Comments on: Recap of 4/28/08 Town Council Meeting http://the236diner.com/2008/04/28/recap-of-42808-town-council-meeting/ Life in South Berwick, Maine Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:27:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Gretchen Straub http://the236diner.com/2008/04/28/recap-of-42808-town-council-meeting/#comment-1077 Gretchen Straub Sun, 04 May 2008 23:32:56 +0000 http://the236diner.com/2008/04/28/recap-of-42808-town-council-meeting/#comment-1077 The LD1 limit is a guideline created by the state of Maine to limit town tax increases. When the LD1 limit was created for South Berwick in 2005, the accountants involved made a clerical error. As a consequence, the limit was set much lower than was intended by the State of Maine. Today, this error gives South Berwick citizens the unfortunate misconception that the town wants to raise taxes beyond state guidelines. This is simply not the case. The 14+% tax rate increase the town is asking for is within the intended guidelines of the state of Maine, accounting for increased cost of living and infrastructure maintenance. However, the clerical error adds a confusing layer of bureaucracy to the issue. By accepting the proposed budget and voting to increase the LD1 base by $480,000 to correct the compounding clerical error made in the past, we can avoid this misunderstanding in the future. Please vote yes to the budget and its corresponding LD1 increase so that the town of South Berwick can get back on stable financial footing. The LD1 limit is a guideline created by the state of Maine to limit town tax increases. When the LD1 limit was created for South Berwick in 2005, the accountants involved made a clerical error. As a consequence, the limit was set much lower than was intended by the State of Maine.

Today, this error gives South Berwick citizens the unfortunate misconception that the town wants to raise taxes beyond state guidelines. This is simply not the case. The 14+% tax rate increase the town is asking for is within the intended guidelines of the state of Maine, accounting for increased cost of living and infrastructure maintenance. However, the clerical error adds a confusing layer of bureaucracy to the issue.

By accepting the proposed budget and voting to increase the LD1 base by $480,000 to correct the compounding clerical error made in the past, we can avoid this misunderstanding in the future.

Please vote yes to the budget and its corresponding LD1 increase so that the town of South Berwick can get back on stable financial footing.

]]> By: Molly http://the236diner.com/2008/04/28/recap-of-42808-town-council-meeting/#comment-942 Molly Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:45:28 +0000 http://the236diner.com/2008/04/28/recap-of-42808-town-council-meeting/#comment-942 Just a clarification. As far as I know Councilor Gagne left the meeting because he had another engagement and was in a hurry. Just a clarification. As far as I know Councilor Gagne left the meeting because he had another engagement and was in a hurry.

]]> By: Gretchen Straub http://the236diner.com/2008/04/28/recap-of-42808-town-council-meeting/#comment-938 Gretchen Straub Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:44:59 +0000 http://the236diner.com/2008/04/28/recap-of-42808-town-council-meeting/#comment-938 The Town's responsibility is to raise property taxes to meet costs. Over the last few years our town management has been unable to make the correct calculations to raise the necessary property tax revenues. Due to an oversight (in tax year 04/05) of accidentally charging the towns people $99,000 less than they intended, the town not only didn't receive the $99,000 but they also inadvertently established the base of the LD1 cap at an unrealistically low level. Because the property tax rates are so tied into the LD1 limits this established base has wreaked havoc on the town's budget. If you can follow the chart below you will see that the town's mismanagement of basic math has cost the town's savings account approximately $645,000. <img src="http://the236diner.com/pictures/chart2.jpg" alt="chart" /> THESE CONSEQUENCES WILL CONTINUE TO RACK UP. TO CORRECT THESE RECENT ERRORS THE TOWNS PEOPLE NEED TO INCREASE THE LD1 BASE. MOVING FORWARD UNDER STABLE FINANCIAL FOOTING WILL BENEFIT ALL. The Town’s responsibility is to raise property taxes to meet costs.
Over the last few years our town management has been unable to
make the correct calculations to raise the necessary property tax revenues.

Due to an oversight (in tax year 04/05) of accidentally charging the towns people $99,000 less than they intended, the town not only didn’t receive the $99,000 but they also inadvertently established the base of the LD1 cap at an unrealistically low level.

Because the property tax rates are so tied into the LD1 limits this established base has wreaked havoc on the town’s budget.
If you can follow the chart below you will see that the town’s mismanagement of basic math has cost the town’s savings account approximately $645,000.

chart

THESE CONSEQUENCES WILL CONTINUE TO RACK UP.
TO CORRECT THESE RECENT ERRORS THE TOWNS PEOPLE NEED TO INCREASE THE LD1 BASE.
MOVING FORWARD UNDER STABLE FINANCIAL FOOTING WILL BENEFIT ALL.

]]> By: MaryLouB http://the236diner.com/2008/04/28/recap-of-42808-town-council-meeting/#comment-937 MaryLouB Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:00:59 +0000 http://the236diner.com/2008/04/28/recap-of-42808-town-council-meeting/#comment-937 From what I hear, Councilor Gagne LEFT the meeting in a huff. Also, the council failed to listen AGAIN to the people in attendance with grave concerns concerning a variance on a house on PROTECTED land. I thought the air was going to clear and a fresh start was in the wind. Sounds like things are going from bad to worse! I am so disappointed in the new chair for speaking up as a steward of the land. I had a sign for her on my lawn when the elections were coming and am sorry I did. From what I hear, Councilor Gagne LEFT the meeting in a huff. Also, the council failed to listen AGAIN to the people in attendance with grave concerns concerning a variance on a house on PROTECTED land. I thought the air was going to clear and a fresh start was in the wind. Sounds like things are going from bad to worse! I am so disappointed in the new chair for speaking up as a steward of the land. I had a sign for her on my lawn when the elections were coming and am sorry I did.

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