Financial Update ?
Well wonders of wonders, the budget to actual was just released to the Advisory Committee as part of the Quarter 2 update. Please note that the figures in the BvA are current as of 12/31/16 - a month ago. The Quarter 2 Report was dated 1/19/17.
Areas of concern:
So Snow & Ice is running a deficit as of 12/31/16. Unemployment is running low and will need a transfer from the Reserve account sometime in March - should be interesting.
Other transfers that may be needed - Town Counsel, Inspection services pay ( isn't that the office of developmental whatyoumacallit?) Long term debt principal/interest may need "further adjustment".
Hello?
Long term debt principal/interest may need "further adjustment".
Hello?
Isn't the next MFOB meeting March 8th? Shouldn't we know what "further adjustments" need to be made to our long term debt principal/interest BEFORE the Town of Templeton takes on an additional
$47 million dollars of debt for the elementary school?
Surprise, surprise ! Snow and Ice and unemployment have been underfunded since the ATM in May ! Maybe the TA, past and present should have listened when changes could have been made, LAST MAY !! The shell game continues, moving money around and around, only to figure out there is not enough to go around. Sorry, you cannot blame the Advisory Committee for this mess. Bev.
ReplyDeleteSo we, the voters, and tax payers of the Town of Templeton hire these people who are supposed to help the Town run more efficiently. One stands before the ATM and quietly tells the people "everything is going to be fine", "we are on track to get our finances under control". A great sigh of relief is heard in the room. Funny things start happening at Town Hall. Somehow "found money" is paying a bill. Found from where I ask myself ? I say to this guy, "you had better be care full, because if you pay for something that has to be funded again next year, where is that money coming from" ? Now, I know we do not have a can next to the washer full of loose change, so what account did this money come from ? Did it need a Town Meeting transfer ? Meanwhile, the idea is floated about, that because "they are elected, the Selectmen are the Superior Board, and can do what they please". Where is that written in the Massachusetts General Laws ? So, things go down hill from here and word is out that we are not on track, we are in debt ! The thing is we are in debt, the same debt that we have had since 2000, although it has grown in time. The school people are up in arms !! Gee, maybe if they had attended all of those ATM's with out leaving after their articles were done, they would have a better understanding of the problems we face. The Advisory Committee recommends that all spending reduced, and all projects be stopped, until the Town has a good understanding of how much debt it has ? Does this happen ?? On the way out the door, this TA decides to give raises to everyone. Based on what ? Because he could, it seems. Does the "Superior Board" do the smart thing and rescind these raises ? After all, some of these people received raises the year before, some double digit !! No, that would have been smart, and the people at TH would have understood. They know how things are, and just want a job. So, our new interim TA decides to hire the Collins institute to help the Town find us a new TA. With $8,500 in the budget, this costs us 14,000 plus ?? Then we hire a guy to find out who should run the Highway/Cemetery ? Money for him ? Out of the Highway budget, I guess. So we take two departments that are running fine, one union and one not, and screw them up ?? Save money, not enough in my opinion. Under the guidance of this TA, we have reorganized the Departments at Town Hall. The fact that some of these people answer to their own Commissioners or Boards, in my opinion has the potential to create some big problems. Who is the boss ? What has this saved us ? If the department heads only work 38 hours and not 40, it will cost us $1,400 more. So I may have forgotten a few things, but in the end how did not putting projects on hold and not enforcing a spending freeze work for the budget ? I know I missed a few things in this mad plan, but I am willing to bet the hole we are in is a whole lot deeper. What do you think the people will think when we go to the next ATM ? Who are these same people going to believe ?
ReplyDelete