of an open-end-credit plan or a credit card shall not constitute a finance charge under section four if such discount is offered to all prospective buyers and its availability is disclosed clearly and conspicuously.

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Templeton chapter 93 of special acts 2000.

SECTION 2. The manager of the Templeton municipal lighting and water plant shall exercise and perform such of the powers, rights and duties transferred under section 1 of this act and those contained in chapter 164 of the General Laws and otherwise as may from time to time be designated. Said manager shall be specifically fitted by education, training and experience to perform the duties of his office and need not be a resident of the town during his tenure of office. Said manager shall be responsible for the efficient exercise and performance of such powers, rights and duties.

During his tenure, said manager shall hold no other elective or appointive office nor engage in any other business or occupation. Said manager shall appoint such assistants, agents and employees as the exercise and performance of his powers, rights and duties may require. Said manager shall render to the board of selectmen, as often as they may require, a full report of all operations under his control during the period reported upon, and annually, and from time to time as required by said board of selectmen, shall make a synopsis of such reports for publication and shall keep said board of selectmen advised as to the needs of the town within the scope of his duties; and shall annually, not less than 120 days prior to the expiration of the fiscal year of said town, furnish to said board of selectmen a detailed estimate in writing of the appropriations required during the next succeeding fiscal year for the proper exercise and performance of all said rights and duties.

 From Templeton Water dept. web page; 2013 water rate study (the most current one on web page)

Background

Brian Goetz and Jeff Faulkner met with John Driscoll and Ron Davan on April 26, 2013. We discussed the history of the TMLWP and past rate increases. The water system last increased their consumptive usage rates six years ago and their service fees four years ago. John noted that he believes that due to the decrease in consumption over the years, increasing the service fee again is the most feasible way to increase revenues. Expenses are currently more than their revenue. A recent water main break (on a large 16-inch asbestos cement water main) cost the water system $33,000 to repair. Water customers are billed quarterly utilizing Billtrust billing services. The TMLWP is fairly satisfied with this service. Over the course of a billing cycle approximately 100 shutoff notices are issued but rarely do more than a few actually result in shut offs. The vast majority of customers pay. The current rate of administrative costs for the water versus electric administrative duties is 86% electric and 14% water. This has been the way the TMLWP has split costs since the water system was established. The TMLWP does not have any capital reserve.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8LmBM1P7BYuUHRjU0V4QVNjc0E/edit?usp=sharing

The above link should provide access to information on how and when the Templeton Water dept. was merged with the Templeton light dept.