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%.
This year 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.
Out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts we rank 15th in terms of unemployment.
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.
This is a good idea and I would support it. We shouldn't be spending money we don't have. I don't follow town politics as closely as I used to but I remember a provision in our contract with Casella (at least that's where I think it is) that states it requires a 2/3 vote of the council to access any more than 1/2 of the royalty payments. That provision was/is routinely ignored since Chris Clarke got a legal opinion that stated since the royalties are part of the regular budget a super majority of the council is not required to access the money. I think this opinion should be revisited to see if we can save any of the remaining revenue that comes to us from Casella for the rainy day that's headed our way.
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