Here's the link to the FY2013 Recap Sheet read it and read it again and again. You will see how we only have so much money to work with here. Pay attention to page 4 where what is voted at town meeting is reported.
Now look at the preliminary FY2014 levy limit (yes there is a limit to what can be raised though taxation) The amount on line IIIA will be $7,226,777 We did not vote for any debt exclusions, the override did not pass, and we did not vote for any capital items, therefore nothing gets added to this number. Now go back to the annual town meeting (May) and add up all that was voted for the town budget sheets add in the school budget that was voted, add the amount for the 2 firefighters/emts, and the other thing that got voted for. If you look at the fy2013 recap sheet - the town raises so much from other receipts (excise taxes, licenses, fees etc.) and the $150,000. from the L&W dept. Now subtract all the other receipts (and lets hope that the town "other receipts" don't go down) from the amount that we voted that we needed and the amount to be raised from taxation cannot be more than $7,226,777.00 Get it??? and to Mr John Columbus - if you wanted the school to get all the money that they wanted why did you vote for all the town departments to get their money? Stop blaming the selectmen and the moderator, and the advisory board because you do not get town finances. We cannot raise more than the levy limit. If all the money is voted for the school then it has to be taken from somewhere else, get it people? if the moderator had allowed the school budget article to be moved ahead of the town budget and the whole amount had been voted (including the $691,000.00) then the other money articles - emts, town budgets amount would have to have been changed to find the $691,000. get it? No Ms Miller to answer your question - we cannot just raise the tax rate - that is ILLEGAL!!!! end of story.
Thanks for reading my opinions. Pauly
I hope people can understand this explanation of town taxation. the BOS can't just raise the tax rate because the Supt. of schools feels our tax rate is too low.
ReplyDeleteThe tax rate is raised by voters at town meeting and the ballot box. At the end of April, the voters voted DOWN the $691,000 override to fund the schools.
At the May ATM, voters voted to fund the full NRSD assessment IF an override passed.
On June 25th the voters voted down the override AGAIN ! !
The town can't print money or raise taxes...only the voters can and THEY have NOT.
How many ways do we need to explain this to Gansett Greatness, the school committee and the superintendent of schools?
The choice is straightforward. A YES vote to support the school budget means drastic cuts to public safety. The longer we wait as a town wait to make those cuts, the deeper they will be. If the DESE comes in on Dec. 1st and orders the town of Templeton to come up with an additional $691,000 for the schools. There will need to be deep cuts in public safety.
I'm not making these statements to scare anyone - it is just a fact. By January 2014, the Town of Templeton will be halfway through the FY '14 fiscal year. Close to half of our town budget will be spent. There is no way to sugar coat theses facts, not that I want to.
I hope a compromise can be reached, but after reading the TGN article, it doesn't look likely. Let's hope rational minds prevail and a compromise can be reached. If the school can reduce the assessment I.e. make cuts, and the Town can look at giving up all free cash and stabilization funds ($45,000) then maybe a smaller override will be successful. A historical look at overrides seems to indicate multiple override attempts, seems to antagonize the voters. Maybe the propaganda machine that is Gansett Greatness can turn that around.
Julie - I hope the BOS does not give up free cash. It's a bad precedent, keeping that emergency fund at zero. Meanwhile, the admin is un-cut over at nrsd.
ReplyDeleteMark,
ReplyDeleteIt's not up to the BOS, it's up to the voters at town meeting to make the cuts. The Advisory Board and the BOS can only make suggestions.
I do not want us to use free cash. That is how our town go into this mess in the first place. The NRSD needs to face reality, and make some big changes to their budget. This constant badgering of the older people may turn around to bite them badly. Gansett Greatness could replace every person on the BOS, and the picture would not change. Treat the voters like they do not matter, and the next time a big ticket item is up, you will loose, big time. This is my opinion, I do not tell people what to do. The people in this town can think for them selves. Bev.
DeleteHi Julie - I was responding to the talk I have seen on the blog about compromise. And to your comments:
Delete"If the school can reduce the assessment I.e. make cuts, and the Town can look at giving up all free cash and stabilization funds ($45,000) then maybe a smaller override will be successful."
Actually, the free cash should be substantial, as the reimbursement from the ice storm should finally find it's way to free cash. That nice round number, $100,000, that the state certified is low. The town needs an emergency reserve more than NRSD needs to keep all the non-instructional overhead.