The school budget - get over it and All contracts impact the budget!
Whether Templeton is actually meeting or exceeding minimum contribution or not, the deck is stacked against cities and towns. Templeton saw first hand how that works in 2013, except that it did not go all the way. However, if you look at other area towns where it did go all the way, schools did not always get everything they wanted money wise and neither did the towns. Schools are also not under prop 2 1/2. The department of revenue will not look at school funding items, they defer to the DESE or department of elementary and secondary education. Again, the school district was caught in a lie and even the superintendent admitted to it, but in the end, the district got the number they asked for. Until some laws are changed and all federal and state mandates are funded by the mandating authority, not much is going to change. It is just reality.
Last night, the Police Chief was asked about what could be cut in one section of his budget, he stated all of the items and hence the dollars was driven by contract, as in the selectmen were given items that someone wanted, they agreed to them and signed a document promising to pay for them. When you take all the contracts and add up all of the dollars required to pay for those contracts, what is left has to cover all other expenses.
We will see what the district has to say, if anything, concerning Templeton meeting it's minimum contribution to the district. Everyone is trying to grab as much as they can without worrying about the next guy, including the taxpayer. perhaps the selectmen should be asked why the school district is in the driver's seat for a new elementary school rather than the selectmen, and did that have anything to do with the overspending of funds, as in spending money you do not have. So when the school district budget is presented to town meeting, it can be voted up or down and if it is down, the town will go through what it did back in 2013. The question is, will the town be willing to do that again?
posted by Jeff Bennett
I guess it is "normal" for every department to try to get everything it needs to get through the year, but everyone has to remember what the Town is allowed to raise and appropriate may not be what it was in the past. There is a reason why we are in debt every year, including this one, seeing we started off in a hole. The main reason for this continued shortfall could be that we are depending on money we do not collect, year after year. If we do not collect all of the money that is on that budget sheet, then we will continue to have a deficit. Why plan on these funds that you are not going to get in reality ? Just maybe it is because if people dealt with reality, then their budget would not be so full of promises. Thank you very much, but give me reality anytime. Living with what we know we will have would make our Town a more stable place to work for the people who are depending on a pay check to keep them and their families alive. The real problem is what we count as revenue. As most of you know, in the FY17 budget there were areas that were padded, and were wrong, and as a result we,(the Town) has spent more money than we had in reality. I had hoped that the BOS would have presented a more conservative budget seeing the great need for money in stabilization, and a budget that just works for once. I had hoped the fact that our Town has to get on a stable footing, would have sent the message that a couple of "bite the bullet" years would be required to get us on track. It does seem the message got lost in transit, again. So what does it take to make these people understand we are at the bottom of the barrel, and we cannot go any lower. Do we have to beg the State to come in to run us, because we are not adult enough to do it ourselves ? It does seem so, to me anyway. Bev.
ReplyDeleteI truly think part of the problem is by design. Look for instance at the recent lawnmower purchases. We bought 4 x710 for $28,000+ They have a 4 year warrenty. we are able to trade our old 2013 for $3500 towards new ones.
ReplyDeleteWe pay $1000 per year per tractor. We buy through a MA contract. Do we have too? Why are we buying riding lawnmowers?
We have to be able to think out of the box or we will go broke.
goats work fine at the old land fill in leominster,plus free fertilizer
DeleteEveryone is trying to grab as much as they can without worrying about the next guy?
ReplyDeleteQuestion is without any fix for Templeton's problem people who work for Templeton need to get what they can. If you look at the last 7 years your highway raises have been around 1% average for some years none. I thank the Selectman for the ability to see the needs of the highway workers. They know the important work we do and how we are able to do it with what we have to do it with.
So i think it should be known not everyone is trying to grab as much as they can without worrying about the next guy.
A statement like that has to be from a person who can not grasp the reality of what Templeton has been going through.
I'll bet a lot of you would agree.
David,
DeleteTotal US inflation over last 7 years averages to 1.7%. Please tell us the increase cost to Templeton per employee. It's more than 1% because you seem to think healthcare increases the town covers are not a raise............
The amount of 75% is still the same.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bob M.
As with your dollar Bob mine doesn't go as far as it use to so why would the towns.
Everyone is trying to grab as much as they can without worrying about the next guy is what Jeffy told us so it's no surprise i guess?
david smart6:42 AM
ReplyDeleteThe most impact any contract has on Templetons financial issues is the schools.
Mr. Henie was all over the issue when he was on the AC.
Our Selectman from the past were not front and center on the issue more so in catch up mode as the joint meeting had a new approach in town.
When will any research come and will it be way to late.
At least i know of one selectman that has looked into the issue and has some insight prior to the meeting this springs ATM.
If only we still had BERNIE working for us.