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.

We Are Not Alone

While some will never admit it, we really are all in this fight together. Whether you want to call yourself a member of the tea party movement or not, we really are all on the same side.

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.

If You Got It, Spend It

As anyone who follows this blog knows I believe in a level funded budget, meaning it shouldn’t go up every year. You know, like you do at home where you have to either spend less each year or the same as you did last year since your income more than likely hasn’t risen.

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.

Town Meeting Is Almost Here - Open Your Wallets

I really am convinced that I need to get more involved in politics at the local level. After all as I have stated many times to any one who cares to listen, and indeed even to those who don't, we need to change the culture of bigger government and bigger spending from the bottom up.

Surprise MA Dems Won't Lower Sales Tax

Here is some news I bet you didn't see coming, the Massachusetts House Democrats are refusing to lower the state sales tax. Do you need any better reason to vote them out in November?

Spend it if you got it

Here it is Easter Sunday and what am I doing? Writing and thinking about politics and the CPA. But then if we don't do it who will?

Free Money Isn't Free

Why is it that people seem to think that any money which comes from the Government is free? In this debate we are having about the CPA for example, we keep hearing about we get this from the state, we get that from the state, has anyone ever stopped to think where this money actually comes from?

Sturbridge CPA, the plot thickens, maybe

There are days when I wish I still lived under the political rock and never got involved in anything. Of course becasue I spent so much time there already it can certainly be argued this is why we are in such a mess. Not that I was alone under the rock, I had plenty of company.

Time to dump the CPA in Sturbridge

A couple of weeks ago I posted a copy of a "Letter to the Editor" regarding the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and the effort to repeal this act in Sturbridge. There will be a ballot question at the election on April 9th. I have been receiving more information on the CPA and the more I learn the more I am for voting to get the town out of the CPA.

Life in Idyllic Sturbridge

Now I know I can sure be a pain in the you know where at times but having begun reading the Sturbridge Master Plan, Vision and Goals section, I was struck by a couple of things. Now I admit, this has been out since March 2011 and I am just reading it now, and it will become clear as to why I am reading it now by the end of this post.

Obama Doesn't Get The Economy

In last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama asked the question “But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes?” Wouldn’t a better idea be to lower the secretary’s taxes to pay the same as the billionaire? (Full transcript here)

Thoughts on the Sturbridge Town Meeting Warrant

Monday, June 6 is the annual town meeting in Sturbridge. In the small towns of New England this is a tradition which goes back to the founding of our communities. Unlike towns like Southbridge as an example, who no longer hold "Town Meetings" in the same sense as Sturbridge does, this is the main way for voters to have a say on exactly how their money is spent,

Raising Taxes Could Lead You to Heaven

There was a meeting on Thursday night in Marlboro, where State Representative, James Eldridge told those gathered, or tried anyway, why it would be a good idea to pay more taxes. I could not attend but I have heard from those who have and evidently members of the local tea party groups were there and represented themselves and the Tea Party movement well.