The Advisory Committee is made up of seven members, all volunteers, who are appointed by the Town Moderator for a term of three years. The Town’s General Bylaws direct the Advisory Committee to give recommendations that it deems best for the interests of the Town and its citizens on all department budgets, transfer requests, warrant articles, zoning articles and by law articles. One can look at the Templeton general Town by-laws to see the exact wording/direction given by way of Town Meeting and their by-law votes which show the direction residents wanted and voted for the Advisory Committee to proceed.The Advisory Committee's goal is to give Town residents an objective viewpoint on all matters to be considered at Annual and Special Town Meetings. Their recommendations are intended to ensure the residents of Templeton are receiving the best mix of services for the amount of taxes being collected. Since the members of the Advisory Committee are appointed by the Town Moderator, they act as a check and balance to the Town’s elected boards and committees as well as those individuals, boards and committees appointed by the Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator.
Please be advised there are sometimes openings on the committee during the year and there are some appointments up each year and if you feel you are not getting what was voted for, please step up and volunteer. Since the committee is directed to be in the "checks and balance business", it is imperative that the committee have the access to information and that information is required to be clear, up to date and easily available to the committee.
Hopefully this year, Templeton residents will see a different format on recommendations from the Advisory Committee, and these recommendations will be available in different formats and places.
With so little revenue coming into the town, it is imperative that your tax dollars be spent wisely. Our town had too much debt, even before it voted to build a new school, so it is more important than ever to watch where your tax dollars are spent. This is what the Advisory Committee is trying to do. If you have questions feel free to contact our committee by email or attend a meeting. Bev.
ReplyDeleteWhat the government likes to call "revenue" should be always called "taxes".
ReplyDeleteTempleton collects the plenty of taxes. Management of that taxpayer money is poor. From too many underworked employees to third world highway, taxpayers are getting the shaft.
Meanwhile, we have a crew of arrested developed Selectmen who are issuing edicts about "service pins" and similar nonsense. Things are not going to get better.
Things will not get better unless someone runs for selectman who will work for the people. We do not have the revenue we did due to the loss of our big businesses, but then again we were broke then to. Last year the budget was not sustainable for the Fy18 budget, according to our TA. Have you seen any progress in making our government fiscally responsible? I see they gave some kid the glorified job of running the recreation dept. well, last year they were going to cut that dept ., so where is the $$ coming from ? This AC is the hardest working bunch of people that has done this job in many years. We ask questions, some do not like, but we need your backing. I hope every one has a happy holiday. Stay safe ! Bev.
DeleteTaxpayer money, Bev. Not revenue!
ReplyDeleteAnom 11:59 Your TA calls it revenue. he does not consider it TAX payer money that is why the town needs to get rid of him ASAP
ReplyDeleteWe were supposed to have a PILOT with the Light Dept., remember ? For some reason out TA has settled on accepting equipment instead. Not the way it should go, but in the end, that is revenue, I think.
DeleteThe light department should pay a fixed portion of its revenue towards the towns budget. The idea that the light department decides what it will and wont fund is asinine.
DeleteThe "pilot" should be cash and should be consistent and not a gift. The way it works now it appears the Light department is superior to the Town.
The word "revenue" is favored by big government types. I don't know about you, but I pay taxes, not "revenue". "Finding new sources of revenue" is government-speak for increasing taxes.
ReplyDeleteDid you get your tax bill ? I got mine. About 60 more than last time. Merry Christmas !! Ho H
Deleteo
Did everyone get their tax bills ? I got mine, about 60.00 more than last time. Merry Christmas, Ho, Ho, Ho !
It will be even better when all that credit card debt is on the tax rate! Ho ho ho!
ReplyDelete