My Name is Paul H Cosentino. I started this Blog in 2011 because of what I believe to be wrongdoings in town government. This Blog is to keep the citizens of Templeton informed. It is also for the citizens of Templeton to post their comments and concerns.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Time for a reality check
Time
for a reality check
Time
for a reality check appeared in the weekend edition (8/31-9/1) of the
Gardner News. Please read it carefully.
Nice job Jeff. That is a very good "reality check". I think many people are coming to the same conclusion, that we needed roughly 1/2 million dollars for the budget before the JTM vote. Now, we need to replace the $550k taken as a result of the JTM. That's roughly $1 million.
No wonder I did not see what he wrote. I read "the paper" on line, so it would not be covered. The idea that it is a political advertisement means to me, that "The Gardner News", may be back to their old ways, but I will check before I say what may, or may not be true. I know one thing for sure, a ad that big is a good chunk of change. Bev.
I'm thinking the town of templeton has been set up by our BOS. When this all started with the override question back at the beginning of the year, where were our BOS to state that yes an override was needed? Julie continued to advocate a NO VOTE for both the override as well as a NO VOTE on the school budget. Where was Jeff's thoughts then? I don't care that he was out of the country he managed to voice an opinion to say vote NO. Why wait till the crap is totally hitting the fan before you voice your opinion that yes we do need an override? Do none of our BOS have the balls enough to state the obvious? And what is up with the Advisory Committee? Why did they continue to advise a NO VOTE? Have the citizens of Templeton been royally duped? I think so. I think that the Advisory committee and the BOS have had this planned from the beginning. I think that they both knew that the town residents don't want an override to raise their taxes now the BOS state that if we don't we go under? Maybe we need to go under, get rid of this BOS and elect some people to LEAD up rather than down. The big plan is working for the BOS, it is just not what is right for the town residents. I will continue to VOTE NO on any override, especially one of 1 million or higher.
Speaking only for myself, I voted for a "vote No" on the school budget. People had already voted no at the polls, twice. Looking at the NRSD budget, it looked like cuts could be made. Cutting the NRSD budget would have made sense, would have respected the vote in the two ballot elections that were held.
We're no longer in the same situation. The NRSD was successful in getting the money. The money is coming out of Templeton's budget. The choices are to cut even deeper from Templeton's budget or vote an override. I have looked at the Templeton town budget, I don't see places to get $550,000. Maybe you can point them out.
Over and above the $550,000 would restore some cuts made in previous years. Of particular concern to me is our finance team. We cut the hours and pay of the people who assess, who collect, who disburse and who oversee our revenue stream. Recently, the town received a downgrade in our bond rating from Moody's investment services. An override for $550k will not allow restoral of hours cut and additional money for necessary salary increases. That is why I support an override for more than the amount taken from the town budget for the NRSD.
Speaking for just myself, I would have been an advocate for a Prop. 2 1/2 override for the Town budget (not the NRSD) next spring. What the JTM has done is accelerate the issue. I don't think it would be a good idea to go for a second override in the spring.
Nobody has yet voted no on an override question for the town budget.
The school budget and the town budget ARE two separate things and are voted as separate warrant articles at town meeting.
As recent events have illustrated, the townspeople including the BOS have no control over the school budget. The superintendent and the school committee do not have to respect the "will of voters" and have disregarded the "will of the voters" 4 times. I believe this action by the school superintendent and school committee was premeditated with malice aforethought perpetrated on the Town of Templeton and all its residents. Just my opinion.
There is/was an article for municipal operational expenses which was article #9 in the amount of $4,563,838.00. Article #20 was for Templeton assessment from Monty Tech in the amount of $601.056.00. There are articles for sewer operational expenses and down the line. There are appropriations that have to be funded and accounted for. It is municipal accounting principles and detail can be found on the DOR website. Unlike a home, the town cannot simply put a pile of money into an account and write checks from it. Monies have to be separate to pay town employees salary from monies used to pay school salaries which come from two towns and those funds have to be accounted for as in do they get charged off from the correct place. At the end of the year, required by law, there has to be a detailed accounting of where taxpayers money went and that it went to the correct intended place. Hope that helps. As a side note, since the amount of $691,086.00 already was approved at town meeting, if that number were to pass at ballot the only reason for a STM would be to change the appropriation for the school assessment of Templeton. I know that is stating the obvious but I believe it is worth repeating and it would be one less thing to do at STM. Another option to think about.
We belong to the district and those rules are the same ones we deal with NRHS so short answer is because they can and Templeton is not the only community dealing with the great assessments from Monty Tech. It is another subject that all member communities need to work on. Monty tech went from being call "monkey tech" and that is what some students I know who graduated from there use to call it because of the trade school persona back then to what monty tech did, they made the curriculum very good and they prefer students who not only want trade school type education but very high academic standards as well. They simply built it into a very good school trade and academics wise so they have the justification of ever increasing the assessments of member towns. A systemic problem everywhere. The reason in my opinion that some people speak so passionately on school budgets in general. On one hand, I would not want Monty Tech to go back to a dumping grounds for problem children who need a trade, as was the way it went back a years ago, but my concern is how sustainable is the system we have now. The academic program they have now is very good but the costs are a run away train. It shows that all the fuss here in Templeton is not unique to just Templeton, it is all over. Long winded but I hope it helps.
Monty Tech deserves more because they are a much better school, spend their money wisely, and from experience of have 2 daughters graduating from there, offer so much more. My kids actually learned from their teacher in school, they were not told to "go home and have your parents help you with your work".
Monty Tech had about 110 students from Templeton by the latest numbers I could find. Templeton paying $600k to educate 110 students works out to less $5,500 per student. It's really not out of line. Students appear to be graduating with good skills. Many go on to 4 year colleges. I know it is a fine preparation for young people who want to become engineers.
Rather than lament the expense of educating successful students, I am quite happy about Monty Tech. All the money spent on Special Education should be as fruitfull.
Mark. Does that # include the school choice payments? Or does that not apply for Monty Tech? I was under the impression it was in addition to school choice, but I could very well be wrong.
I think they understand as well as anyone. We're in the position that we're in. Jeff pointed out our options. We'll see what the voters will say when we have the override election.
Opinion: couldn't agree more with Mark. The town voted "no" to the school override, but now that the school got their budget, the town needs this over ride. The advisory board and BOS recommended "no" to the school over ride, because, like Mark stated, they believed and I believed that the school could've made compromises and cut some of their admin. costs. the school would not budge with compromising, so the town needs to come up with the $500,000+. I agree that the seniors are on fixed income and an over ride will be very difficult if not even possible for them to pay that extra tax, but it should go to a vote.
Nice job Jeff. That is a very good "reality check". I think many people are coming to the same conclusion, that we needed roughly 1/2 million dollars for the budget before the JTM vote. Now, we need to replace the $550k taken as a result of the JTM. That's roughly $1 million.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%.
No wonder I did not see what he wrote. I read "the paper" on line, so it would not be covered. The idea that it is a political advertisement means to me, that "The Gardner News", may be back to their old ways, but I will check before I say what may, or may not be true. I know one thing for sure, a ad that big is a good chunk of change. Bev.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI'm thinking the town of templeton has been set up by our BOS. When this all started with the override question back at the beginning of the year, where were our BOS to state that yes an override was needed? Julie continued to advocate a NO VOTE for both the override as well as a NO VOTE on the school budget. Where was Jeff's thoughts then? I don't care that he was out of the country he managed to voice an opinion to say vote NO. Why wait till the crap is totally hitting the fan before you voice your opinion that yes we do need an override? Do none of our BOS have the balls enough to state the obvious? And what is up with the Advisory Committee? Why did they continue to advise a NO VOTE? Have the citizens of Templeton been royally duped? I think so. I think that the Advisory committee and the BOS have had this planned from the beginning. I think that they both knew that the town residents don't want an override to raise their taxes now the BOS state that if we don't we go under? Maybe we need to go under, get rid of this BOS and elect some people to LEAD up rather than down. The big plan is working for the BOS, it is just not what is right for the town residents. I will continue to VOTE NO on any override, especially one of 1 million or higher.
ReplyDeleteGee,how many times have the people been to the polls?What part of NO don't they understand?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking only for myself, I voted for a "vote No" on the school budget. People had already voted no at the polls, twice. Looking at the NRSD budget, it looked like cuts could be made. Cutting the NRSD budget would have made sense, would have respected the vote in the two ballot elections that were held.
ReplyDeleteWe're no longer in the same situation. The NRSD was successful in getting the money. The money is coming out of Templeton's budget. The choices are to cut even deeper from Templeton's budget or vote an override. I have looked at the Templeton town budget, I don't see places to get $550,000. Maybe you can point them out.
Over and above the $550,000 would restore some cuts made in previous years. Of particular concern to me is our finance team. We cut the hours and pay of the people who assess, who collect, who disburse and who oversee our revenue stream. Recently, the town received a downgrade in our bond rating from Moody's investment services. An override for $550k will not allow restoral of hours cut and additional money for necessary salary increases. That is why I support an override for more than the amount taken from the town budget for the NRSD.
Speaking for just myself, I would have been an advocate for a Prop. 2 1/2 override for the Town budget (not the NRSD) next spring. What the JTM has done is accelerate the issue. I don't think it would be a good idea to go for a second override in the spring.
Nobody has yet voted no on an override question for the town budget.
Point made Mr.Barrieau. But now explain that to the elders on fixed income.
DeleteCan someone clarify the "State Tax Form 96-1: Seniors Application for Statutory Exemption"? Does that not provide some relief to our seniors?
DeleteIsnt the school budget part of the town budget? You make it sound like 2 seperate things.
DeleteDear huff n puff,
DeleteStill waiting for an introduction.
The school budget and the town budget ARE two separate things and are voted as separate warrant articles at town meeting.
As recent events have illustrated, the townspeople including the BOS have no control over the school budget. The superintendent and the school committee do not have to respect the "will of voters" and have disregarded the "will of the voters" 4 times. I believe this action by the school superintendent and school committee was premeditated with malice aforethought perpetrated on the Town of Templeton and all its residents. Just my opinion.
Yep, they are two separate things.
could you please explain to me, without all the snide commentary, why they are two seperate articles?
DeleteThere is/was an article for municipal operational expenses which was article #9 in the amount of $4,563,838.00. Article #20 was for Templeton assessment from Monty Tech in the amount of $601.056.00. There are articles for sewer operational expenses and down the line. There are appropriations that have to be funded and accounted for. It is municipal accounting principles and detail can be found on the DOR website. Unlike a home, the town cannot simply put a pile of money into an account and write checks from it. Monies have to be separate to pay town employees salary from monies used to pay school salaries which come from two towns and those funds have to be accounted for as in do they get charged off from the correct place. At the end of the year, required by law, there has to be a detailed accounting of where taxpayers money went and that it went to the correct intended place. Hope that helps. As a side note, since the amount of $691,086.00 already was approved at town meeting, if that number were to pass at ballot the only reason for a STM would be to change the appropriation for the school assessment of Templeton. I know that is stating the obvious but I believe it is worth repeating and it would be one less thing to do at STM. Another option to think about.
DeleteThank you Jeff. & now that you mentioned it, has anyone looked into why we send so much $ to Monty Tech?
DeleteWe belong to the district and those rules are the same ones we deal with NRHS so short answer is because they can and Templeton is not the only community dealing with the great assessments from Monty Tech. It is another subject that all member communities need to work on. Monty tech went from being call "monkey tech" and that is what some students I know who graduated from there use to call it because of the trade school persona back then to what monty tech did, they made the curriculum very good and they prefer students who not only want trade school type education but very high academic standards as well. They simply built it into a very good school trade and academics wise so they have the justification of ever increasing the assessments of member towns. A systemic problem everywhere. The reason in my opinion that some people speak so passionately on school budgets in general. On one hand, I would not want Monty Tech to go back to a dumping grounds for problem children who need a trade, as was the way it went back a years ago, but my concern is how sustainable is the system we have now. The academic program they have now is very good but the costs are a run away train. It shows that all the fuss here in Templeton is not unique to just Templeton, it is all over. Long winded but I hope it helps.
DeleteMonty Tech deserves more because they are a much better school, spend their money wisely, and from experience of have 2 daughters graduating from there, offer so much more. My kids actually learned from their teacher in school, they were not told to "go home and have your parents help you with your work".
DeleteMonty Tech had about 110 students from Templeton by the latest numbers I could find. Templeton paying $600k to educate 110 students works out to less $5,500 per student. It's really not out of line. Students appear to be graduating with good skills. Many go on to 4 year colleges. I know it is a fine preparation for young people who want to become engineers.
DeleteRather than lament the expense of educating successful students, I am quite happy about Monty Tech. All the money spent on Special Education should be as fruitfull.
Mark. Does that # include the school choice payments? Or does that not apply for Monty Tech? I was under the impression it was in addition to school choice, but I could very well be wrong.
DeleteI think they understand as well as anyone. We're in the position that we're in. Jeff pointed out our options. We'll see what the voters will say when we have the override election.
ReplyDeleteOpinion: couldn't agree more with Mark. The town voted "no" to the school override, but now that the school got their budget, the town needs this over ride. The advisory board and BOS recommended "no" to the school over ride, because, like Mark stated, they believed and I believed that the school could've made compromises and cut some of their admin. costs. the school would not budge with compromising, so the town needs to come up with the $500,000+. I agree that the seniors are on fixed income and an over ride will be very difficult if not even possible for them to pay that extra tax, but it should go to a vote.
ReplyDeleteAnd every senior on fixed income should vote NO again.
ReplyDeletehow should the town employees on a fixed income, as in less hours, vote?
ReplyDeleteNO
Delete