Have we found the money?

Have we found the money?

It is fortunate that last night’s Special Town Meeting (STM) was very well attended. A special thank you to goes out to Templeton Community Television for recording the meeting. It will be uploaded to YouTube as soon as possible.

Article 1 passed. which will reduce the members of the conservation commission from 7 members to 5 members

Article 2 passed. which funded $45,987.76 from certified free cash ($100,00 and yes, certified) for snow & ice.

Article 3 passed. with the sum of $35,000 from free cash to fund veterans’ services.

Article 4 passed. to fund the stabilization account with the sum of $14,000.

Article 5 was defeated. It would have provided the sum of $5,000 to initiate the possibility of performance contracting for the multiple dilapidated town buildings in Templeton…including the elementary schools. Let's hope the leaking roof at Templeton Center holds up for yet another year.

Article 6 was defeated – the proposed bylaw for the Municipal Water Department. The people have spoken. Some people spoke multiple times. Dana Blais, Sean Hamilton, Paul Q convinced the voters that Chapter 93 Acts of 2000 clearly places the water department under Chapter 164 of municipal law. The voters at this town meeting want the water department to operate under Chapter 164 without any clarity, determinations or interference from the State. So be it!

Article 7 defeated. It would have provided a partial budget for the water department to operate in FY 14.

Article 8 no action taken

Article 9 – passed over. It did generate discussion…not sure why it was allowed. This was to fund fines and penalties that were assessed for an unpaid bill which was subsequently paid. The fines accrued in FY 13 so it was not an unpaid bill from a prior year. The Advisory Board voted to pay the fines at their last meeting, which was why the question was passed over. Some people seemed upset that the bill was paid…don’t know why.

Article 10 – passed. to transfer $600 from Assistant Town Clerk Salary account to Town Clerk Office Expense account.

Article 11 passed. to fund the water department budget at $1,413,860.17. Crisis averted- the water department has a budget.

Last night was quite a victory for the Light and Water department! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the voters expressed their support of the TMLWP position that the water budget falls under Chapter 164 and does not need town meeting approval for their budget. Everything is just ”advisory” and “non-binding” for the TMLWP warrant articles.

Have we found the money?

So how could the town have found money to support the school budget? The Narragansett Regional School Committee has certified a budget that is $630,000 more than the Town of Templeton approved. The override vote failed. The town can’t raise the funds for the school through taxation; and the Town can’t print money. Another STM will have to be scheduled this summer to deal with this issue. No wonder the Town Clerk has difficulty presenting an accurate budget to the advisory board!

So how can the town come up with the funding our school district and our children so desperately need?  Money that will go to lower class size and retain positions? The money for our children? It’s all about the children!

Where, oh where, will the money come from? Wait a second. Wait a second. Mass General Law Chapter 164…hmmmm. Oh yeah, section 47C(j) that thing about PILOT payments. Remember?

(j) Except as provided for herein, a municipal lighting plant cooperative shall be exempt from paying taxes, including, but not limited to taxes on its income and real and personal property situated within the commonwealth and owned by the municipal light plant cooperative; provided, however, that the cooperative shall agree, in lieu of property taxes, to pay to any governmental body authorized to levy local property taxes the amount which would be assessable as local property taxes on the real and tangible personal property if such property were the property of a domestic corporation; provided, further, that no such municipal lighting plant cooperative shall be allowed to commence any such operations allowed pursuant to this section or exercise any such powers pursuant to subsection (d) until such payment in lieu of taxes is executed. The cooperative shall pay all sales or excise taxes which are properly assessed on its business activities under this section to the extent such taxes are assessed against domestic corporations.

Last night the voters supported the TMLWP Commissioners and General Manager’s position that the water department falls under Chapter 164. When  was the last time the water department made a PILOT payment to the Town? How about NEVER! Certainly not before Chapter 93 Acts of 2000 was enacted, because the water department was an enterprise fund under Chapter 44 53F1/2 since the mid 1990’s. The Town couldn’t ask for a PILOT payment from a town department.

Is it possible to go back to the year 2000 for PILOT payments from the water department? Have we found the money to support the school district request without massive layoffs in public safety? Without decimating already decimated town services?

This idea is certainly worthy of exploration, because it’s all about the children!

It’s for greatness, ‘Gansett – ‘Gansett Greatness!

So how about it “For the People”, Are YOU ready to MOVE FORWARD?

My opinions…supported by FACTS ! ! !

Julie Farrell