How much???

If you keep track, the amount of money transferred within the so called budget of Templeton, by the board of selectmen, including the most recent sums for transfer equals or will equal $450,561.50.
That is a figure that should draw some attention. That is a pretty large error, bad guess, bad estimate; pick any adjective you wish. Consider this one account the salary account for the town administrator; this is just one example of taking from peter to pay paul and then back again. November 9, 2015, transfer from town administrator salary to town accountant expense. March 21, 2016, transfer from town administrator salary to fire/ems salary, town accountant software and montachusett regional planning assessment. May 14, 2016, transfer from treasurer/clerk wages and conservation admin asst. wages to town administrator salary account. Round and round we go, now is that an example of a budget, of having enough money to run things?

November 9, 2015, selectmen state due to a double appropriation to fire/ems salary account, we can transfer $111,608.50 to pay the snow & Ice deficit, then on March 21, 2016, selectmen state we have to transfer back to fire/ems salary account the amount of $45,000.00 and now the selectmen say we need to transfer another $7,000.00 to fire/ems salary account. Apparently math is not someone's strong suit. Or the calculator is broke/ needs batteries.

Things are so bad, selectmen want to transfer from Veterans benefits to council on the aging salaries and expenses. COA salaries require $12,000.00, we are told this and COA expenses require $1,000.00.

It is harder and harder to agree with all these continued transfers, it appears that it is just enabling it to continue on and on with no plan for change, as in financial change and planning, with a clear objective.

posted by Jeff Bennett