I don't think I have ever been disappointed about missing a "state of the anything speech". When the news came out that the Governor was postponing the State of the Commonwealth speech scheduled for last night, I was in fact disappointed. For a second. Until I also heard the budget numbers would still be released today.
Every community needs those numbers. Whether it is to begin a long and probably justifiable lament (just about every community except the gateway cities and Boston) or whether it is to start complaining about the lion's share note being enough (the gateway cities and Boston).
No matter what local aid is doled out, it won't be enough.
FY 2003 net state aid for our small town (receipts less assessments) was $10,770,586.00. FY 2008 net state aid was $10,559,177. FY 2014 net state aid was $9,858,186.
You may wonder why use these years. Think back. FY 2003 was the year for the infamous mid-year cuts. FY 2008 was the start of the great recession. FY 2014, well simply the last year of known aid. Also, to show no matter what the overall recovery, local aid has a long, long way to go.
Two biggest reasons. Expansion and creation of new programs. The minute more money starts pouring in , perhaps trickling in is a better phrase, you start hearing about doing more of something or doing something new. The other reason, a big chunk of the money coming in goes to fixed costs. Which year in and year out take a bigger and bigger chunk.
Had all the taxes, fees and whatever other increases imposed been used for the specific purposes we were told they were being imposed for over the years, we would probably only be in half the mess we are in now. Had a concerted effort been made to handle what exists, each and every time we have gone through the cycle of the down turn then recovery, rather than restore, add on or create, where could we be?
The state does not won that little scenario all by itself. Every layer of every level of government is equally to blame.
Anyway ... we have to play the hand we are dealt. You want a seat at the table, you have no choice but to play by house rules and you have to play with the players the house lets sit at the table.
You can't keep adding on, piling on, asking for more and more and more. Well actually apparently you can.
Okay, enough for today. I pretty much had this done early this morning and forgot to publish before dealing with the snow. So a bit later than usual. I just wish it wasn't the usual scenario. Who knows, maybe dollars will fall from the sky this afternoon in the same volume as the snow did last night.
Be safe.
Has anyone considered the revenue that could be gained from reclaimed materials from the two schools? Bricks, flooring, slate roofing?
ReplyDeleteListening to the study committee members during the selectmen's meeting, it seems like some of them have preconceived notions as to what should be done with the buildings.
If the town was lucky enough to have someone show sincere interest in the buildings and/or at minimum the property, nothing is going to scare them off more quickly than a long list of restrictions.
If members of the community are so bent on maintaining/preserving the buildings, then let them buy it and preserve it. We've got to dispose of the property. Don't make the process so challenging to prospective buyers that we are paying while the buildings continue to rot.