Remember The Line About Chickens Coming Home To Roost?

Just imagine what'll happen if you succeed in your efforts to close the landfill!
(Maybe you should have listened to me a year ago. 
See Reset The Tax Levy Limit)

Will The Council Shirk Responsibility Again?

The agenda for the January 6th meeting of the General Government subcommittee contained the following item:

2. Review/discuss Town Manager Evaluation form

.

At the January 11^th meeting of the Town Council, Councilor Carrasco announced that he had minutes for the subcommittee meeting. However, he was still typing them up and they would be reported at a later meeting.

At the January 27^th meeting of the Town Council Councilor Clemence had apparently assumed the chairmanship of General Government in light of Mr. Carrasco’s accession to Council Chair. She reported that she had no minutes and no meeting scheduled. 

Reset The Tax Levy Limit

Ken O'Brien

Since 2005 the median value of homes in Southbridge has dropped by over 30%.

Since 2005 the property tax rate in Southbridge has increased by over 77%.

Out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts we rank 15th in terms of unemployment.

The Town Council took a baby step and said no to any tax increase this year.

It’s not enough.

In two or three years the revenues from the landfill are going to end.

The past history of our town government is to whistle past the graveyard, continue as it always has and stick residents with the bill.

Will they cut services? No!

Will they cut personnel? No!

Will they raise taxes? You bet your sweet ass they will!

It has to stop.

It is time for the voters and tax paying citizens of Southbridge to force a change.

Rather than wait for the Council to adopt tax increases that will perpetuate the status quo, it is time to force them to cut expenses.

It is time to reset the basis for taxation in accordance with the reset in property values.

It is time to put a proposition 2 ½  underride on the 2016 town ballot.

Such an underride question would read as follows:

“Shall the Town of Southbridge be required to reduce the amount of real estate and personal property taxes to be assessed for the fiscal year beginning July first, two thousand and sixteen by an amount equal to $2,500,000?”

If adopted, the underride would reset the tax levy limit of the town permanently. The Council would be compelled to adopt a budget that would reflect the cuts necessary to accommodate the loss of Casella funds without any increase in real estate and personal property taxes.

Let me know if you agree with me that the time has come to act.

If you do, then we will begin the process of putting this on next year’s ballot.

Southbridge Town Council: Budge It On Town’s Budget

Ken O’Brien

The gravy train is coming to an end folks!

For those of you who have been asleep for the past four months, we found out that the landfill wasn’t the $100 million bonanza we were originally promised.

For three years I’ve been trying to wake you up to the fact that bemoaning the tax rate when it is set in December is a fruitless exercise. That tax rate is effectively set in May when the Town Council adopts the budget.

Southbridge’s Fiscal Cliff

Ken O’Brien

I have to start with a slight explanation here. The town of Southbridge operates on a July 1 to June 30 Fiscal Year. The state operates on a January 1 to December 31 Fiscal Year. Thus, the state aid numbers in the FY 2013 town budget are derived from the FY 2012 state budget.

That having been said, with the inclusion of the increase of $100,000 in the FY 2013 town budget at last night’s town council meeting it is still $31,001 less than the FY 2012 budget.

Martinek Launches Campaign Web Video

Ken O’Brien

Local campaigning for public office has entered the 21^st century.

Southbridge town council candidate Dennis Martinek has released through his campaign website as well as YouTube the first in a planned series of campaign videos.

The animated power-point-like presentation focuses on the issue of Southbridge property taxes.

Southbridge Tax Rate will go up 4.2%, Water Rate Up 2% Under New Budget

Ken O’Brien

Southbridge Town Manager Chris Clark

Last night the Southbridge town council, by a six to two vote (councilors McDonald and Vandal against, councilor Livengood excused) approved a fiscal year 2013 budget just shy of $45 million.

The key revelation came in response to a question posed by councilor Laurent McDonald. He asked what the impact of the proposed budget would be on the town’s property tax rate. Town manager Clark referred the question to chief assessor Wilfred Cournouyer. After hemming and hawing, his response is quoted in an article by Brian Lee in today’s Worcester Telegram and Gazette. 

Property Tax Rate Comparisons for 2012: Southbridge Still Highest Locally

Ken O'Brien

Last year I prepared a comparison of Southbridge‘s property tax rate relative to other local communities.

Below is the updated list for Fiscal Year 2012, as well as the prior data from FY 2011.

Those who wish to denigrate these comparisons will throw up the same old tired argument that it’s not the rate that matters.

Stop to consider that a rate of $17.83 per thousand is a percentage. In other words, you’re being charged 1.78% of the value of your home. That’s no different than saying that you’re paying the same percentage as somebody who can afford a $500,000 home. Isn’t the person who owns a $500,000 home more capable of paying 1.78% than the person who can only afford a $120,000 home?

In other words, should the person who makes only $40,000 per year pay the same percentage of their income in taxes as the person who makes $200,000 per year? It ultimately boils down to the same thing.

Furthermore, if you look at other communities with higher home values, is your 1.78 percent equivalent to the 1.76% of a home’s value that they are paying in Sturbridge?