Town Administrator: Templeton's future is bright
To The Editor: 5/3/2014Robert Markel
Templeton Interim Town Administrator
To The Editor:
I am writing in response to a recent letter To The Editor opposing the proposed $505,000 general override of the Proposition 2 1⁄2 tax cap in Templeton. Voters will determine the outcome of this proposal at the election on May 5.
The letter criticisms of the town’s financial management practices in the past are correct.
The town’s financial management system was chaotic. When I arrived as interim Town Administrator in February, I found that reliable financial information was simply unavailable.
Moreover, Templeton was facing a $505,000 budget deficit that was never fully explained.
Here’s the explanation: There was a mistake in the budget process at the Town Meeting in May 2013.
The mistake was made in the Advisory Committee’s presentation of the budget. The committee made the mistake because the budget model and the data provided by the financial team at Town Hall were not accurate.
The enormous gap in the current budget that must be closed by a general override tax increase or what we call “Plan B” will go into effect. This is not intended to scare or threaten residents into voting for the override; it is simply what I have been told will happen by state officials.
The state Department of Revenue will step in, provide a loan to cover the $505,000 deficit and assume control of the town’s finances.
The loan from the state will cover the deficit in the current fiscal year (FY14), and then the DOR will impose a half million in cuts to balance the budget in the new fiscal year which begins on July 1.
Service cuts and layoffs will likely affect all municipal departments and the schools. This may seem superficially attractive to the frustrated citizens of Templeton, but as state intervention in Springfield, Lawrence and Chelsea have shown, the state will implement reductions in services that will not be popular.
While Virginia Wilder’s criticisms of past financial management are valid, it is important for citizens to know that town government has changed.
A new team is in place in the Accounting and Treasurer’s offices, and they are doing high quality work.
The data used for the budget process for the new fiscal year is accurate and reliable, and the budget of the town in FY ‘15 will be balanced.
There will be deep cuts in services and layoffs if the override does not pass, but the budget will be balanced.
There is one part of the letter that is not accurate. It refers to the proposed $500,000 for design and feasibility for a new Templeton elementary school as a “school override”. The letter says that the “school override” will add to the tax rate beginning on July 1.
If this was correct, it would add $.93 to the tax rate. However, the proposed $500,000 for the design and feasibility study is a debt exclusion.
This proposal, which is also on the May 5 ballot, would renew the $500,000 debt exclusion approved in 2008 to fund initial steps for a new elementary school.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority is reimbursing the town for 60% of the first $500,000 debt exclusion and will reimburse Templeton for 60% of the proposed new debt exclusion.
The actual cost to the town will be $200,000 for each $500,000 debt exclusion.
The important point is this: The funding to pay the town’s share of the first debt exclusion is already baked into the tax rate.
If the second $500,000 debt exclusion is approved by the voters, Templeton will simply continue making payments as has been done since 2008.
The Town Accountant, who is a CPA, has confirmed that a new borrowing can be serviced with no impact on the tax rate.
I want to assure the residents of Templeton that there is a new beginning in Town Government.
The Board of Selectmen, Advisory Board and the town’s financial team are working together to improve financial management and to provide the public with reliable and accurate information.
My tenure as interim Town Administrator will likely end on July 1.
I have every confidence that the selectmen will hire a new, professional Town Administrator who will keep town government on the right path.
Robert Markel
Templeton Interim Town Administrator
Now when you read the letters to the editors think and verify before you believe the contents.
ReplyDeleteAs in the past letters i have written i was asked for the proof of the content.
When i read the ones Virginia and Bernie have written there seems to be a double standard!
Vote SMART
Don't forget to vote for Dave Smart Light and Water Commission, Julie Farrell School Committee and Robert Mitchell for Selectman come Monday. These candidates have shown that Templeton comes first with their long standing commitment to this fine town! Pete Farrell
ReplyDeleteI want all of the readers of this blog to think twice before you vote. Know who these people are and why they have run for a seat on any committee or Board. Where have they been in days past ?? Have they contributed to any meetings you have watched or attended ?? It is a little like the days before the Boston Marathon, when everyone wants to run for the glory, or to say they have done it. I kind of laughed to myself knowing what it takes even to qualify. There are people who have put in the time to do the job. They know when to speed up, and to slow down. People who are prepared have a easier time running the race, and can finish, getting the job done. If some of these candidates have not shown their face at a meeting, and stayed, how will they finish the race?? Why on earth are they even running ?? To be a candidate for selectmen, it is helpful to have some knowledge of what is going on, who the other racers are and why you, as well as they want this seat. This is a tough race, because it is not over at the finish line. If you win, you still have to do the job, the heartbreak hill in our town comes after the race is over. The people watching this race play out, has to ask why some of these people are running ? If it is truly not to help lead the town through so very tough times, then you have lost the race before you even started. If as a runner in this race you heart is with out the commitment to the town, but feel you can influence the cheer leaders to make choices, in the favor of one of your sponsors, then you will have lost this race. Not only will you loose, the people watching the race will feel cheated out of the chance to have voted for a runner with a true heart, and the courage to do the best they can do. Think about all of these things, because we will get the government we deserve. Bev.
DeleteMy daughter is home from Tennessee for the baby shower of a friend.As we talked over breakfast this morning she asked how much the commissioner pay was. When i told her i would recieve no compensation for the work i would do she looked at me and asked why would i do it,why bother? I told her it was not about the money but the way we all are being used and not being treated fairly. We are told to be just cheaper than National grid is.the whole thing is we could be getting a better deal but the commission won't allow it for us or the town. By the way,the power bills in Tennessee are a far lower amount compaired to ours. Her electric cost with whole house AC is around 200.all summer. non AC season is never over 50. When they explain anything to us at a commission meeting it is always said that National Grid charges their customers more. I can say this the General manager has the facts ready to go when the questions are asked. Is that because he watchs the competition to see how much he can raise the rates and still say TMLWP are cheaper? If thats the way he treats us thats a poor way to manage the department. Our electric bills could be and should be lower than they are now.
ReplyDeleteI will work to find better ways to conserve and produce better quality of service with a step up in safety.
at the very least the water employees can put up signs when working in the roadways and wear yellow like the rest of the world does when in the roadway working. The public should have the warning they are there working.
If they hire outside contractors to take the place of town workers they aslo should follow the guide of work zone safety and wear High-Visibility Public safety vests. If the simple things are not followed the management are not doing the job they are being paid by us to do. This is the case now as i see the in road workers doing. George of the jungle cuts trees for our light department and when i see them out there without any sings up i can only imagine the lawsuit we could be in for when our department allows this to happen.I give credit to Tom Berry for the good job he does keeping his men in line and safe. But it's not just about our men working in the departments as the public are a priority also.
Thanks for taking the time to run for office Dave it is much appreciated. Good luck tomorrow! Vote Mitchell for Selectmen! Vote Smart for Light and Water! Vote Farrell for School Committee!
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