With regards to unions, etc., what has been posted here previously has to do with labor contracts, often referred to as CBA or collective bargaining agreements.
What was posted concerned the financial ramifications of those agreements/contracts.
Within the fiscal year 2019 spending plan is a figure of $40,000.00 to cover merit pay raises and CBA requirements. Those are things that were signed previously and now have to be covered. Those things have an effect on taxes. Not talking about them, not pointing those out is equivalent to putting one's head in the sand. You may not see those items, it is not known at this time if there will be a line by line explanation of the proposed spending plan or not.
Within the draft Town Meeting warrant is article 22. Fiscal Year 2019 general fund operating budget.
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of (now blank) for the operations of general government for fiscal year 2019 and to meet said appropriation with a transfer of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars an no cents from the ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation, anticipated receipts and the balance from taxation. Or to take any other action thereto.
“ After a meeting Feb. 22 when the rate options were presented to the Group Insurance Commission board, Herman and her staff were tasked with exploring alternatives that could mitigate the steep rate increases for Pool 2 members. In the ensuing weeks with the cooperation of the Baker administration and unions, a bill was drafted.
ReplyDeleteIf enacted, the 10,000 retirees would be able to choose from a range of plans available to most state workers and retirees offered by UniCare, Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan, Tufts Health, Fallon Community Health and Health New England.
“What we need to know by the end of the week is the direction things are going in,” Herman told Parisella.
Lisa Adams of the Massachusetts Municipal Association said that without action on the governor’s bill, communities could also be looking at higher premium costs for their retirees covered under Pool 2 UniCare plans.“http://www.newburyportnews.com/news/regional_news/bill-could-help-avoid-insurance-cost-spike/article_ebecb2c4-ca8d-51cb-a63e-e7e7fe305102.html
Draft of warrant is avail on line at temoleton.gov as well - http://www.templeton1.org/sites/templetonma/files/file/file/2018_atm_warrant_draft.pdf
DeleteI was happy to see this posted and I see the citizens petitions are back . I hope soon to see more of them ( only need 10 registered vote signatures of town residents I believe ) to be considered by the selectmen to be placed in front of town voters ( correct me if I’m wrong ) I hope to see more not revolving around the same things by the 20 or so people.
DeleteWhat’s your political philosophy Jeff ? That no unions should be allowed in a municipal? State ? Federal ? How about police dept ? I’m curious if you could expand on that .
ReplyDeleteI’m back ! Yes I would like to know as well. That may help explain a lot of things better.
ReplyDeleteI noticed on this link below the entire budget is available for people to read in its entirely as presented . http://www.templeton1.org/sites/templetonma/files/file/file/budgetbookfy19-section1-3.pdf
ReplyDeleteQuestion I hope someone can help me understand this better . general fund boa reeval updates - 22,500 is that what the personal property of all who get assessed that in town increased in FY18 ? ( market value )
ReplyDeleteAlso help on page 12 understanding levy 1.025 without debt exclusion or capital . I’m not clear on that . Does the town have the ability to raise taxes on property 2.5 or is that based on last years levy ceiling ? If anyone knows . Thanks in advance
ReplyDeleteGood questions. I wish I was a tax person. I went to the DLS site ( voluminous ) and they have a lot of info on levy,levy ceiling etc hope that answers can be found here or perhaps where ask .. perhaps the assessor can help answer that. “ How is a Levy Ceiling Changed?
ReplyDeleteThe total full and fair cash value of taxable real and personal property in a community usually changes each year as properties are added or removed from the tax roll and market values increase or decrease. This also changes the levy ceiling.
NEW LEVY CEILING
LEVY CEILING
How is a Levy Limit Calculated?
A levy limit for each community is calculated annually by the Department of Revenue. It is important to note that a community’s levy limit is based on the previous year’s levy limit and not on the previous year’s actual levy.”
Best of luck
Thanks anon 11:30 am I will certainly more than likely call but will look at the DLS site and have the info handy when speaking , as to not sound completely uninformed.
DeleteI’m assuming , that if the levy is not based on “ good “ market numbers by the town assessors that this is what is the basis good or bad for an accurate tax levy/ ceiling. As you pointed out above in the quote from DLS .
Reading this above exchange gives me hope of actually having a conversation that’s productive and informative.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading here about prop 2.5 and the basis of levy and “ leaving it up to towns “ . That said, if for instance the assessed values of property at the time of enactment was not accurate I suspect that would have a direct impact on this town say 38 years later would it not ? As in catching up for past under evaluation. I’m not suggesting this was done out of ignorance or malice. Just asking .
Again good questions. I would like to know as well. * or we could keep talking about door knobs
ReplyDeleteMy "philosophy on unions and employment contracts are simple and have been stated multiple times; when you make them and agree to terms, the financial costs must be accounted for and planned for. Simply put, make sure you can actually afford them prior to agreeing to terms and before signing them. Goes to long term financial planning.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a coy response. Seems to this observer of your writings thru the years sir that if YOU personally had your choice you would eliminate unions from representing municipal if not state and perhaps federal employees.
ReplyDeleteIf that is not the case please respond.
In other words Jeff do you support the missions of the unions for employees in this town and school ?
* I do myself and I also support nurses unions
Unions are organized crime syndicates that are above the law. But things could change, with the Supreme Court set to hear Janus this term.
ReplyDeleteJudge Anna is that you ?
DeleteI don’t agree with your disparaging comments about unions. There are good ones and not so good perhaps but the underlying premise of them is fair wages and benifit that hold others to the same standard.
DeleteThanks but I’m not asking you I asked Jeff.
ReplyDeleteWell I'll chime in, unions destroy towns when they try to build something, the new school could've been built for less than 1/2 with normal local laborers getting normal pay.
ReplyDeleteUnions are for lazy asses who want protection when they have a headache or want to miss work for other reasons.
Unions have destroyed the ethical honest workers
“ unions destroy towns “ “. 1/2 the cost “ “ locals getting normal pay” ( what’s normal pay for you locals ? ) “ unions are lazy asses “ “ unions .. destoyed ethical “ I will be sure to let my fellow union laborers around the area of this blog.
ReplyDeleteThe plumber better not turn on the lights before the union electrician gets there or they all go home with pay.
ReplyDeleteBunch of cry babies
No worries anon 9:16 your “ thoughts” are getting out.
ReplyDeleteI realize that some of the old foundation ( which as since been cleared and disposed of per regulations ) in the New Elemetary School had asbestos. I also heard that one of the school bldg committee members mumbled something “ that’s the mastic on the walls “ No response was given that I heard by the OPM .
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall, that some comments about the now Town Hall ( very nice ) had “paint continue to peel from basement walls” or something to that effect took place.
I truely hope that all ” laziness of protections “ were taken in that facility.