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WB 40 Developments
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WB 40 Developments
Taxpayers Fund 90% of School Employee Benefits
March 28th, 2007: WB Virtual High School Classes (a sampling)
This is a partial list of the Virtual Classes offered to West Boylston students, and the people that run them.
> American Foriegn Policy: taught by Michael Bruno at Barnegat HS, in Barnegat New Jersey
> American Multiculturalism: taught by Kara Staunton-Shron from Great Barrington MA
Description includes "You'll learn about bias, stereotypes, and hate . . . You might even be asked to bare the deepest secrets of your soul".
> Parenting in the 21st Century (can be offered to middle school students): taught by Julia Wilmer, TC Williams HS, from Alexandria Virginia
Description includes teaching students to "explore available community resources for parenting in the contemporay world." What does this mean by 'community resources'?
> Creative Writing: taught by John Doyle of Norristown Area HS, from Norristown PA
Description includes :How can a poem or a piece of fiction speak to us across years, genders, and cultures?"
> Employability Skills: taught by JeanAnn DePietropaolo of Parkiomen Valley HS from Collegeville PA
Description includes "Everyone! Yes, everyone! Can benefit from effective and improved job seeking skills." Yes, especially the middle school students that are allowed to take this course, too.
> Environmental Science: taught by Catherine Niedziela of Hadley MA.
Description includes "interperet and share your (project) results and conclusions with your classmates."
> Democracy in America?: taught by John Adkins of Anna HS from Anna Ohio.
> Advanced Web Design: taught by Julie Stratton of Cape May County tech School from Cape May Court House New Jersey
Students must have "access to email and not restricted from downloading/ uploading files". As everyone knows, any 12 year old can already put up their own MySpace webpage in 10 minutes, complete with their own picture, music files, blogs, and videos.
A class on 'popular' music was also recently taught by a teacher from the country of Dubai. The teacher no longer is involved with the course, but the course is still available to WB students.
West Boylston has 4 Virtual teachers (Tina Avery, Lynne Pelto, Kathleen Barber, and Bill GIbbs). Bill Gibbs has replaced Scott Simoncini, the "Cuteteacherguy29" that admitted guilt to sending X-rated photos of himself to 14 year olds.
QUESTION: How did Scott Simoncini, an online Virtual teacher meet these students online to send his photos? Were they virtual students of his or friends of virtual students? How does West Boylston know what teacher is on the other side of the computer monitor?
This is what WB schools are spending tax money on.
Scott Simoncini, Virtual High School, & WB School Stats
SEE ARTICLES BELOW FOR TEACHER SALARIES, VHS CLASSES, AND OTHER SCHOOL INFO
January 25th, 2008:
At this point in West Boylston, everyone knows who Scott Simoncini is, the Virtual High School/ Social Studies/ JV baseball coach (salary $71,471) that allegedly uses the screen name 'cuteteacherguy29', to, among other charges, send naked photos of himself to 14 year olds. It is also alleged that he surfed websites such as MySpace and Facebook to find underage kids.
Evidence was seized in a Portsmouth NH investigation. Here is the January 23rd T&G article for more details.
At least he didn't do what's being reported in Los Angeles - a guy got phony 'media photographers' credentials and went around taking pictures of high school swim teams and other youth water leagues and put those pictures up on X-rated kiddie sites.
As the Simoncini story speaks for itself, a less dynamic subject comes up - what's a "Virtual High School"?
A "Virtual High School", or VHS, is nothing more than a class taught online with students from anywhere (under age 18 as it is) through their computer with their screen name (email address). Though a student can check in any time for their assignment, it can best be visualized as a online chatroom for educational purposes.
The cost of training a Virtual teacher, according to Virtual High Schol.org, is $6,500, and typically $4,500 for each additional teacher. Those costs are typically paid for by taxpayers.
Scott Simoncini taught "Film & Literature: the European Experience". According to VHS.org, Mr. Simoncini has been replaced by Mr. Rick Bagby, on January 23rd, 2008. The school salries list does not have Mr. Bagby listed.
Other Virtual teachers in West Boylston are:
Kathleen Barber, a "Technology" teacher (salary $33,304.60) for VHS class "Marketing on the Internet".
Lynne Pelto, an art teacher (salary $63,601) for VHS class "Learning to invest in the Stock Market". Grades for this course are not given by the teacher based on what she taught them and what they learned, but rather they are purchased by the virtual gains they made during their virtual investments - the more the virtual profit, as it seems, the higher the virtual grade.
How does a parent have a meeting with these virtual online teachers? Some of West Boylston virtual classes have teachers from New Jersey and even the country of Dubai.
Though Scott Simoncini did not use school property or resources for his alleged activities, he was able to attain screen names from underage kids in his virtual classroom - something non-virtual teachers can't do.
Questions are: Are any of the alleged victims and/ or recipients of his naked photos students of his virtual class room? (None are to be reported to have been from West Boylston.
Were any of these kids friends of students of his virtual classroom?
Though reports state he did not go after West Boylston kids, how does any one know what other VHS teachers are doing to West Boylston kids? (This is in no way to diminish VHS.org's background checks or the vast majority of teachers, but a legitimate question under the circumstances)
West Boylston School Statistics & Figures
Here are links to state figures regarding MA 2007 Graduation Rates and a list of virtual WB classes.
There are 127 Massachusetts schools that participate in Virtual High School, including West Boylston. Of the 336 schools/ districts listed by the Boston Globe, West Boylston's graduation rate is 90.2%, a ranking of 108 of 336. Of the 127 VHS schools, only 18 of the 107 schools/ districts that have a higher graduation rate than West Boylston has a VHS program.
Yes, some good school systems have VHS, but consider who most of them are - Marlborough, Framingham, Holyoke, Worcester, Springfield, New Bedford, Boston, Everett, Somerville, Braintree, Fall River, Revere, Chelsea, and of course, Brockton.
Not on the list - Wachusett Reg., Shrewsbury, and all the other lower taxed, little 40B, communities. How come Weston, or Newton is not on the list? Is there a correlation?
SAT Scores for 2006:
The Boston Globe reports on 336 schools and their 2006 SAT scores.
Reading Rank Math Rank Writing Rank
West Boylston 496 162 499 174 523 64
State Average 513 - 524 - 510 -
In summary, for a town that has a property tax rate 29% higher per valuation dollar in Massachustts, West Boylston ranks 108th in graduation rates and has lower than state average SAT scores in Reading and Math, yet we are one of a few that has Virtual High School. And finally, as stated on the homepage, administrative costs are 32% higher than state average, but building maintenance is just over half per pupil expenditure of state average.
July '07 School Building Report Confirms 40B Agenda
December 20th, 2007:
In a school building report dated July 10th, 2007, Superintendent Mr. Thomas Kane wrote (page 6, priority 4)the "town's affordable housing stock is at the 2% level . . the town of West Boylston is very likely to see population and demographic changes over the next several years as it strives to achieve the goals of Chapter 40B."
"Ironically", Chairman of Selectman Kevin McCormick, who was found guilty of illegally removing asbestos from his Keepers Pub and given special waivers (expected opening of over a year ago), said during the December 5th, 2007 selectmen's meeting, that the town is "striving" to meet its 40B goals. It seems the word "strive" is in the town hall's 40B agenda playbook.
An interesting point is that Mr. Kane wrote that West Boylston has 2% 40B in the town's inventory. The fact is, based on an email from the Department of Housing & Community Development, West Boylston, as of February 2007, has 120 units of 40B - or 4.9%.
On July 3rd, 2007, the Telegram & Gazette, reported the correct information, based on the lie Mr. Gaumond told at the June 29th, 2007 selectman's meeting, as he said there are 81 units. Mr. Gaumond stated during a presentation on March 7th that there were 81 units, too (see 40B developments page). Even if one were to give the benefit of the doubt that he didn't have his facts straight on March 7th, there is no excuse for telling wrong information 5 months after the fact. This information was brought to his attention afterward, so why did he use the same 81 units figure again in June - doesn't he believe the DHCD Inventory List and the email written by the DHCD before his March 7th presentation?
Mr. Kane, on the same page as his 40B statements, stated how the town's 40B subsidized housing agenda really started - the sewer system (of which West Boylston is the only town along the Wachusett or Quabbin Reservoir with required hookup). Mr. Kane stated "the Town completed installing a sewerage system which opened up building lots and made high density housing, such as apartment and condo complexes, more easily buildable." In March of 2007, he told the WB Banner the schools should expect a large influx of students that do NOT speak English as a primary language. Afra Terrace alone will cause more than enough problems considering the affiliations of Iqbal Ali - go to WB Corruption page for story.
Despite Budget "Problems", Schools Go On Hiring Spree
Despite the school department stating they have to make draconian cuts, including eliminating positions, due to the failure of passing a $9,000,000 or so override earlier this year, they are actively searching to hire nine new employees. These positions include teaching assistants and Special Ed teachers.
If the schools are saying there is not enough money in the budget to maintain a music teacher in the elementary school, why are they pursuing new hires? If the new hires are to replace newly opened positions, why are we looking to fill those positions when we have such a "bare bones" budget? Haven't the openings created the cuts the schools needed to make in the first place? Considering the positions the schools are looking to fill, it can be argued those positions are not essential in the current state of budgeting.
One resignation came late this Spring when gym teacher, Mr. Paul Mumby, resigned - with a salary of $71,471. With his resignation, conventional wisdom would suggest the schools now have an extra $71,471 in the till.
The schools want to eliminate the music teacher at Major Edwards Elememntary - at a salary of $40,573.80. The schools also claim they "need" to eliminate a school bus at $43,000 per year.
Wouldn't it make sense to apply the $71,471 we no longer have to pay the gym teacher and apply it to the music teacher so the town can keep her job, and put the rest toward the school bus?
Adding the cost of the music teacher and school bus is a total of $83,573.80 - only $12,102.80 over the gym teacher's salary.
If we hired just 8 of the 9 people the school wants to hire, that would certainly save at least $12,102.80, and then we could keep music, keep the school bus, and possibly lower student fees - all accomplished by common sense budgeting.
Town Employee Benefits
Employee Benefits Increase 3.7 Times Faster than Total Budget Increase
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WEST BOYLSTON SCHOOLS:
53% of FY 2006 Budget Went to School Budget Click Here for the Re-Roofing of the Schools
"The root of the deficit is not a spending problem, it is a revenue problem." Thomas Kane, Superintendent of Schools, WB Banner, April 19th, 2007
If the average property tax bill has increased every year since 2002, if the tax rate increased last year, if the CPA gets another 2%, if sewer taxes have risen 52.2% on April 1st, if fees have increased, how is it a revenue problem?
Here is the list of School Salaries for 2007-2008: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
This list includes: (15) Special Ed Teachers, (23) Special Ed Assistants, (1) Occupational Therapist at $51,113.00, (2) Phsycologists at $52,000+ and $68,770.00, a Gym teacher making $71,471.00, a Cafeteria and Play Monitor, 4 janitors, and two Assistant Principles at $77,250.00 each, as one of those positions was created in July 2006 - not replacing a person, but creating the position, and last but not least, (2) 'Reading Recovery' teachers, as titled on school web site at Major Edwards Elementary.
Here is a partial list of Classes Available and taken at the schools that we're spending money on:
> International Business: An Exploration > Learning to Invest in the Stock Market > 101 Ways to Write a Short Story > Creative Writing for People Who Mean It > Folklore and Literature of Myth, Magic, and Ritual > Animal Behavior and Zoology > Ghoulies, Ghosties, and Long-Legged Beasties: Why We Like to Be Scared > Parenting in the 21st Century > Employability Skills > Math You Can Use in College > Democracy in America? > Peacemaking > Great Inventions and Scientific Discoveries > Film and Literature: The European Experience > The Gods of CNN: The Power of Modern Media > Environmental Science > Internet Research > and Animation and Effects. Other items include the AIDS Action Committee, Sports Marketing, Hand-Eye-Coordination activities in Physics class, and for grades 6 through 8: Sensitivity and Diversity training, as was reported by the Worcester T&G, on October 19th, 2006, at a cost of $1,600.
Information by MA Department of Education web site for FY 2006:
West Boylston and State Averages given as Per Pupil Expenditure. I have figured the percentage difference, and taken the actual dollar difference and multiplied by 1,100 - the approximate number of students in West Boylston.
The actual student population is 1,155 as the Worcester T&G reported that "students population are stable, with about 480 pupils expected to arrive at Major Edwards Elementary School and 675 at the middle/ high school..."
Currently, 98 students are non-residents of West Boylston.
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... Town by Town Tax Rate Comparison
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Prop 2 1/2 Override:
How $3.1 Million Is Really $9 Million Plus -
Compounded Taxation Is Going to Cost Each Home Thousands More
Basic Explanation: The previous year's total of property taxes collected becomes the next year's starting point (Base). In year one, the first million of the override is placed on top of the prevuious year's total ($10,000,000), thus making the total $11,000,000.
In year two, since $11,000,000 was collected in the previous year, $11,000,000 becomes the new Base, of which you add on the second million dollars of the override, which brings the total to $12,000,000. By year two, $3 million has already been collected in new taxation - $1 million the first year, $1 million the second year (as a base), and the second year $1 million override, for a total of $3 million.
This is compounded taxation. This does not include the 2% CPA property tax surcharge or any tax rate increase up to 2.5% town hall can do. Don't forget, selectmen already raised the property tax rate 3.6% last December.
The cycle is repeated as long as determined . . .
FY 2006 property taxes collected: $10,345,132.89 Prop 2 1/2 Override: $3,100,000.
Example below using rounded numbers
Example 1 - If CPA is used only as a surcharge and not applied to base of following year:
Year ONE:
$10,000,000 Base + $1,000,000 first year = $11,000,000 + 2.5% = $11,275,000 + 2% CPA = $11,500,500
Year TWO:
$11,275,000 Base + $1,000,000 second year = $12,275,000 + 2.5% = $12,581,879 + 2% CPA = $12,833,512.50
Year THREE:
$12,581,879 Base + $1,000,000 third year = $13,581,879 + 2.5% = $13,921,425.98 + 2% CPA = $14,199,854.49
Estimated Dollar Amount Over FY 2006 property Tax Collections:
$10,000,000 Base Year 1: $1,500,500 Over FY 2006 Base
Year 2: $2,833,152.50 Over FY 2006 Base
Year 3: $4,199,854.49 Over FY 2006 Base
$8,533,866.99 Over FY 2006 Base
Therefore:
The Budget Base will increase over 39% over three years, with over $8.5 million in additional taxation.
Example 2: If CPA is applied to the Base the following year:
Year ONE:
$10,000,000 Base + $1,000,000 first year = $11,000,000 + 2% CPA = $11,220,000 + 2.5% = $11,500,500
Year TWO:
$11,500,500 Base + $1,000,000 second year = $12,500,500 + 2% CPA = $12,750,510 + 2.5% = $13,069,272.75
Year THREE:
$13,069,272.75 Base + $1,000,000 third year = $14,069,272.75 + 2% CPA = $14,350,658.21 + 2.5% = $14,709,424.66
Estimated Dollar Amount Over FY 2006 Property Tax Collections:
$10,000,000 Base Year 1: $1,500,500.00 Over FY 2006 Base
Year 2: $3,069,272.75 Over FY 2006 Base
Year 3: $4,709,424.66 Over FY 2006 Base
Total: $9,279,197.41 Total Over FY 2006 Base
Therefore:
The Budget Base will increase 47% over three years, with over $9.2 million in new taxation.
The Average Property Tax Bill will increase roughly 47% in three years from $3,843.14 to nearly $5900.
NOTE: These figures are based on property taxes collected, not the total budget.
Property Tax Rate Increase: 3.6% Increase
Selectman Kevin McCormick was sent a certified letter in early February to explain how the property tax rate can increase more than 2.5% without a town override - as selectmen approved in December 2006. By law, he has 10 days to respond to a certified letter. He never responded. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has now given this letter a case number, as of April 2nd, 2007. Due to Mr. McCormick's refusal to comply with the law, there must be state intervention.
Mr. McCormick told the town at the Spring 2006 town meeting he was going to close the pool, yet he can't explain how he raised your taxes.
Property Tax Rate Increase of 2.5%
The Selectmen can raise the property tax rate up to 2.5% in any year without consent from voters. Taxes have been maxed out ever since the town administrator began his tenure in West Boylston - as was stated during a recent selectmen's meeting.
Will they do it again in each of the next three years, even if they do get their prop 2 1/2 override? Who's to stop them? Remember, the town voted 3 times against required sewer hookup - and look what we have, thanks to the Board of Health - required sewer hookup.
CPA Property Tax Surcharge: 2%
The $53 amount town hall used as the CPA surcharge is a myth. It is $79. It may be $53, after exemptions, but you simply do not use an 'exemption number' - you use the starting number and work off that. Even if the amount actually was $53, what will it be with any additional tax increases?
Water & Sewer Rate Tax Increase: 52.2%
Effective April 1st, 2007, water rates and sewer taxes increased 52.2%. Town Hall needs to increase the water & sewer rates, yet they do nothing about the absenteeism that is going on in the DPW. If the town has a water shortage, then why is town hall not invoking the 1.5% land clause under the 40B statutes to prevent more developments from being built. More developments = more people drinking water = more shortage = higher water rates and sewer taxes.
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It's a Spending Problem, Not a Revenue Problem:
When you know you are going to face financial problems, you don't buy a new fire truck for $460,000 or so, you don't hire additional employees, you don't ignore absenteeism problems in the DPW, and you don't actively pursue and rubber stamp 40B developments that, by definition of what 40B is, pay less taxes than the average household - which means a automatic shortfall in tax collection.
It should be very clear that town hall never mentioned paying down the debt they have made, that this override is to only take care of current "needs" and its projected costs.
The questions is - if it's not a spending problem, how did West Boylston end up with such problems and a Prop 2 1/2 override in question when property taxes have increased every year for 5 years, when the tax rate increased last year, the CPA has been approved, and sewer taxes have increased 52.2% this year alone?
The problem is not that we don't have enough money for our employees,
We have too many employees for our money.
American Pig Race
March 28th, 2007: WB Virtual High School Classes (a sampling)
This is a partial list of the Virtual Classes offered to West Boylston students, and the people that run them.
> American Foriegn Policy: taught by Michael Bruno at Barnegat HS, in Barnegat New Jersey
> American Multiculturalism: taught by Kara Staunton-Shron from Great Barrington MA
Description includes "You'll learn about bias, stereotypes, and hate . . . You might even be asked to bare the deepest secrets of your soul".
> Parenting in the 21st Century (can be offered to middle school students): taught by Julia Wilmer, TC Williams HS, from Alexandria Virginia
Description includes teaching students to "explore available community resources for parenting in the contemporay world." What does this mean by 'community resources'?
> Creative Writing: taught by John Doyle of Norristown Area HS, from Norristown PA
Description includes :How can a poem or a piece of fiction speak to us across years, genders, and cultures?"
> Employability Skills: taught by JeanAnn DePietropaolo of Parkiomen Valley HS from Collegeville PA
Description includes "Everyone! Yes, everyone! Can benefit from effective and improved job seeking skills." Yes, especially the middle school students that are allowed to take this course, too.
> Environmental Science: taught by Catherine Niedziela of Hadley MA.
Description includes "interperet and share your (project) results and conclusions with your classmates."
> Democracy in America?: taught by John Adkins of Anna HS from Anna Ohio.
> Advanced Web Design: taught by Julie Stratton of Cape May County tech School from Cape May Court House New Jersey
Students must have "access to email and not restricted from downloading/ uploading files". As everyone knows, any 12 year old can already put up their own MySpace webpage in 10 minutes, complete with their own picture, music files, blogs, and videos.
A class on 'popular' music was also recently taught by a teacher from the country of Dubai. The teacher no longer is involved with the course, but the course is still available to WB students.
West Boylston has 4 Virtual teachers (Tina Avery, Lynne Pelto, Kathleen Barber, and Bill GIbbs). Bill Gibbs has replaced Scott Simoncini, the "Cuteteacherguy29" that admitted guilt to sending X-rated photos of himself to 14 year olds.
QUESTION: How did Scott Simoncini, an online Virtual teacher meet these students online to send his photos? Were they virtual students of his or friends of virtual students? How does West Boylston know what teacher is on the other side of the computer monitor?
This is what WB schools are spending tax money on.
Scott Simoncini, Virtual High School, & WB School Stats
SEE ARTICLES BELOW FOR TEACHER SALARIES, VHS CLASSES, AND OTHER SCHOOL INFO
January 25th, 2008:
At this point in West Boylston, everyone knows who Scott Simoncini is, the Virtual High School/ Social Studies/ JV baseball coach (salary $71,471) that allegedly uses the screen name 'cuteteacherguy29', to, among other charges, send naked photos of himself to 14 year olds. It is also alleged that he surfed websites such as MySpace and Facebook to find underage kids.
Evidence was seized in a Portsmouth NH investigation. Here is the January 23rd T&G article for more details.
At least he didn't do what's being reported in Los Angeles - a guy got phony 'media photographers' credentials and went around taking pictures of high school swim teams and other youth water leagues and put those pictures up on X-rated kiddie sites.
As the Simoncini story speaks for itself, a less dynamic subject comes up - what's a "Virtual High School"?
A "Virtual High School", or VHS, is nothing more than a class taught online with students from anywhere (under age 18 as it is) through their computer with their screen name (email address). Though a student can check in any time for their assignment, it can best be visualized as a online chatroom for educational purposes.
The cost of training a Virtual teacher, according to Virtual High Schol.org, is $6,500, and typically $4,500 for each additional teacher. Those costs are typically paid for by taxpayers.
Scott Simoncini taught "Film & Literature: the European Experience". According to VHS.org, Mr. Simoncini has been replaced by Mr. Rick Bagby, on January 23rd, 2008. The school salries list does not have Mr. Bagby listed.
Other Virtual teachers in West Boylston are:
Kathleen Barber, a "Technology" teacher (salary $33,304.60) for VHS class "Marketing on the Internet".
Lynne Pelto, an art teacher (salary $63,601) for VHS class "Learning to invest in the Stock Market". Grades for this course are not given by the teacher based on what she taught them and what they learned, but rather they are purchased by the virtual gains they made during their virtual investments - the more the virtual profit, as it seems, the higher the virtual grade.
How does a parent have a meeting with these virtual online teachers? Some of West Boylston virtual classes have teachers from New Jersey and even the country of Dubai.
Though Scott Simoncini did not use school property or resources for his alleged activities, he was able to attain screen names from underage kids in his virtual classroom - something non-virtual teachers can't do.
Questions are: Are any of the alleged victims and/ or recipients of his naked photos students of his virtual class room? (None are to be reported to have been from West Boylston.
Were any of these kids friends of students of his virtual classroom?
Though reports state he did not go after West Boylston kids, how does any one know what other VHS teachers are doing to West Boylston kids? (This is in no way to diminish VHS.org's background checks or the vast majority of teachers, but a legitimate question under the circumstances)
West Boylston School Statistics & Figures
Here are links to state figures regarding MA 2007 Graduation Rates and a list of virtual WB classes.
There are 127 Massachusetts schools that participate in Virtual High School, including West Boylston. Of the 336 schools/ districts listed by the Boston Globe, West Boylston's graduation rate is 90.2%, a ranking of 108 of 336. Of the 127 VHS schools, only 18 of the 107 schools/ districts that have a higher graduation rate than West Boylston has a VHS program.
Yes, some good school systems have VHS, but consider who most of them are - Marlborough, Framingham, Holyoke, Worcester, Springfield, New Bedford, Boston, Everett, Somerville, Braintree, Fall River, Revere, Chelsea, and of course, Brockton.
Not on the list - Wachusett Reg., Shrewsbury, and all the other lower taxed, little 40B, communities. How come Weston, or Newton is not on the list? Is there a correlation?
SAT Scores for 2006:
The Boston Globe reports on 336 schools and their 2006 SAT scores.
Reading Rank Math Rank Writing Rank
West Boylston 496 162 499 174 523 64
State Average 513 - 524 - 510 -
In summary, for a town that has a property tax rate 29% higher per valuation dollar in Massachustts, West Boylston ranks 108th in graduation rates and has lower than state average SAT scores in Reading and Math, yet we are one of a few that has Virtual High School. And finally, as stated on the homepage, administrative costs are 32% higher than state average, but building maintenance is just over half per pupil expenditure of state average.
July '07 School Building Report Confirms 40B Agenda
December 20th, 2007:
In a school building report dated July 10th, 2007, Superintendent Mr. Thomas Kane wrote (page 6, priority 4)the "town's affordable housing stock is at the 2% level . . the town of West Boylston is very likely to see population and demographic changes over the next several years as it strives to achieve the goals of Chapter 40B."
"Ironically", Chairman of Selectman Kevin McCormick, who was found guilty of illegally removing asbestos from his Keepers Pub and given special waivers (expected opening of over a year ago), said during the December 5th, 2007 selectmen's meeting, that the town is "striving" to meet its 40B goals. It seems the word "strive" is in the town hall's 40B agenda playbook.
An interesting point is that Mr. Kane wrote that West Boylston has 2% 40B in the town's inventory. The fact is, based on an email from the Department of Housing & Community Development, West Boylston, as of February 2007, has 120 units of 40B - or 4.9%.
On July 3rd, 2007, the Telegram & Gazette, reported the correct information, based on the lie Mr. Gaumond told at the June 29th, 2007 selectman's meeting, as he said there are 81 units. Mr. Gaumond stated during a presentation on March 7th that there were 81 units, too (see 40B developments page). Even if one were to give the benefit of the doubt that he didn't have his facts straight on March 7th, there is no excuse for telling wrong information 5 months after the fact. This information was brought to his attention afterward, so why did he use the same 81 units figure again in June - doesn't he believe the DHCD Inventory List and the email written by the DHCD before his March 7th presentation?
Mr. Kane, on the same page as his 40B statements, stated how the town's 40B subsidized housing agenda really started - the sewer system (of which West Boylston is the only town along the Wachusett or Quabbin Reservoir with required hookup). Mr. Kane stated "the Town completed installing a sewerage system which opened up building lots and made high density housing, such as apartment and condo complexes, more easily buildable." In March of 2007, he told the WB Banner the schools should expect a large influx of students that do NOT speak English as a primary language. Afra Terrace alone will cause more than enough problems considering the affiliations of Iqbal Ali - go to WB Corruption page for story.
Despite Budget "Problems", Schools Go On Hiring Spree
Despite the school department stating they have to make draconian cuts, including eliminating positions, due to the failure of passing a $9,000,000 or so override earlier this year, they are actively searching to hire nine new employees. These positions include teaching assistants and Special Ed teachers.
If the schools are saying there is not enough money in the budget to maintain a music teacher in the elementary school, why are they pursuing new hires? If the new hires are to replace newly opened positions, why are we looking to fill those positions when we have such a "bare bones" budget? Haven't the openings created the cuts the schools needed to make in the first place? Considering the positions the schools are looking to fill, it can be argued those positions are not essential in the current state of budgeting.
One resignation came late this Spring when gym teacher, Mr. Paul Mumby, resigned - with a salary of $71,471. With his resignation, conventional wisdom would suggest the schools now have an extra $71,471 in the till.
The schools want to eliminate the music teacher at Major Edwards Elememntary - at a salary of $40,573.80. The schools also claim they "need" to eliminate a school bus at $43,000 per year.
Wouldn't it make sense to apply the $71,471 we no longer have to pay the gym teacher and apply it to the music teacher so the town can keep her job, and put the rest toward the school bus?
Adding the cost of the music teacher and school bus is a total of $83,573.80 - only $12,102.80 over the gym teacher's salary.
If we hired just 8 of the 9 people the school wants to hire, that would certainly save at least $12,102.80, and then we could keep music, keep the school bus, and possibly lower student fees - all accomplished by common sense budgeting.
Town Employee Benefits
Employee Benefits Increase 3.7 Times Faster than Total Budget Increase
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WEST BOYLSTON SCHOOLS:
53% of FY 2006 Budget Went to School Budget Click Here for the Re-Roofing of the Schools
"The root of the deficit is not a spending problem, it is a revenue problem." Thomas Kane, Superintendent of Schools, WB Banner, April 19th, 2007
If the average property tax bill has increased every year since 2002, if the tax rate increased last year, if the CPA gets another 2%, if sewer taxes have risen 52.2% on April 1st, if fees have increased, how is it a revenue problem?
Here is the list of School Salaries for 2007-2008: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
This list includes: (15) Special Ed Teachers, (23) Special Ed Assistants, (1) Occupational Therapist at $51,113.00, (2) Phsycologists at $52,000+ and $68,770.00, a Gym teacher making $71,471.00, a Cafeteria and Play Monitor, 4 janitors, and two Assistant Principles at $77,250.00 each, as one of those positions was created in July 2006 - not replacing a person, but creating the position, and last but not least, (2) 'Reading Recovery' teachers, as titled on school web site at Major Edwards Elementary.
Here is a partial list of Classes Available and taken at the schools that we're spending money on:
> International Business: An Exploration > Learning to Invest in the Stock Market > 101 Ways to Write a Short Story > Creative Writing for People Who Mean It > Folklore and Literature of Myth, Magic, and Ritual > Animal Behavior and Zoology > Ghoulies, Ghosties, and Long-Legged Beasties: Why We Like to Be Scared > Parenting in the 21st Century > Employability Skills > Math You Can Use in College > Democracy in America? > Peacemaking > Great Inventions and Scientific Discoveries > Film and Literature: The European Experience > The Gods of CNN: The Power of Modern Media > Environmental Science > Internet Research > and Animation and Effects. Other items include the AIDS Action Committee, Sports Marketing, Hand-Eye-Coordination activities in Physics class, and for grades 6 through 8: Sensitivity and Diversity training, as was reported by the Worcester T&G, on October 19th, 2006, at a cost of $1,600.
Information by MA Department of Education web site for FY 2006:
West Boylston and State Averages given as Per Pupil Expenditure. I have figured the percentage difference, and taken the actual dollar difference and multiplied by 1,100 - the approximate number of students in West Boylston.
The actual student population is 1,155 as the Worcester T&G reported that "students population are stable, with about 480 pupils expected to arrive at Major Edwards Elementary School and 675 at the middle/ high school..."
Currently, 98 students are non-residents of West Boylston.
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... Town by Town Tax Rate Comparison
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Prop 2 1/2 Override:
How $3.1 Million Is Really $9 Million Plus -
Compounded Taxation Is Going to Cost Each Home Thousands More
Basic Explanation: The previous year's total of property taxes collected becomes the next year's starting point (Base). In year one, the first million of the override is placed on top of the prevuious year's total ($10,000,000), thus making the total $11,000,000.
In year two, since $11,000,000 was collected in the previous year, $11,000,000 becomes the new Base, of which you add on the second million dollars of the override, which brings the total to $12,000,000. By year two, $3 million has already been collected in new taxation - $1 million the first year, $1 million the second year (as a base), and the second year $1 million override, for a total of $3 million.
This is compounded taxation. This does not include the 2% CPA property tax surcharge or any tax rate increase up to 2.5% town hall can do. Don't forget, selectmen already raised the property tax rate 3.6% last December.
The cycle is repeated as long as determined . . .
FY 2006 property taxes collected: $10,345,132.89 Prop 2 1/2 Override: $3,100,000.
Example below using rounded numbers
Example 1 - If CPA is used only as a surcharge and not applied to base of following year:
Year ONE:
$10,000,000 Base + $1,000,000 first year = $11,000,000 + 2.5% = $11,275,000 + 2% CPA = $11,500,500
Year TWO:
$11,275,000 Base + $1,000,000 second year = $12,275,000 + 2.5% = $12,581,879 + 2% CPA = $12,833,512.50
Year THREE:
$12,581,879 Base + $1,000,000 third year = $13,581,879 + 2.5% = $13,921,425.98 + 2% CPA = $14,199,854.49
Estimated Dollar Amount Over FY 2006 property Tax Collections:
$10,000,000 Base Year 1: $1,500,500 Over FY 2006 Base
Year 2: $2,833,152.50 Over FY 2006 Base
Year 3: $4,199,854.49 Over FY 2006 Base
$8,533,866.99 Over FY 2006 Base
Therefore:
The Budget Base will increase over 39% over three years, with over $8.5 million in additional taxation.
Example 2: If CPA is applied to the Base the following year:
Year ONE:
$10,000,000 Base + $1,000,000 first year = $11,000,000 + 2% CPA = $11,220,000 + 2.5% = $11,500,500
Year TWO:
$11,500,500 Base + $1,000,000 second year = $12,500,500 + 2% CPA = $12,750,510 + 2.5% = $13,069,272.75
Year THREE:
$13,069,272.75 Base + $1,000,000 third year = $14,069,272.75 + 2% CPA = $14,350,658.21 + 2.5% = $14,709,424.66
Estimated Dollar Amount Over FY 2006 Property Tax Collections:
$10,000,000 Base Year 1: $1,500,500.00 Over FY 2006 Base
Year 2: $3,069,272.75 Over FY 2006 Base
Year 3: $4,709,424.66 Over FY 2006 Base
Total: $9,279,197.41 Total Over FY 2006 Base
Therefore:
The Budget Base will increase 47% over three years, with over $9.2 million in new taxation.
The Average Property Tax Bill will increase roughly 47% in three years from $3,843.14 to nearly $5900.
NOTE: These figures are based on property taxes collected, not the total budget.
Property Tax Rate Increase: 3.6% Increase
Selectman Kevin McCormick was sent a certified letter in early February to explain how the property tax rate can increase more than 2.5% without a town override - as selectmen approved in December 2006. By law, he has 10 days to respond to a certified letter. He never responded. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has now given this letter a case number, as of April 2nd, 2007. Due to Mr. McCormick's refusal to comply with the law, there must be state intervention.
Mr. McCormick told the town at the Spring 2006 town meeting he was going to close the pool, yet he can't explain how he raised your taxes.
Property Tax Rate Increase of 2.5%
The Selectmen can raise the property tax rate up to 2.5% in any year without consent from voters. Taxes have been maxed out ever since the town administrator began his tenure in West Boylston - as was stated during a recent selectmen's meeting.
Will they do it again in each of the next three years, even if they do get their prop 2 1/2 override? Who's to stop them? Remember, the town voted 3 times against required sewer hookup - and look what we have, thanks to the Board of Health - required sewer hookup.
CPA Property Tax Surcharge: 2%
The $53 amount town hall used as the CPA surcharge is a myth. It is $79. It may be $53, after exemptions, but you simply do not use an 'exemption number' - you use the starting number and work off that. Even if the amount actually was $53, what will it be with any additional tax increases?
Water & Sewer Rate Tax Increase: 52.2%
Effective April 1st, 2007, water rates and sewer taxes increased 52.2%. Town Hall needs to increase the water & sewer rates, yet they do nothing about the absenteeism that is going on in the DPW. If the town has a water shortage, then why is town hall not invoking the 1.5% land clause under the 40B statutes to prevent more developments from being built. More developments = more people drinking water = more shortage = higher water rates and sewer taxes.
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It's a Spending Problem, Not a Revenue Problem:
When you know you are going to face financial problems, you don't buy a new fire truck for $460,000 or so, you don't hire additional employees, you don't ignore absenteeism problems in the DPW, and you don't actively pursue and rubber stamp 40B developments that, by definition of what 40B is, pay less taxes than the average household - which means a automatic shortfall in tax collection.
It should be very clear that town hall never mentioned paying down the debt they have made, that this override is to only take care of current "needs" and its projected costs.
The questions is - if it's not a spending problem, how did West Boylston end up with such problems and a Prop 2 1/2 override in question when property taxes have increased every year for 5 years, when the tax rate increased last year, the CPA has been approved, and sewer taxes have increased 52.2% this year alone?
The problem is not that we don't have enough money for our employees,
We have too many employees for our money.
American Pig Race