Showing posts with label question 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label question 1. Show all posts
Friday, October 17, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
WHY VOTE NO TO THE INCOME TAX PROPOSAL?
WHY VOTE NO TO THE INCOME TAX PROPOSAL?
The income tax question on the ballot this fall is a reckless proposal that will have severe and immediate consequences for all of us. This binding referendum will take more than $12 billion—nearly 40 percent—out of the state budget, driving up local property taxes and leading to drastic cuts in services. Our communities will suffer sweeping education cuts, steep reductions in public safety personnel and further deterioration of roads and bridges. Times are hard enough. Let’s not make them worse.
Here is what we know
- The income tax proposal will cost the Commonwealth more than $12 billion in revenues
- That’s 40 percent of the state budget
- This is a binding proposal that will become law effective January 1, 2009
This reckless proposal will:
- Drive up local property taxes
- Have dire consequences for our communities, putting:
- Education at risk with:
- Larger class sizes
- Fewer afterschool programs
- More school closings
- Health care at risk for:
- Seniors
- Working families
- People with disabilities
- Public safety at risk with:
- Fewer emergency response personnel
- Longer 911 wait times
- Fewer police officers and firefighters
- Our infrastructure at risk with:
- Unsafe bridges
- Broken roads and more potholes
- Cuts in service to public transportation
- Education at risk with:
- Put our fragile economy and job market at even greater risk
What to do about it
- Pledge to VOTE NO
- Sign up for email from VoteNoMA.com to stay informed. You can do that here. As volunteer opportunities arise we will contact you.
- Tell your friends and family to VOTE NO. Let them know that you think this is a reckless and bad idea. Send them to VoteNoMa.com and ask them to learn more and sign up to help as well.
Times are hard enough. Let’s not make them worse.
This info came from the folks at Vote NO on Question 1Saturday, October 11, 2008
"It's really depressing"
GHS
MILFORD —
Calling the global economic crisis and financial pressure "the perfect storm" for taxpayers to pass Question 1, which repeals the state income tax on Nov. 4, legislators implored local politicians to rally against it.
"If it passes, we can pretty much shut our doors and go home," said Rep. John V. Fernandes, D-Milford, during a legislative breakfast with the Massachusetts Municipal Association at the Milford Senior Center yesterday.
"We can't sit back on such an important question. The cynicism that drives this means we have to explain to people the seriousness of the consequences. I know people who tend to vote for this who work for local government," Fernandes said.
Fernandes, state Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, Ashland Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Mark Purple, and Douglas Executive Director Michael Guzinski, along with others at the forum, believe the question has a very good chance of passing, and it scares them.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Friday, October 10, 2008
Question 1 effect on Franklin
Check out these editorials from around the state.
- Tax repeal would result in chaos The Springfield Republican
- Income tax repeal would create chaos Worcester Telegram and Gazette
- For fiscal sanity, no on Question 1 The Boston Herald
- This question is not the answer The Boston Globe
- Reality of Question 1 The Berkshire Eagle
- A ridiculous idea The Cape Cod Times
- Taxes and tactics South Coast Today
- Eliminating income tax is madness The Patriot Ledger
Check out the facts provided here for the effects on Franklin
Or click here to make your own navigation amongst the communities in our Commonwealth of Massachusetts to see the effect if Question 1 passes.
Please don't be swayed by something that sounds too good to be true. You know what happens then, something bad!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
FM #16 - 5 Things you should know
#16 in the series of podcasts on what matters in Franklin, MA. This one focuses on the 5 things you should know about Franklin this week: (1) the late bus decision, (2) zoning bylaw rescheduled yet again, (3) Financial Planning Committee, (4) Energy $ense Series at the Library begins and (5) Question 1 on the ballot in November.
Time: 20 minutes, 59 seconds
MP3 File
Session notes:
Music intro
FM #16
This podcast for Franklin Matters will focus on the 5 things you need to know about what happened this week.
First, the Town Council approved funding for the Late bus. Yes, this is the Late bus that due to the override was out of service. In late July, it seemed like the bus could be provided. By the end of August, the bus was back out. As noted in the School Committee meeting of 9/23/08, the Holmes bus company had reduced the cost of the late bus for this year from 40,000 to 10,000. The middle school PCC’s got together and pledged to pay for it. The School Committee worked with the Town Council and Town Administrator and it became know that the Town Council would consider it at their meeting 10/1/08.
In this clip from the Town Council meeting on 10//1/08, we hear the full discussion and vote
- insert clip on Late bus -
I think the Late bus is a good thing but I don’t like how it is being paid for. Money was “found” in an account that could be used for public transportation. This does nothing to restore confidence in Town government. The townies who are keeping track just put another notch in their belt, ha more found money, they did it again.
Second, the bylaw to rezone some parcels along RT 140 near the Knights of Columbus and Dunkin Donuts ended up being rescheduled for yet another meeting as it was evident that the matter was not going to gain enough votes. Two councilors were absent (Bartlett, McGann) with a two thirds majority required to pass. Due to the reschedule we don’t not know of the outstanding information was provided.
Third, the working sessions for the Finance Planning Committee (FPC) continued earnest this week. The Dept of Public Works (Brutus Cantoreggio) and Facilities (Mike D’Angelo) came in to review their departmental operations, their forecast for the next several years, cost drivers for their areas and answer a number of clarifying questions from the committee. There will not be any presentations at the next FPC meeting as they begin to digest what they have learned from the first four departments. The School budget is scheduled for review at a meeting in November.
You should recall that the FPC is charted with developing a long term plan for the Town, assuming there is an override next year (very likely) what is the long term outlook, how many will there need to be, or is something like the Arlington plan going to work in Franklin. This is important work. I encourage you to keep track of what is going on here. There is a whole lot of great data and information being presented. I am doing my best to report it live but if you have a chance to attend, please do so. It will be worth your while.
Fourth,
Fifth, I still believe Question One is the most imminent danger that Franklin faces. Question One is on the ballot in November.
You can find objective information at this link:
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_State_Income_Tax_Repeal_%282008%29
You can find the Yes position here:
http://www.smallgovernmentact.org/
You can find the No position here:
http://votenoquestion1.com/?adtrack=education&gclid=CO2I-trz65UCFQpwGgodmkJeew
Where would you cut $11 million from the Town Budget?
Public safety is about 9 M, Central Gov’t Services is about 9 M. Public Works is about 6 M. If 2.8 million cost the town 44 teachers, what would loosing $11 million dollars cost the town?
The idea of the commonwealth is for all of us together to work and pay for the community services we need. If you think taking $11 million dollars out of the Franklin budget would bring you the community you want, I’d like to know what it would look like.
These are the five things that matter to Franklin this week:
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music
Time: 20 minutes, 59 seconds
MP3 File
Session notes:
Music intro
FM #16
This podcast for Franklin Matters will focus on the 5 things you need to know about what happened this week.
First, the Town Council approved funding for the Late bus. Yes, this is the Late bus that due to the override was out of service. In late July, it seemed like the bus could be provided. By the end of August, the bus was back out. As noted in the School Committee meeting of 9/23/08, the Holmes bus company had reduced the cost of the late bus for this year from 40,000 to 10,000. The middle school PCC’s got together and pledged to pay for it. The School Committee worked with the Town Council and Town Administrator and it became know that the Town Council would consider it at their meeting 10/1/08.
In this clip from the Town Council meeting on 10//1/08, we hear the full discussion and vote
- insert clip on Late bus -
I think the Late bus is a good thing but I don’t like how it is being paid for. Money was “found” in an account that could be used for public transportation. This does nothing to restore confidence in Town government. The townies who are keeping track just put another notch in their belt, ha more found money, they did it again.
Second, the bylaw to rezone some parcels along RT 140 near the Knights of Columbus and Dunkin Donuts ended up being rescheduled for yet another meeting as it was evident that the matter was not going to gain enough votes. Two councilors were absent (Bartlett, McGann) with a two thirds majority required to pass. Due to the reschedule we don’t not know of the outstanding information was provided.
Third, the working sessions for the Finance Planning Committee (FPC) continued earnest this week. The Dept of Public Works (Brutus Cantoreggio) and Facilities (Mike D’Angelo) came in to review their departmental operations, their forecast for the next several years, cost drivers for their areas and answer a number of clarifying questions from the committee. There will not be any presentations at the next FPC meeting as they begin to digest what they have learned from the first four departments. The School budget is scheduled for review at a meeting in November.
You should recall that the FPC is charted with developing a long term plan for the Town, assuming there is an override next year (very likely) what is the long term outlook, how many will there need to be, or is something like the Arlington plan going to work in Franklin. This is important work. I encourage you to keep track of what is going on here. There is a whole lot of great data and information being presented. I am doing my best to report it live but if you have a chance to attend, please do so. It will be worth your while.
Fourth,
The Friends of the Franklin Public Library are pleased to sponsor The Franklin Area Climate Team’s “Energy $ense” Series for residents starting on October 6, at 7:00 p.m. The Franklin Area Climate Team has developed a four part speaker series titled “Energy $ense for Franklin Residents” that will feature energy professionals from around the state who will provide practical solutions on how to reduce your energy costs and improve the environment at the same time.The schedule is available on the Town website, as well as on Franklin Matters.
Fifth, I still believe Question One is the most imminent danger that Franklin faces. Question One is on the ballot in November.
The State Income Tax Repeal is also known as Massachusetts
Question 1. It is an initiated state statute that will appear on the November 4,
2008 ballot in Massachusetts.[1] If the measure passes, it will end the state's
current 5.3% income tax on wages, interest, dividends and capital gains.
You can find objective information at this link:
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_State_Income_Tax_Repeal_%282008%29
You can find the Yes position here:
http://www.smallgovernmentact.org/
You can find the No position here:
http://votenoquestion1.com/?adtrack=education&gclid=CO2I-trz65UCFQpwGgodmkJeew
Where would you cut $11 million from the Town Budget?
Public safety is about 9 M, Central Gov’t Services is about 9 M. Public Works is about 6 M. If 2.8 million cost the town 44 teachers, what would loosing $11 million dollars cost the town?
The idea of the commonwealth is for all of us together to work and pay for the community services we need. If you think taking $11 million dollars out of the Franklin budget would bring you the community you want, I’d like to know what it would look like.
These are the five things that matter to Franklin this week:
- Late bus back in
- zoning postponed again
- FPC meeting
- energy $ense for Franklin residents
- the imminent danger of Question 1
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music
Monday, September 22, 2008
Question 1 - Yes or No?
As part of the preparation for November's election, the major question for MA will be Question 1 on the ballot:
The State Income Tax Repeal is also known as Massachusetts Question 1. It is an initiated state statute that will appear on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Massachusetts.[1]
If the measure passes, it will end the state's current 5.3% income tax on wages, interest, dividends and capital gains. If that happens, Massachusetts will join Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming in not taxing income. Two other states, New Hampshire and Tennessee, have an income tax, but only on interest and dividends.
Read more on this link here
The Boston Sunday Globe hosted the opposing views on the Opinion Page.
You can read the Yes side here
You can read the No side here
Sunday, September 21, 2008
FM #15 - The 5 Things you need to Know this Week
The 15th podcast on what matters in Franklin, MA. This podcast sumarizes the five things you should know about what happened in Franklin this week.
MP3 File
Session Notes:
Music intro
My intro FM #15
This podcast for Franklin Matters will focus on the 5 things you need to know about what happened this week.
First, the Town Council appointed the new School Building Committee. This is the one that will work on the high school but because there will be other school buildings that will need work on them before the high school is completed, the committee is not called the High School Building Committee. The State Dept of Education has guidelines that determine the make of the committee so the Town Council was expressly careful to follow the guidelines in making their appointments.
In this clip from the Town Council meeting on 9/17/08, we hear Chair Chris Feeley read the appointments
- insert clip from Town Council/Chris Feeley with the announcement -
Thomas Cameron William Goode Rob Halter Michael LeBlanc Thomas Mercer Scott Nathan
Second, the bylaw to rezone some parcels along RT 140 near the Knights of Columbus and Dunkin Donuts ends up being rescheduled for another meeting as it was evident that the matter was not going to gain enough votes. Two councilors were absent with a two thirds majority required to pass. One factor for the lack of cohesion on the decision was the Department of Planning and Community Development had not provided the additional information required by a couple of members of the council.
In this segment from the Town Council Meeting of 9/17/08, you’ll hear the request and the response from Brian Taberner.
- insert clip from B Taberner with Vallee saying he wasn’t aware of the outstanding request -
Third, the working sessions for the Finance Planning Committee (FPC) started in earnest this past Thursday night. Fire Chief McCarraher spent about 45 minutes reviewing his operation followed by Police Chief Williams. These two discussions were the most informative of all the meetings I have attended in the past 18 months. The information generated from this session will be very helpful in the telling the story as the FPC goes forward.
You should recall that the FPC is charted with developing a long term plan for the Town, assuming there is an override next year (very likely) what is the long term outlook, how many will there need to be, or is something like the Arlington plan going to work in Franklin.
Fourth, doubting anonymous should be satisfied now. As reported in the Franklin Gazette delivered on Friday, and in the Milford Daily News on Sunday, Supt Wayne Ogden confirmed that yes, there really were 44 teachers laid off and not replaced. Debbie Pellegri and the Brick School Association filed a FOI request and obtained the information on the teachers let go. Now that you have the info, you have the proof that the teachers were indeed let go. Let it go. Let’s get on with business. Let’s work together to avoid another layoff.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1603414373/Superintendent-Franklin-teacher-layoffs-did-happen
Fifth, I think Question One is the most imminent danger that Franklin faces. Question One is on the ballot in November.
The State Income Tax Repeal is also known as Massachusetts Question 1. It is an initiated state statute that will appear on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Massachusetts.[1] If the measure passes, it will end the state's current 5.3% income tax on wages, interest, dividends and capital gains.
You can find objective information at this link:
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_State_Income_Tax_Repeal_%282008%29
You can find the Yes position here: http://www.smallgovernmentact.org/
You can find the No position here: http://votenoquestion1.com/?adtrack=education&gclid=CO2I-trz65UCFQpwGgodmkJeew
Where would you cut $11 million from the Town Budget?
Public safety is about 9 M, Central Gov’t Services is about 9 M. Public Works is about 6 M. If 2.8 million cost the town 44 teachers, what would loosing $11 million dollars cost the town?
The idea of the commonwealth is for all of us together to work and pay for the community services we need. If you think taking $11 million dollars out of the Franklin budget would bring you the community you want, I’d like to know what it would look like.
These are the five things that matter to Franklin this week:
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music
- The School Building Committee was appointed.
- The bylaw to rezone parcels on RT 140 was moved to another meeting.
- The Finance Planning Committee really got working this week.
- The teacher layoffs were confirmed, doubter anonymous should rest easier now.
- The imminent danger of Question 1 for Franklin's budget.
Time: 11 minutes, 37 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes:
Music intro
My intro FM #15
This podcast for Franklin Matters will focus on the 5 things you need to know about what happened this week.
First, the Town Council appointed the new School Building Committee. This is the one that will work on the high school but because there will be other school buildings that will need work on them before the high school is completed, the committee is not called the High School Building Committee. The State Dept of Education has guidelines that determine the make of the committee so the Town Council was expressly careful to follow the guidelines in making their appointments.
In this clip from the Town Council meeting on 9/17/08, we hear Chair Chris Feeley read the appointments
- insert clip from Town Council/Chris Feeley with the announcement -
Town Officials
- Chris Feeley, Town Council
- Scott Mason, Town Council
- Ed Cafasso, School Committee
- Paula Mullen, School Committee
- Maureen Sabolinski, Ass't Supt of Schools
- Pamela Gould, High School Principal
- Michael D'Angelo, Town/School Facilities Director
- Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator
In this segment from the Town Council Meeting of 9/17/08, you’ll hear the request and the response from Brian Taberner.
- insert clip from B Taberner with Vallee saying he wasn’t aware of the outstanding request -
Third, the working sessions for the Finance Planning Committee (FPC) started in earnest this past Thursday night. Fire Chief McCarraher spent about 45 minutes reviewing his operation followed by Police Chief Williams. These two discussions were the most informative of all the meetings I have attended in the past 18 months. The information generated from this session will be very helpful in the telling the story as the FPC goes forward.
You should recall that the FPC is charted with developing a long term plan for the Town, assuming there is an override next year (very likely) what is the long term outlook, how many will there need to be, or is something like the Arlington plan going to work in Franklin.
Fourth, doubting anonymous should be satisfied now. As reported in the Franklin Gazette delivered on Friday, and in the Milford Daily News on Sunday, Supt Wayne Ogden confirmed that yes, there really were 44 teachers laid off and not replaced. Debbie Pellegri and the Brick School Association filed a FOI request and obtained the information on the teachers let go. Now that you have the info, you have the proof that the teachers were indeed let go. Let it go. Let’s get on with business. Let’s work together to avoid another layoff.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1603414373/Superintendent-Franklin-teacher-layoffs-did-happen
Fifth, I think Question One is the most imminent danger that Franklin faces. Question One is on the ballot in November.
The State Income Tax Repeal is also known as Massachusetts Question 1. It is an initiated state statute that will appear on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Massachusetts.[1] If the measure passes, it will end the state's current 5.3% income tax on wages, interest, dividends and capital gains.
You can find objective information at this link:
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_State_Income_Tax_Repeal_%282008%29
You can find the Yes position here: http://www.smallgovernmentact.org/
You can find the No position here: http://votenoquestion1.com/?adtrack=education&gclid=CO2I-trz65UCFQpwGgodmkJeew
Where would you cut $11 million from the Town Budget?
Public safety is about 9 M, Central Gov’t Services is about 9 M. Public Works is about 6 M. If 2.8 million cost the town 44 teachers, what would loosing $11 million dollars cost the town?
The idea of the commonwealth is for all of us together to work and pay for the community services we need. If you think taking $11 million dollars out of the Franklin budget would bring you the community you want, I’d like to know what it would look like.
These are the five things that matter to Franklin this week:
- School building committee
- bylaw rezoning
- FPC working sessions
- teacher layoffs confirmed
- the imminent danger of Question 1
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music
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