The recommended projects from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for FY2010 can be found at this link. They include a historical building inventory for the Dartmouth Historical Commission, renovations at the Apponagansett Meeting House (photo here), improvements at the Rogers Street landing (parking lot, lights and fencing), and purchase of the former State Police barracks on Route 6 for veteran's housing. The recommendations will go to the Town Meeting ...
... for their approval on June 2nd.
Community Preservation Act funds are raised from a surcharge on property taxes which are matched at between 5 and 100% by state funds. The 2010 state matching amount will be 29%. An accounting of Dartmouth's current CPC funds can be found at this link.
Up until last year, the CPC had sufficient reserves to retire their debt and dissolve the program within one year. Due to the cost of the projects approved last year, the program now holds debt in excess of their reserves. That trend continues this year as the CPC will receive revenues of about $628K but has approved projects of $649K. The CPC must also fund $378K in debt service and administrative costs for FY 2010. That means their available reserves will be reduced for the second year.
Ms. McDonald, A member of the CPC, pointed out at the Finance Committee last night that the CPC is certainly not broke. They have $1.5 million in the bank right now. But they owe more than that in notes, hence my statement that they cannot retire all the debt incurred. If all the recommended projects are funded this year, their cash in hand reserves will fall to $1.1 million next year.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Community Preservation Committee projects for 2010
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15 comments:
Certainly throughout the years, the community has benefited tremendously from CPC, largely due to leverage from state matches. That said, all projects should be carefully reviewed.
The match this year is down to 29%, which means that revenues will be down to around $600 and something thousand.
It is amazing the lack of response from this blog since the election. I really don't know what to make of it. Are people less interested in the issues that face our town? Bill, you have to see it. How would you explain it?
Me, I'm just disgusted. The developers and power brokers are back in charge and I'm trying to make some money before the next override.
I am disgusted that so few voters turned out. I'm also wondering how well our two new members will fare, given the financial and personnel situation they have just gotten themselves voted into. If they are not knowledgeable and on top of the issues, they stand to harm our town more than help it. That's what I am afraid of.
Plus, how long before the voters realize our current Select Board is just an extension of the School Committee?
Well, someone did say you get what you pay (vote) for and what you deserve. Time will tell who gets the short end of the stick.
For the last two years, the "short end of the stick" has gone to Dartmouth residents.
Please expand on what you consider "the short end of the stick" for the last two years. I saw only progress towards fixing our structural deficit. Now it remains to be seen how many campaign promises will be fulfilled.
So far our two new Select Board members have not been impressive. Neither one did their homework on the 40R issue. The only one who asked relevant questions based on research was Mr. Trimble. Mr. Watson just parroted Tougas request for having information beforehand. Hopefully they will get onboard.
I have to agree that we now have two school committees. The voters made their decision. The resulting vote does seem a bit odd since people in town still have not changed their minds regarding the schools. They still don't trust administration and they do not support giving them more money.
I'm referring to the growth and development, and precisely what the poster before me has mentioned: growth and development shoved on North Dartmouth, the latest being the 40R Reed Rd. project, which the representatives hope to link to the existing 40R Lincoln Park Smart Growth Overlay District which is going nowhere fast.
All of us have to be vigilant, or both our money and our town's open space will continue to fall victim to someone else's greed, whether personal or professional.
Maybe it seems odd because maybe a lot of the people who do not trust the schools and won't give them any more money did not come out and vote? That is a very, very discouraging thought. Perhaps if they had done so, we would have a fighting chance of having our SB working realistically toward financial stability.
As it stands, despite Ms. Stone's assertions she is not in favor of an override now, just when will that "now" become a reality, in her mind? A month? Six months? A year or more? You can bet it will be during her tenure, and it is quite possible Mr. Watson will get on the bandwagon readily enough, as well. (There you have it, the extension of the School Committee.)
Not that an override may be necessary at some future date. But that is "a future date." And certainly one quite, quite small, rather than Ms. Stone's $8.5 million dollar request. I actually like the menu override. I think the voters have more control over their money that way. And hopefully, they will exercise it smartly. In today's economy, one would be foolish to do anything otherwise.
"Smart" alos means that TM consider carefully before approving the CPC recommendations, irregardless of who contributes what to their funds.
It will take six months before any one of the two members get a feel/knowledge of the inner circle and how the town operates. My guess is one year. Nat Dias will play it safe for the next year. My information is this; Watson is the lose cannon. No ties to Dias/Stone or Michaud/Trimble. The budgets are pretty much all set accept for a few lose ends. Town is getting the fiscal house in some order or making a good showing.
The crapo hill regional landfill district is filling up with garbage but it's also bring in plenty of MONEY. My informed sources have the surplus money at 3 to 4 million. Sewer/water enterprise at 3.2 million and the PAYT at 1.9 million. The town general fund is somewhere at 3.9 million. Why do we need an override?
The fact that we are even talking about an override tells me all I need to know. I must get back to work now (doing 12 hour days lately) if I am to have any chance of being able to live in Dartmouth in the future. With Stone's election, it is now officially a suburb of Boston. Is there any way we can add a "W" to the beginning of Dartmouth? Or at least make it rhyme with Wellesley?
I hope more people are paying closer attention to the Select Board meetings, especially with two new members who have a long way to go before they are up to speed with all things Dartmouth. After all, their decisions affect all of us and our wallets.
If you can't physically go to the meetings, watch them on cable. They are on live on Monday evenings, and rebroadcast several times in the following days/week.
Ideally, it would be great if more people actually attended the meetings. I think our Select Board needs to know we are out there, and the best way to do so is to actually sit in front of them.
They need to know they are accountable to us. I think this is particularly important with Ms. Stone, who is heavily invested in (expensive) overrides and will no doubt take Mr. Watson with her.
Next best, watch on TV.
It really is up to all of us to be aware of where our money is going. We have every right to hold them accountable and responsible to us.
Just the police barracks for the veterans.
you guys are THE ONLY ones talking about overrides.
Maybe it's because we don't want people to forget, get too complacent, and then get blindsighted just when we think things are going good. And, why should anyone forget Ms. Stone's $8.5 mil override? Pretty stupid if you do.
No, it's not old news. And no, we SHOULDN'T move on without keeping that likely possibility in the back of our minds.
How much damage gets done when we aren't paying attention? We HAVE seen it happen.
News flash to 4:28-- Watson won't be taken anywhere by anybody. Bank on it! I realize you probably didn't vote for him but beleive me- this kid will vote his mind on every single issue regardless of other board members feelings. (Including Stone and your hero- Trimble)
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