Sturbridge Taxes Headed Down

I've got some good news, and I got some bad news for the residents of Sturbridge. But the rest of you should take heed as well. I went to the Selectman's meeting last night and here is what went down.

A Step in the Right Direction

As much as I would like to think it was because of my last post, which I am sure it wasn't, I am glad to see that the Board of Selectmen decided not to go ahead with the $600,000 re-do of Walker Road. At Monday's meeting they voted 5 - 0 not to go forward with the plan. As mentioned during the meeting, this money could be better spent elsewhere.

The Common Good

Exactly what constitutes the "common good"? When it comes to government spending, who defines "common good"? Should there be some kind of ratio which would determine the amount of pain one group to help another group? 5 to 1? 100 to 1? 5,000 to 1?

Fiscal Responsibility Means Thinking Out Of The Box

I promised the other day there would be no more posts about the Sturbridge Annual Town Meeting and I meant it. Well, okay maybe just a little bit more, although this isn't technically about it.

If You Got ‘Em, Spend ‘Em, Taxes That Is

In yesterday’s post I mentioned how there were many “Closet Tea Partyers” at the annual Sturbridge Town Meeting. Unfortunately for the taxpayers there weren’t enough of them.

Sturbridge Town Meeting Wraps Up

You know you better hold onto your wallet when you go to the Town Meeting and the first car you see has an Obama bumper sticker, a 99% sticker, a Richard Neal sticker and an Elizabeth Warren sticker.

Town Meeting Issues Continued

As promised here is a follow-up post to the post I did after the Town Meeting. I received several comments and thought I would discuss them a little further.

When It's Twilight On The Trail

Some times you just have to shake your head and wonder. Like I did last night at a joint meeting of the Trails Committee, the Conservation Committee and the Board of Selectmen here in Sturbridge.

Happy Trails To You

It seems that all trails lead to Sturbridge, or could if we are willing to shell out some money. I wish I could tell you how much but it seems that the Town Administrator is being a little less than forth coming with the info.

Half a Loaf, Better Than None?

Just some last minute thoughts on tonight's town meeting. There are some important issues on the warrant, especially the citizen's petition, Article 4, which would level fund the budget. As of this writing i understand there will be a substitute motion which will increase the budget, but by only half of what the FinCom wants.

More On Article 4

While this post deals with Article 4 on the warrant of the Sturbridge Town Meeting, it really applies to any town or city which is dealing with rising tax rates. As I have written before, I beleive that changing the culture of spending and taxing begins at the local level and works its way up. Fiscal responsibility starts here.

More From A Frustrated Sturbridge Taxpayer

Let me throw this out there. I realize I am not a financial whiz, one only needs to look at my checkbook to see that. But I can’t understand why we can’t keep the town budget the same next year as it was this year.

Perusing On A Sunday Afternoon

On a lovely Sunday afternoon here in Sturbridge, I sit with my little notebook computer perusing the latest information on the upcoming Town Meeting and budgets. Ahh the interesting things we learn when we actually sit down and look.

A New Reason To Raise Our Taxes

You just got to love the logic of the tax and spenders. Besides the usual whining about how teachers will have to be laid off and public services will need to be cut if there isn’t a Proposition 2 ½ override, we have something new.

First the GSA, Now the EPA Thumbs Their Noses at us

A few posts ago I wrote about how some things transcend politics. I was referring to the planting of trees in the Town of Southbridge in neighborhoods affected by last year's tornadoes. There was a comment made by Anonymous saying I was always hard on government workers. He is right.

CPA 1, Taxpayers 0

The local election is over and once again there have been lessons learned. First, let me say we lost the vote on Question 4 which was to revoke the CPA, so we will continue to incur more and more debt buying things we don’t need and can’t afford.

More Mis-information Being Spread by the CPAers

Here is a rather lengthy read of some recent information which has been put out there by CPA supporters, and a reply by Janet Garon. Why let the facts get in the way of a good tax hike?

Education on the Issues Should be Foremost

I spent the day at a local supermarket today handing out fliers and talking to people about the CPA and Question 4 on the local ballot. No, i am not going to rehash the arguments, well not today anyway. It was an interesting and eyeopening experience.

Hardly A Cup of Coffee

Here is a copy of another letter to the editor which was placed in the Southbridge News, written by Barbara Search of Sturbridge. In it she points out that the $4.3 million in debt the town is in, really will be about $6 million when you factor in the interest.

Revoking CPA is like giving money away?

We have another guest blog post today, this one from Chuck Belisle another Sturbridge resident.