The Commonwealth's Division of Local Services has published the estimated state aid amounts for FY2010. The link to the Dartmouth information can be found here. The good news is that the Budget Director and Finance Committee came very close to correctly forecasting what the aid amount would be. The bad news is that the amounts are reduced nearly across the board. Chapter 70 school aid is down from $9.69 million to $9.49 million. General government aid is down from $3.58 million to $2.96 million.
Since the forecast used to prepare the budget was conservative and accurate, the town remains ...
... within striking distance of a balanced budget for FY2010. That statement contains several caveats, the first being that no wage or salary increases were budgeted, the second is that the Governor will not make mid year reductions in aid as was done in FY2009.
Areas of state aid that were significantly cut were Police Career Incentive reimbursement that was reduced from $197K to $34K, library aid from $43K to $28K, and unrestricted general government aid from $3.1 million to $2.2 million.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Dartmouth state aid estimate released
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3 comments:
Bill, when you say "no wage or salary increases were budgeted" does that mean no STEP raises and no COLA for the town employees? Dr. Russell has stated that on the school side there will be no COLA but there will be STEP raises. I am just trying to understand the lingo.
Step increases are budgeted but COLA are not
State lawmakers are the big spenders, not the local select board. During the late 60's/early 70's police officers worked a 50 hour week. The state required all police candidates to have a high school diploma.
Pass a state civil service exam, and a required physical and strength test. If all requirements were met, the state department ( human services ) put your name on the state civil service list. If or when a city or town decided to appoint an entry level police officer, the state department of civil service sent the name of a candidate with the highest grade/test score. The board of selectmen, without an interview, made the appointment from the civil services eligibility list. The candidate met with the secretary to the SB. They discussed salary, medical benefits and retirement incentives. After accepting the position, and according to department policy, you are required to purchase a uniform. You received a department issued 38 caliber hand gun and area assignment. No fire arm training.
The unpopular Vietnam war, caused civil turbulence through the country, including our UMD students.
Unruly parades through the streets of Old Westport road, Route 6 and Slocum Road. Vehicles overturned and American flags burning. Students throwing plastic bags, filled with urine, at police and the sound of gun fire was the norm.
As the result of much police brutality complaints, a congressional committee was formed to investigate the causes, resulting in large sums of money for the advancement of police education and understanding. ( ? )
Our state law makers passed the Quinn Bill, more money for cops who received a college degree. The federal government stepped in and found that a police officer working more than 40 hours a week or 8 hours in a day, according to federal law, shall be paid at time and one half. The state supreme court ruled it unconstitutional, allowing police, fire, and school reacher's the right to unionize.
State and federal law makers were working day and night to control the unruly, lawless police officers ( LOL ). They kept throwing money into additional incentives for local and state police.
With the acceptance of police unions, all hell broke lose. Even the town of Dartmouth couldn't do enough to keep the police happy. At one time the Dartmouth police brotherhood police union was one of the most respected unions through out the commonwealth.
Now, the state lawmakers have made everything right. As of July 1, 2009, no more Quinn Bill for the newly appointed police officers.
Now that the state law makers have voted to under budget the Quinn Bill, you shall notice more police officers taking early retirement. As witnessed by Fairhaven police chief, it's only a matter of time before more local chiefs and officers of less rank, will be retiring.
Mr. Frank Sinatra said it best, “it's been one hell of a ride.” Mr. Bob Hope, “thank you for the memories/ monies.” For myself, it's simple; to all the child molesters I put in jail, “I hope you rot in HELL.” To all the life's I saved, “you'll never know how good I feel.” To the people I didn't prosecute
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