Who's on first, I don't know is pitching!
Having spoke with the chairman of the Templeton board of selectmen and having read the face book page of Diane Brooks, Templeton selectmen, the message seems to be that if the school project is halted, Templeton will have to pay some money back to MSBA, which would be at least one million dollars or more. Not so fast says long time school committee member and member of Templeton school building committee. Mr. Mason says that money would come off the "top" if Templeton were to get in the pipeline later down the road. That is, in any future "grant" award, the past payments would be subtracted from any future grants. Example; Templeton would be awarded an MSBA grant of 22 million, then say 2 million already paid out to Templeton, would be subtracted and the future grant would only be 20 million. Seems there is no big debt with associated debt exclusion which would add to the tax rate for stopping the school project. So it would seem both selectmen were speaking out of their hats or were/are trying to scare people into voting a certain way. Seems like it is right up there with the mythical large "free cash" that the selectmen talked about right up until after the yes school vote.
Just remember why we are having a special town meeting to begin with; to fix the numbers document that the selectmen and town administrator told everyone was all fine, proper, balanced and fully funded. While the Advisory Committee raised questions, some still unanswered by way of the selectmen. Advisory Committee pointed out the lack of separation of long term debt principle and interest, lack of separate warrant article for a scholarship fund, lack of a salary number for a library janitor, too high new growth figure, which is reliably available from the Board of Assessors office and the still questionable vehicle excise tax figure. Also was an apparent short fall for unemployment insurance and the ever increasing health insurance costs. The superior board would have none of it, because as selectmen Brooks stated, "we are elected and you are only appointed."
posted by Jeff Bennett
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
from September 18, 2015
WESTFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - A $36 million construction bid was accepted in Westfield to build a new elementary school. Some neighbors are outraged at the location of the new building and started a petition against the transfer of land that would be used to build the new school. The plan is for the school to be built at the corner of Ashley and Cross St. and for the park that’s there now to move to Ponders Hollow Rd. Many residents say these changes aren'’t good for the community.
Ernest Simmons has lived on Cross St. for most of his life and doesn’t want the congestion of a new school in his neighborhood.
"We already have a lot of traffic and now you're talking about bringing numerous buses and parents do not want their kids walking a mile and a half, there will be cars coming up and down the street," said Simmons.
Right now at the building site of the new school lies an old, gated, rundown playground which is run by the city of Westfield. Residents say the new location for the park is undesirable and started a petition against the park moving to Ponders Hollow Rd. At one point the fire department used this land for training exercises, but agreed to give it back to the city to allow the construction of the new building.
Thomas Smith started the petition and says the size of the building would be overbearing to the neighborhood.
"We were never opposed to a new school, it wasn't until we saw the drastic size of the new building and the six hundred student capacity, and the design of the new school that we started to fight the design of the school," Said Smith.
“It’s massively grotesquely big for this little neighborhood,” said Dan Smith
Residents say the new school site is actually protected by the national park service and therefore the city shouldn’t be able to use the land. Because the $36 million construction bid was accepted it would only cost the town $11 million to build the new school.
City counselor Ralph Figy says closing the schools Abner Gibbs, Franklin Avenue, and Juniper Park would help tax payers.
"Our school budget was 1.5 million out of whack this year, we had a deficit of 1.5 million, if the school would have been built on time we would of had a deficit of about $350,000 versus $1.5 million, so there's a very big impact to the tax payer of Westfield," said Figy
Residents are hoping that with the petition the city will be able to figure out a new location for the elementary school
posted by Jeff Bennett
Your school, your money - if you feel it is worth it, vote No on question 8. If you are worried, concerned that Templeton cannot afford to do this now, vote yes on question 8.
Where was the interest figure when the first vote happened?
Where was the interest figure when the first vote happened?
Now on a document dated 10/30/2015, there is a box titled Tax Impact. This was a presentation on the school project by the elementary school building committee. Within this box is the following:
Cost to Templeton $24,634,287.00
Cost per year @ 3.5% $ 1,406,865.00
Cost per year @ 3.5% $ 1,406,865.00
Less NRSD debt $ 438,073.00
Net new debt $ 968,792.00
annual residential tax $1.74
annual tax increase per $1000.00
home valuation
home valuation
If the $438,073.00 is old debt and will be paid off in 2019, how does that reduce the amount of the new debt?
Looks like the old debt was/is used to show since you are already paying that, the Town will just keep it on for another 28 years and the additional new debt will cost you an additional $1.74, however, what will the total tax rate impact be to you for the new debt? That is the true cost of the debt payment. If the old debt is costing you .60 cents per thousand and it is kept on for another 28 years and the new debt is an additional $1.74 per thousand, I believe you have to add the two together to show the complete cost for the new debt, as $1.74 plus .60 equals $2.34 per thousand. By the way, since there is no free lunch, the interest for 24 million at 3.5% for 28 years is between 12 and 14 million, which means Templeton tax payers will be paying out between 36 and 38 million dollars for the school.
Looks like the old debt was/is used to show since you are already paying that, the Town will just keep it on for another 28 years and the additional new debt will cost you an additional $1.74, however, what will the total tax rate impact be to you for the new debt? That is the true cost of the debt payment. If the old debt is costing you .60 cents per thousand and it is kept on for another 28 years and the new debt is an additional $1.74 per thousand, I believe you have to add the two together to show the complete cost for the new debt, as $1.74 plus .60 equals $2.34 per thousand. By the way, since there is no free lunch, the interest for 24 million at 3.5% for 28 years is between 12 and 14 million, which means Templeton tax payers will be paying out between 36 and 38 million dollars for the school.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
On Saturday, October 15, 2016, Wil Spring, Julie Farrell and Jeff Bennett attended the Association of Town Finance Committees conference. All three members of Templeton Advisory Committee paid their own way, as in the fee to go to the conference, which was between $45.00 and $50.00 per person. No cost to town taxpayers. There was some very good and important information put out and also the sharing of information from the other "volunteers" from other communities who make up finance and advisory committees. One thing that is of importance to taxpayers is with changes through the municipal modernization act, now the chief administrative officer of the town can approve an increase in snow & ice deficit spending without having to go to, or discuss it with the finance or advisory committee. One less "check/balance" gone. One more way to charge it with little to no public warning.
posted by Jeff Bennett
posted by Jeff Bennett
from the Templeton Town Administrator weekly report:
"CLA has released us from our engagement letter and will send us a final close out bill in the next few weeks." CLA is an audit firm that has been doing some work and has asked Templeton for very detailed information from past moves affecting Templeton's finance.So is an in depth detailed analysis of Templeton's town books going to become a watered down version after this move? A very detailed audit would be the foundation of all future audits is now in question. There will be new bids for audit firms, but from what was discussed at the last selectmen meeting, the decision seems to have already been made. The point was made that a new firm would not ask for, nor need all the time consuming and detailed work that CLA had asked for. Makes me wonder about some things.
Also from the town administrator; "The audit project team met and we are on target although the various departments will be under a time crunch to supply us with additions/deletions of fixed assets which has not been maintained on an annual basis as needed. So again, how exactly were these audits going to be completed last January, this past June as the town was informed time and again by the selectmen? One last thing from the town accountant was this; "vendor warrant, of which $970,000.00 were bills for the school project . . .accounts receivable."
Also from the town administrator; "The audit project team met and we are on target although the various departments will be under a time crunch to supply us with additions/deletions of fixed assets which has not been maintained on an annual basis as needed. So again, how exactly were these audits going to be completed last January, this past June as the town was informed time and again by the selectmen? One last thing from the town accountant was this; "vendor warrant, of which $970,000.00 were bills for the school project . . .accounts receivable."
posted by Jeff Bennett
from the Templeton town website, under board of selectmen - town administrator -
town administrator weekly reports:
from Carter Terenzini "I met with NRSD current and former superintendent and Mr. Markel relative to the $1.74 projection and am comfortable that this was a reasonable projection. I will work up something in more detail for you and circulate it by e-mail on Monday."
That would be the same Mr. Markel who made up the current Templeton expense spread sheet, budget so called, that Mr. Markel was making changes to the day before Town meeting back in May 2016.
Now on a document dated 10/30/2015, there is a box titled Tax Impact. This was a presentation on the school project by the elementary school building committee. Within this box is the following:
Cost to Templeton $24,634,287.00
Cost per year @ 3.5% $ 1,406,865.00
Less NRSD debt $ 438,073.00
Net new debt $ 968,792.00
annual residential tax $1.74
annual tax increase per $1000.00
home valuation
Perhaps Carter will explain this in his email to selectmen on Monday. What does the payoff of old debt have to do with the costs of new debt? If you are paying an extra 60 cents per thousand for old debt, that will be paid off in 2019, that debt goes away and so should the old 60 cents per thousand. Now with new debt comes new taxes. If the new debt is or will be one million four hundred thousand dollars, how will $1.74 per thousand pay for that, when that per thousand amount will not now raise the required funds needed to make the new projected debt? Since no one can really tell us what amount will actually need to be borrowed, nor what it will cost, we have to use the numbers we have now, the data we have now.
So, what they have told us so far is the old debt for the NRSD will/should be paid off by 2019 and Templeton will no longer have to come up with that money, but now Templeton will have to come up with new money to pay for a 1.4 million dollar new payment and $1.74 per thousand will cover that.
posted by Jeff Bennett
town administrator weekly reports:
from Carter Terenzini "I met with NRSD current and former superintendent and Mr. Markel relative to the $1.74 projection and am comfortable that this was a reasonable projection. I will work up something in more detail for you and circulate it by e-mail on Monday."
That would be the same Mr. Markel who made up the current Templeton expense spread sheet, budget so called, that Mr. Markel was making changes to the day before Town meeting back in May 2016.
Now on a document dated 10/30/2015, there is a box titled Tax Impact. This was a presentation on the school project by the elementary school building committee. Within this box is the following:
Cost to Templeton $24,634,287.00
Cost per year @ 3.5% $ 1,406,865.00
Less NRSD debt $ 438,073.00
Net new debt $ 968,792.00
annual residential tax $1.74
annual tax increase per $1000.00
home valuation
Perhaps Carter will explain this in his email to selectmen on Monday. What does the payoff of old debt have to do with the costs of new debt? If you are paying an extra 60 cents per thousand for old debt, that will be paid off in 2019, that debt goes away and so should the old 60 cents per thousand. Now with new debt comes new taxes. If the new debt is or will be one million four hundred thousand dollars, how will $1.74 per thousand pay for that, when that per thousand amount will not now raise the required funds needed to make the new projected debt? Since no one can really tell us what amount will actually need to be borrowed, nor what it will cost, we have to use the numbers we have now, the data we have now.
So, what they have told us so far is the old debt for the NRSD will/should be paid off by 2019 and Templeton will no longer have to come up with that money, but now Templeton will have to come up with new money to pay for a 1.4 million dollar new payment and $1.74 per thousand will cover that.
posted by Jeff Bennett
Former selectman and present light & water commissioner rankled??
After reading a letter to the editor authored by Mr. Edwards, I noticed there was lots of "talk" about the past but not much on the future. I noticed there was reference to past administration members of select board and Advisory Committee but no mention of present numbers or issues.
On October 12, 2016, I posted some information on Massachusetts General Law chapter 164; the MGL that Templeton light general manager and commissioners always seem to point to or refer to when anyone questions their actions. So I went to the online site of MGL and looked at chapter 164. I posted section 56c, which among other things, Every municipal light commission or manager thereof, who makes or executes a contract on behalf of a municipal lighting plant, where the amount involved is five thousand dollars or more, shall furnish said contract or a copy thereof to the city or town auditor within one week after its execution.
Also within that section is; An index of the subject matter of the contracts and to the names of the contractors shall be made semi-annually, and shall also be open to public inspection in some convenient form.
The last item within section 56c is A city or town auditor, municipal light commissioner or manager willfully failing to comply with this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars.
I also made mention that since a certain light commissioner was allowed to have his wife pick up his nomination papers, I should be allowed to have my brother pick up my future nomination papers. In fact, there should be no reason to have anyone running for office to have to pick up their nomination papers in person when any family member can do it for them, as the Town has already allowed this one time.
Now back to the point of that letter; I did not see Mr. Edwards make any reference to the actual cost, as in the affect on the tax rate on residents with regards to paying for a bond for the school project. What will become of the skate park? Where will it go? So far, I have not seen, read or heard anyone deny that the cost to taxpayers will be greater than the highly touted rate of $1.74 per thousand. What there is here is an opportunity for two yes votes for the school. The school district, as I recall, had no problem going for a yes vote until they got it, even after three no votes from the Town of Templeton.
So, back to the future, how much will be borrowed for the school project? What will it cost, by way of the tax rate, to pay for the school? Where will the skate park go?
posted by Jeff Bennett
After reading a letter to the editor authored by Mr. Edwards, I noticed there was lots of "talk" about the past but not much on the future. I noticed there was reference to past administration members of select board and Advisory Committee but no mention of present numbers or issues.
On October 12, 2016, I posted some information on Massachusetts General Law chapter 164; the MGL that Templeton light general manager and commissioners always seem to point to or refer to when anyone questions their actions. So I went to the online site of MGL and looked at chapter 164. I posted section 56c, which among other things, Every municipal light commission or manager thereof, who makes or executes a contract on behalf of a municipal lighting plant, where the amount involved is five thousand dollars or more, shall furnish said contract or a copy thereof to the city or town auditor within one week after its execution.
Also within that section is; An index of the subject matter of the contracts and to the names of the contractors shall be made semi-annually, and shall also be open to public inspection in some convenient form.
The last item within section 56c is A city or town auditor, municipal light commissioner or manager willfully failing to comply with this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars.
I also made mention that since a certain light commissioner was allowed to have his wife pick up his nomination papers, I should be allowed to have my brother pick up my future nomination papers. In fact, there should be no reason to have anyone running for office to have to pick up their nomination papers in person when any family member can do it for them, as the Town has already allowed this one time.
Now back to the point of that letter; I did not see Mr. Edwards make any reference to the actual cost, as in the affect on the tax rate on residents with regards to paying for a bond for the school project. What will become of the skate park? Where will it go? So far, I have not seen, read or heard anyone deny that the cost to taxpayers will be greater than the highly touted rate of $1.74 per thousand. What there is here is an opportunity for two yes votes for the school. The school district, as I recall, had no problem going for a yes vote until they got it, even after three no votes from the Town of Templeton.
So, back to the future, how much will be borrowed for the school project? What will it cost, by way of the tax rate, to pay for the school? Where will the skate park go?
posted by Jeff Bennett
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