Veterans officer seeks change in funding for benefits

Veterans officer seeks change in funding for benefits

+ click to enlarge News staff photo by Tara Vocino Templeton Veteran Services Director John Caplis hopes to switch from a general to revolving fund in order to keep up with the increasing demand for veteran benefits after they ran out of money. There are 21 veterans in town who require services. Tara Vocino Reporter TEMPLETON — After running out of money for veterans benefits in recent years, Veteran Services is hoping to have a revolving account in order to keep up with the increasing demand of servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The town combines with the state to provide veterans with wide range of benefits for extra expenses such as heating costs, rides to medical appointments and other emergency needs. The town appropriates a certain amount of money each year, and the state later reimburses the town for 75 percent of its costs. Veteran Services Director John Caplis said that when the state funding for veterans benefits comes back to the town, it goes into the town’s general fund and can’t be used right away because it goes into free cash for next year. Interim Town Administrator Bob Markel explained that if the money goes into the general fund, it can only be used the following year. “That’s the way it works in every city and town in the commonwealth,” Markel said. “Regardless of where they come from, if it goes into the general fund, it can only be used in the following year.” Markel commented on why he thinks a revolving account would be better than a general fund. “It’s one of the great frustrations in municipal government,” he said. “With a revolving account, the money can be used right now. Otherwise, it just sits there.” Templeton budgeted about $49,000 in 2014 for veterans benefits. The town authorized $90,000 for veteran services benefits in 2015. Based on past data and the growth of the veteran community, Caplis requested $120,000 for 2016. The town ran out of the $90,000 it had appropriated in 2015, requiring additional money. Caplis said the revolving fund will greatly benefit the town based on the money that’s already been allocated. That way, the veterans would have access to the full town appropriation, plus the 75 percent reimbursement, if needed. There are 21 veterans in town between the ages of 65 to 95, with the majority of them receiving services from Vietnam, World War II and Korea. That’s a small fraction of the total number, as there are more than 500 veterans in town. According to Markel, the fund isn’t very large when factoring in the cost of benefits per veteran. “It doesn’t take long to eat up $90,000,” he said. The funds could go toward burial and caskets for funeral expenses. There were 12 funerals this year with each one costing $2,000. That’s $24,000 from the budget just for funerals. For other expenses, each veteran wouldn’t receive the same amount. Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 115, Section 108, if the veteran falls under a certain income requirement, then the veteran would be eligible. For an individual household, that would be $25,000 annually, or $38,000 for a couple. The idea to switch to a revolving account will be decided upon at the annual Town Meeting in May. The Water Department, which is seeking to replace its water tank, will host and pay for a special Town Meeting on March 21 at 7:30 p.m. It will be decided whether to transfer those funds later this month. The meeting costs between $4,000 and $5,000. Markel called the dilemma a tough call. “The law says we are legally obligated to pay benefits for those who are eligible,” Markel said. “But we’re also required to not overspend our budget. Our only answer is to have a special Town Meeting.” Caplis said he doesn’t want to get the town in trouble, but he added that the benefits are paramount to their survival. He said Massachusetts was the first state to provide veterans benefits dating back to the Civil War. “It’s the same principle, but it was a monetary sum back then,” Caplis said. “It was probably pennies on the dollar.” Markel said this issue isn’t unique to Templeton. “I’m sure every other community is facing the same problem,” Markel said. “A lot of veterans are returning injured and in need of services. We’re struggling to keep up with the need.”