Scope & Eligibility
○ MSBA reimburses roofs more than 25 years old
■ HS Built in 1997
■ MS Built in 1958, Sections repaired in 1997 & 2011
○ Construction to replace the High School roof & repair qualifying sections of the Middle School roof
● Project Cost Overview ○ Total construction cost: $10,864,548
● MSBA Reimbursement ○ Approved Oct 29, 2025, at a 59% reimbursement rate.
○ Total Estimated Max Facilities Grant: $6,111,695
● Local Funding Share - Remaining local cost: $4,752,853
○ District to issue 20-year bond
○ Estimated cost of Bond (Principal & Interest): $7,057,471
■ Templeton(85%): $5,998,850
■ Phillipston(15%): $1,058,621
● Tax Rate Increase
○ Phillipston: No impact due to funding through reserves
○ Templeton: Approximate $95.19 annual increase to the average single-family home
At $95.19 per average home it means that over the 20 years the average taxpayer would be requested to pay $1903.80.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of 20 years, this being a debt exclusion and not an Override, the $95.19 per year gets removed from the tax roles in 20 years.
What are the alternatives?
We can not repair the roof and allow the 36 present leaks to increase, decay steel beams, grow mold and make the building uninhabitable.
We could deny this present package were the MSBA is paying 59% of the bill and go it alone and pay 250% more per year (paying 40% now compared to 100% if we pass this opportunity)This would mean the average home in Templeton would be paying $237.98 per year or $4,759.50 over the 20 years. This assumes no added costs for our delay.
Personally I choose $95.19 per year for 20 years.
Please vote yes at the special election on January 6, 2026
Robert May
Every Templeton Department Head knows the debt schedule and has pet capital projects lined up to replace any retiring debt.
ReplyDeleteOnly if the public votes for them ! We need an educated public and a honest Advisory Committee. People think that if an article is on the Town Meeting warrant, then it is a real need. That has not always been true. That has to change.
DeleteCorrect, but the people who go to Town Meeting have some responsibility.
ReplyDeleteLook at the Fire Tanker Truck. I was suppose to be paid for using the $92,500 in budget from the expiring 2019 Engine purchase. The first year was to be paid from free cash as the Engine lease had not completed when we purchased the Tanker.
Adam/Chief Dickie decided to change all that and again went for free cash last year to pay for Tanker and Town Meeting supported it. Now we have just rolled that $92,500 into the general fund and will require free cash to fund the balance of the Tanker lease.
I stated all this at the last Annual Town meeting and the people in attendance voted to spend free cash anyways.
This effectively raised the funding for the Fire department by $92,500 cause the money was in the Fire Department Budget, but they just didn't want to spend it.
If I'm not mistaken ( final year end not available) the Fire Department had $70,000 left over from their budget last year due to this poor execution of funding.
Most of the time, the public doesn't have the knowledge or the understanding to figure out what is needed or not. That is why public officials have to do their jobs. Being a rubber stamp has caused money problems for years, along with no long term planning ! This just has to stop.
DeleteThat Fire Department strategy is similar to the Police Department strategy with body armor. It's contractual, by not budgeting, the Chief has increased his budget by making it a crisis.
ReplyDeleteAgain, poor planning, or no planning ! 😱
ReplyDeleteThe video with the Superintendent on the roof did not help. It brings more questions. It is clear to all that general maintenance was ignored. He shouldn't be putting a chair on the roof and he ignored OSHA guidelines.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your solution?
Delete