Windfall continued....
Comments:
10 comments:
- what i understand is that the 325000 is going in to the fire dept account to pay ambulance related bills for the yearReplyDelete
you have to appropriate it be for you can spend it
More background documentation was needed to show what the ambulance appropriation is based on. It's been done the same for several years. I have requested that from the accountant and that it be explained so the public understands as well.Delete
- I sure hope there s a plan B and plan C. It is up to the voters of this community to decide these issues. A budget based on a lot of maybe's is running on a wing and a prayer. The lady from the library is going to run the Senior Center ? Kiss the food pantry and meals on wheels good by ? Let's see what the community says. If people in Town Hall are starving, then someone does not know what starving is, in my opinion. A budget based on real numbers better be somewhere. My opinion, Bev.Delete
- Does anyone truly trust any numbers coming from our BOS or TA? Which ones have been accurate?ReplyDelete
- If you went to the ATM last May, I think you would remember the members of the Advisory Committee, telling the voters the budget presented to them by the TA was wrong. No one listened, so money has been short all year. The BOS did not know the TA had changed the budget about 20 times, since they had approved it. I don't think some of the BOS had a clue as to what was or wasn't in the budget. Hopefully we do not have another budget like that again. Ask questions ! Do not be afraid to speak up. This is your meeting, and your hard earned tax dollars that will pay for everything. Bev.Delete
- I want to see a room full of people at the ATM. Forty people does not cut it. After we, the AC have worked for the people in town all year, it sure would be nice to see support for a good balanced budget. If people do not show up, it is the people who do that get to say how your money is spent. Take a friend with you, remind your neighbors that it is time to go. People have died for the right to have our voice heard. I think people take the right to vote for granted. Don't do that. Bev.Delete
- I agree. A room full. The merger with COA and Libray and Rec and cultural is ridiculous. It's not possible for one person to do all those functions as our residents will suffer. We better have a room full of people at the next few budget meetings.Delete
- I trust the numbers coming from the accountant. The budget presented to the BOS and the Advisory, although I am happy we didn't get 20+ versions, seemed like a mystery reveal. The BOS as a whole didn't see it until that Thursday. I have many issues with the budget and it will be brought up as the dept heads discuss their budgets. I am not thrilled with this process this year either. I am happy the AC is there at the same time.Delete
- We are NOT all in agreement, at least not me. I will not speak for a whole board. We did not vote on where the funds would go. I am not sure why it's even called a windfall. That was news To me. Julie beat me to it the other night about funds going to stabilization. I don't believe Julie said "all" the funds, but I am hard ofnhewting so maybe I didn't get that right. However, funds need to go to stabilization to help with s good bond rating. As Mr Columbus seemed concerned that it takes a 2/3 vote to take it out of stabilization.... well, it is taxpayer funds and they should have a say. I don't appreciate other board members speaking for me and my decisions. Thanks julie for coming on Monday and for your valuable input.
Hi Diane,
ReplyDeleteI believe if there is a "windfall" , the money should be placed in stabilization. To date we have no idea regarding the size of the "windfall". Why does it have to be framed by some members of the board as "all or nothing"?
If there were an article to place some of the "windfall' into stabilization, I think it might help increase the credibility of the selectmen and the town, as well as to help restore the Town's bond rating.
The budget that has been presented is based on some very tenuous assumptions:
1. Combining 4 department s to create "Community Services" - why not hold a few public hearings to explain this to the public? Since the public is paying the bills.
2. $325,000 from Ambulance Receipts Reserved - really need a good clarification on that one!
There will be more questions as we go through the budget. I do agree that at least we have the budget to review, which is an improvement over last year's fiasco.
I do believe it was the same J. Columbus that told Julie to leave the selectmen's meeting last spring, because she said the Town should not use free cash to balance the budget. Spending every penny that we have will only continue the same irresponsible behavior that has put us where we are, with no improvement in site. In my opinion, we should keep our budget based on money we know we will have, year after year (real revenue), not one time deals, selling T shirts or harvesting wood. Trees do not grow fast, and how many shirts does anyone think we would really sell ? As it is, the future is blurry at best because we never know when the State will cut their funding, as it has before. Stick to facts ! Like I said, there better be a plan B. Bev.
Delete"Mr Columbus is concerned it takes a 2/3 vote to take money out of stabilization" Good, maybe we should make it 9/10th and then maybe we'd have a few bucks in the account. Oh, wouldn't that 2/3rds have been like 25 people at the last town meeting.
ReplyDeleteIt should never have been called a windfall. Not sure why or where that term came from. I don't think it's an all or nothing for stabilization, but we have to put some in there. I have requested information for you to see the ambulance receipts reserve and a better explanation. Also, we have $51,000 in veterans revolving and we are expecting around $48,000 to be reimbursed so why does there need to be an additional $50,000 when we only expended approx $65,000? I think $20,000 is more than enough and out some toward snow and ice, no director of 4 departments, open the library additional hours and keep the COA as it is. Also, start a revolving account for recreation and they can begin the work of truly getting the program for summer up and running again. Also, the budget presented and discussed for the library and COA had great ideas and I hear they are not going to be taken into consideration at all. Why?!!
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