Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Council of The Whole Agenda - July 27, 2015
Town Council Of The Whole MeetingMacKinnon Council Chambers
July 27, 2015
7 PM
Agenda
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Breaking News: Steven Bliss Appointed Interim Superintendent
Ken O'Brien
At its meeting Wednesday night, by a vote of 6 to 1, the Southbridge School Committee appointed Steven Bliss as interim Superintendent for the Southbridge School District. The sole dissenting vote was cast by committee member Erin Quinney.
Bliss recently announced his departure from the position of Superintendent of the Dover-Sherborn school district.
Mr. Bliss had twice before been a school principal (in Southbridge and Sturbridge), had served four years as an assistant superintendent and two years as a superintendent. In addition, from all I have been able to find, he received glowing comments from all of those concerned with his previous positions.
Bliss recently announced his departure from the position of Superintendent of the Dover-Sherborn school district.
Mr. Bliss had twice before been a school principal (in Southbridge and Sturbridge), had served four years as an assistant superintendent and two years as a superintendent. In addition, from all I have been able to find, he received glowing comments from all of those concerned with his previous positions.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
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.
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 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.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Monday, July 6, 2015
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Friday, July 3, 2015
Southbridge Home Values and Tax Rates
According to the Warren Group "The ten communities [in Massachusetts] with the largest decreases in median [home] prices since 2005 were Athol, Fitchburg, Southbridge, Warren, Orange, Gardner, Winchendon, Barre, Randolph and New Bedford." (The Warren Group Reports Top Communities In Median Price Increases Since 2005)
According to The Boston Globe, Southbridge had the tenth lowest median home values in 2013. However, according to the Boston Business Journal, we ranked 15th in terms of property tax rates in 2015.
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According to The Boston Globe, Southbridge had the tenth lowest median home values in 2013. However, according to the Boston Business Journal, we ranked 15th in terms of property tax rates in 2015.
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Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Southbridge Officials Discuss Teacher Arrest
I thought Stanton was the Assistant Superintendent?
(No Contract)
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