Spencer selectmen plan for worst on budget, hope for not so bad
By Kim Ring, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFFSPENCER — In setting a proposed budget for the Dec. 5 special town meeting, selectmen are planning for the worst-case scenario but hoping the state will spare them from cutting hours of clerks in Town Hall, closing the fire station, shuttering the transfer station and mothballing a building that was to be the senior center.
Because of approaching deadlines for setting the town's tax rate, the board agreed to put the budget with devastating cuts on the warrant. But, they said, the numbers could be changed on Town Hall floor during the town meeting if the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education chooses a budget number approved by East Brookfield and Spencer voters at a regional school district meeting.
Town Administrator Adam D. Gaudette said during the board's meeting Monday that he had hoped to see the school budget figure from the state but was told the earliest it would be ready is Wednesday. Since the warrant for the meeting had to be closed Monday, board members used the higher numbers.
The news brought an impassioned plea from Susan Lecaire, union steward for some Town Hall employees.
"This is just wiping us out," she said, adding that clerks will lose their benefits if their hours are cut and many will have their retirement affected.
Selectmen apologized and said they know the employees have made sacrifices in the past to help keep the town solvent.
"I wish we could have protected you more," Selectman Donald R. Berthiaume Jr. said.
Mr. Berthiaume said he is still angry that the Spencer-East Brookfield School Committee did not approve a "compromise" budget that voters agreed to and placed the blame on school committee member Joshua Cote from Spencer, who, he said, cast the deciding vote.
"With that one vote that night he did this," Mr. Berthiaume said. "And he said he needs to protect the kids from the town? I take offense to that."
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East Brookfield sets Dec. 12 town meeting for school budget vote
By J.P. Ellery, CORRESPONDENT
EAST BROOKFIELD — While hoping to find out this week what the state-imposed regional school budget figure will be, selectmen Monday night went ahead and set a special town meeting for Dec. 12 to deal with financial adjustments related to that anticipated budget.
"The sooner we get it done the better," Selectman Leo E. Fayard said, referring to the need to quickly set a tax rate and issue property tax bills.
Town officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the state sets a fiscal 2014 school budget of $24 million or less, which in East Brookfield's case can be handled without the need for a Proposition 2½ override.
Neighboring Spencer, which is a regional school partner with East Brookfield, is facing serious cuts in its town budget to facilitate a $24 million school budget.
Voters in both towns turned down overrides and amended downward the $24 million budget, which paved the way for the regional school committee to turn the matter over to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to determine the school budget amount.
East Brookfield selectmen said they want the Dec. 12 special town meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Town Complex on Connie Mack Drive, to focus almost exclusively on finalizing the school budget.
"We'll have another special (town meeting) in a couple months," Selectman Lawrence S. Gordon said, meaning that other items targeted for the Dec. 12 meeting can wait until that session early next year.
"The sooner we get it done the better," Selectman Leo E. Fayard said, referring to the need to quickly set a tax rate and issue property tax bills.
Town officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the state sets a fiscal 2014 school budget of $24 million or less, which in East Brookfield's case can be handled without the need for a Proposition 2½ override.
Neighboring Spencer, which is a regional school partner with East Brookfield, is facing serious cuts in its town budget to facilitate a $24 million school budget.
Voters in both towns turned down overrides and amended downward the $24 million budget, which paved the way for the regional school committee to turn the matter over to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to determine the school budget amount.
East Brookfield selectmen said they want the Dec. 12 special town meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Town Complex on Connie Mack Drive, to focus almost exclusively on finalizing the school budget.
"We'll have another special (town meeting) in a couple months," Selectman Lawrence S. Gordon said, meaning that other items targeted for the Dec. 12 meeting can wait until that session early next year.
The clock is ticking !! This is a little like a kid waiting to see what is in the mystery box that was left on the porch !! Wii it be good or will it be painful ? It will come out in the wash, one way or the other. I guess there can be nothing worse than a divide in the towns effected by a law that half the town government has to follow, and the the other half can ignore. If a town like ours, and towns like Spencer are having financial problems, and it is no big secret, it is beyond me why the School Committee thinks they can disregard that fact. How they can just spend money that the people don't have, after being told no a number of times, and as a result force the town into the position many of us have been in just boggles my mind. SO, what don't they understand ?? I will never say teachers do not work hard, but for the leadership to take things from the children as a threat, then to pad the administration is so wrong. I do hope the parents of these children will have learned a few things due to what we have been through, and will finally take off the rose colored glasses they have been wearing. Our town is getting back on it's feet because of some very hard working people, who deserve a lot of credit. Now we need to keep a eye on our old friends at Light and Water, because in my mind the economy has not improved in these parts, and it does not look like it will for some time. Bev.
ReplyDeleteVote Mitchell for Selectman!
ReplyDeleteRemember the past to ensure a better future
The nuclear option should never be used
Vote Haley-Brooks for selectman!
ReplyDeletePlease support Mitchell for selectman!
ReplyDeleteRemember the past to ensure a better future.
The nuclear option should never be used.
Do not support the nuclear option.
lol The voters already OVERWHELMINGLY supported it.
DeleteTempleton taxpayers are having the opportunity to watch something unfold in the newspaper that is pretty much a rerun of what happened in Templeton in about the first half of 2013. Once again, we see voters saying one thing and selectmen supporting them and again we see another elected body completely ignoring the taxpayers and again using kids as pawns and threatening to take things away that directly affect the kids rather than taking the compromise budget route. Apparently, town employees in other communities will sacrifice for their town but the school committees appear to only look out for themselves with no consideration for those who pay the bills, just like those in Templeton. Now we get the chance to see how the DESE will treat not only a school district but two towns as well. Time for people like state senator Steve Brewer to step up and change the laws and to fund state mandates on all fronts and it is time for school committees to listen to the voters so please support Bennett for school committee!
ReplyDeleteRun Jeff RUN.
ReplyDeleteYou have my VOTE!!!
Vote for Bennett for School Committee
ReplyDeleteVote for Mitchell for Selectman!
Remember the past to ensure a better future.
The nuclear option should never be used.
Remember the past, we are gang rapists.
ReplyDeleteThe VOTERS (remember them?) APPROVED the funding.
Vote Bennett for school committee!
ReplyDeleteVote Mitchell for Selectman!
Remember the past to ensure a better future.
The nuclear option should never be used.
Personally, I can't wait to take out nomination papers for school committee this spring!