CLT UPDATE
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Public Employee Unions
Will we let them eat us alive?
I will be applying for the job of King Philip
Regional High School Principal. Why not? ...
I’m really looking forward to this job because I’m 61, intend to be
Principal for only five years and will then leave KP with the mother of
all health insurance plans....
But wait, this good-bye kiss gets even better. I can go to another state
and like Mr. Levine make $112,500 in another school system -- and the
King Philip educational budget STILL pays for my health insurance. What
a country! What a school committee!
The Attleboro Sun-Chronicle
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Letter to the editor
By Chip Faulkner
An agreement to cover the costs of former King Philip
Regional High School Principal Michael Levine's health insurance stirred up a
fuss at town meeting, with some residents labeling it as "outrageous" and a
costly blunder....
Calling it a "sweetheart goodbye kiss," tax foe Chip Faulkner estimated
the insurance could end up costing the town $250,000. "This whole agreement is a
joke," Faulkner said.
"This is a shame on us." ...
While acknowledging the other two district towns have already passed the school
budget, Faulkner advocated cutting funds from the budget "just to teach the
school committee a lesson it can't get away with something like this. These
people should never be re-elected."
The Attleboro Sun-Chronicle
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Town in huff over insurance deal
Taxpayers and a Republican state senator on Tuesday supported
legislation providing a new way for communities to lower property taxes and
limiting the number of times communities could place Proposition 2½ overrides on
the ballot.
Sponsored by Sen. Scott Brown (R-Wrentham), the bill (S 1702) would limit local
elections concerning property tax overrides to once every 12 months and allow
communities to lower their taxes through a local referendum without first
obtaining a recommendation from the local board of selectmen....
Chip Faulker, associate director of Citizens for Limited Taxation
(CLT), spoke in favor of bypassing the board of selectmen's approval for
Proposition 2½ underrides. He said selectmen are often against referendums
lowering property taxes because they are under pressure to support local
schools. Collecting 10 percent of the registered voters' signature "is not
easy," Faulkner added.
He also spoke in favor of limiting override questions on local ballots to once a
year because some communities are faced with the same override ballot question
three times during the same year, he said, a costly measure to taxpayers who
need to pay for election costs, he added.
"We found that over the years if an override fails, especially if it was a
fairly close vote, the proponents will try to pass it again," said Faulkner. "In
a sense this is harassing people."
Len Mead, a Westborough resident, spoke in favor of Brown's legislation.
"The power to tax is the power to destroy," said Mead. He said in Westborough,
taxes are 30 percent higher than the state average and called overrides a
measure that "just destroys the community where I live." ...
According to Citizens for Limited Taxation President Barbara Anderson,
Brown filed the bill on behalf of CLT, which has been advocating for alternative
methods for underride ballot questions for several years, she said.
She said Brown's proposal comes during an "interesting" time as Patrick won the
gubernatorial election "promising local property tax relief to everyone," said
Anderson.
"Everyone seems to be in an agreement that overrides are a problem," said
Anderson. She said more override questions have failed than passed in the past
two years.
State House News Service
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Bill proposes circumventing selectmen
for tax underride ballot voted
Chip Ford's CLT Commentary
This limitless public employee benefits scam must end
-- or homeowner taxpayers are doomed. We're almost at that point
of damnation now, but taxpayers slowly are awakening. At least
some of them are, more of them. But not enough.
One of the finest, most organized, local taxpayer
groups -- in North Andover -- just lost to an override yesterday, 4,161
to 3,761. This is discouraging, for we know of none more organized
or effective.
But still, overrides are being more often shot down
than voted in.
Driving these annual override campaigns is public
employee union demands, acquiesced by elected public officials without
backbone, who rubber-stamp the contracts year after year, whatever the
costs to taxpayers. Then we're told these are "fixed costs" we
taxpayers must pay for their malfeasance or misfeasance. Then we
voters re-elect them.
We taxpayers are reaching the tipping point -- and
the media has caught on too. Everybody has come to recognize the
problem at last. If we can't rein in the public employee unions
now, can it ever occur, or will they eat us alive?
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Chip Ford |
The Attleboro Sun-Chronicle
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Letter to the editor
By Chip Faulkner
To the Editor:
I will be applying for the job of King Philip Regional High School
Principal. Why not? I graduated from Holy Cross, possess a Masters from
St. John’s and taught in public and parochial schools for nine years
during the 70’s in New York City and on Long Island. One year I was
Chairman of the Social Studies department, had some real life experience
moonlighting driving a taxi cab in the City and for three years was Vice
President of the second largest teachers union in New York City. The
teachers and other administrators will love me because working for
Citizens for Limited Taxation I helped prevent their property taxes from
doubling and cut their auto excise by almost two-thirds. What’s not to
like about this resume?
I’m really looking forward to this job because I’m 61, intend to be
Principal for only five years and will then leave KP with the mother of
all health insurance plans. I just want the plan former Principal Mike
Levine received when he left this same job: the school system pays 75%
of all premiums until my death and if I die before my spouse, she gets
the plan for the rest of her life. Since I don’t have a spouse, I intend
to will the benefit to a relative with longevity so they can really milk
this giveaway. Of course the King Philip school committee won’t mind
giving me this deal. They have plenty of money to spend otherwise they
wouldn’t have even dreamt of handing out this costly benefit. Keep in
mind, though, through this whole process both the school committee and I
agree on one thing: we’re doing it for the children.
But wait, this good-bye kiss gets even better. I can go to another state
and like Mr. Levine make $112,500 in another school system -- and the
King Philip educational budget STILL pays for my health insurance. What
a country! What a school committee!
Sincerely,
An eager and appreciative Chip Faulkner
Wrentham
The Attleboro Sun-Chronicle
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Town in huff over insurance deal
By Stephen Peterson
WRENTHAM - An agreement to cover the costs of former King Philip
Regional High School Principal Michael Levine's health insurance stirred
up a fuss at town meeting, with some residents labeling it as
"outrageous" and a costly blunder.
The pact, approved by the regional school committee that authorized
Superintendent Richard Robbat to sign the agreement in October 2003,
calls for Levine to receive the insurance for the rest of his life, and
if he dies, extend to his wife.
A citizens' petition that was supported by Town Moderator Keith Billian
at the opening session of the annual town meeting in May asked the
school committee to determine if the agreement was legally binding.
School committee Chairwoman Clare Sullivan told residents at town
meeting Monday night that school counsel had concluded the pact is
legally binding.
But that far from settled the matter as far as some residents were
concerned.
Calling it a "sweetheart goodbye kiss," tax foe Chip Faulkner
estimated the insurance could end up costing the town $250,000. "This
whole agreement is a joke," Faulkner said.
"This is a shame on us."
King Philip Business Administrator Paul Schaefer said the cost of a
family health insurance program is about $15,000 a year, with Levine and
other employees picking up 25 percent of the cost.
While acknowledging the other two district towns have already passed the
school budget, Faulkner advocated cutting funds from the budget "just to
teach the school committee a lesson it can't get away with something
like this. These people should never be re-elected."
Planning board Chairman Patrick Moore added, "We are fighting with
police, we are fighting with firefighters with insurance. We know it is
an enormous part of our budget."
Selectman Edward Goddard remarked, "At first blush, it seems
outrageous."
The agreement was that Levine, who served as King Philip principal for
about five years, would retire Sept. 30, 2004, but would serve as
interim principal until June 30, 2005. A salary of $50,000 was
stipulated, as was Levine becoming "eligible after retirement to receive
medical insurance of the same type as other eligible retirees of the
district."
Levine formerly was principal of Attleboro High School. He is now
principal of East Greenwich High School in Rhode Island, a post he held
before coming to King Philip.
Faulkner said he is disturbed Levine is working for another school
district, but King Philip is picking up his insurance tab.
"The fact Mr. Levine sought and obtained employment doesn't affect the
legality between the parties," Sullivan said, noting many public school
employees in Massachusetts reach their maximum retirement benefits and
retire but continue to teach out of state.
State House News Service
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Bill proposes circumventing selectmen
for tax underride ballot voted
By Priscilla Yeon
Taxpayers and a Republican state senator on Tuesday supported
legislation providing a new way for communities to lower property taxes
and limiting the number of times communities could place Proposition 2½
overrides on the ballot.
Sponsored by Sen. Scott Brown (R-Wrentham), the bill (S 1702) would
limit local elections concerning property tax overrides to once every 12
months and allow communities to lower their taxes through a local
referendum without first obtaining a recommendation from the local board
of selectmen.
Testifying before the Committee on Revenue, Brown said he filed the
legislation after receiving several requests from senior citizens
struggling to pay property taxes to support local schools and finance
municipal services. Rep. Jeffrey Perry (R-Sandwich) is the chief sponsor
of the bill in the House.
Brown said the bill would offer a mechanism for communities to vote on
property tax "underrides" to reverse the impact of property tax
increases. The legislation represents an alternative to the push to
lower property taxes by delivering more local aid. Like override
questions, a majority vote would be required to pass underride
questions.
A proliferation of override votes, many of which are failing, has Beacon
Hill leaders, including Gov. Deval Patrick, contemplating ways to
deliver more local aid, help cities and towns control rising costs and
raise revenues on their own, and slow the growth of property taxes.
Most town charters require Proposition 2½ questions to be approved by
the local Board of Selectmen before being placed on the ballot. Brown's
legislation would bypass the requirement by allowing residents to file a
petition signed by 10 percent of the registered voters for an underride
ballot question.
Another similar bill filed by Rep. Paul Casey (D- Winchester) and
co-sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei, facilitates
underride ballot questions by requiring the collection of 500 registered
voters' signatures. Casey did not testify today and could not be reached
for comment.
Chip Faulker, associate director of Citizens for Limited
Taxation (CLT), spoke in favor of bypassing the board of selectmen's
approval for Proposition 2½ underrides. He said selectmen are often
against referendums lowering property taxes because they are under
pressure to support local schools. Collecting 10 percent of the
registered voters' signature "is not easy," Faulkner added.
He also spoke in favor of limiting override questions on local ballots
to once a year because some communities are faced with the same override
ballot question three times during the same year, he said, a costly
measure to taxpayers who need to pay for election costs, he added.
"We found that over the years if an override fails, especially if it was
a fairly close vote, the proponents will try to pass it again," said
Faulkner. "In a sense this is harassing people."
Len Mead, a Westborough resident, spoke in favor of Brown's legislation.
"The power to tax is the power to destroy," said Mead. He said in
Westborough, taxes are 30 percent higher than the state average and
called overrides a measure that "just destroys the community where I
live."
He said it is essential the Legislature give residents the tools to have
the option to lower their taxes.
Committee member Rep. Patrick Natale (D-Woburn), who is co-sponsoring
Casey's bill, told Brown he is supportive of giving cities and towns
additional tools to lower their property taxes.
According to Citizens for Limited Taxation President Barbara
Anderson, Brown filed the bill on behalf of CLT, which has been
advocating for alternative methods for underride ballot questions for
several years, she said.
She said Brown's proposal comes during an "interesting" time as Patrick
won the gubernatorial election "promising local property tax relief to
everyone," said Anderson.
"Everyone seems to be in an agreement that overrides are a problem,"
said Anderson. She said more override questions have failed than passed
in the past two years.
Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Geoffrey Beckwith
told the News Service the association is "highly opposed" to both bills.
He called the proposals "anti-home rule bills" that would interfere with
local town charters and micromanage communities.
"Quite frankly the legislation would be a huge encroachment on local
home rule and should be opposed by everyone," said Beckwith.
"Communities should have the ability to make their own decisions on
underride questions."
In response to arguments alleging selectmen are reluctant to place
ballot questions lowering property taxes, Beckwith said: "This is a
local democracy at work." He said most towns hold elections for a
selectman's seat every year. "Voters have an opportunity to influence
and weigh in through the local election process."
After the hearing, Committee Co-Chair Rep. John Binienda (D-Worcester)
said the underride proposal is "fairly new" to his committee and has not
been discussed in the past.
"We need to take a look at it, but I don't know if we should ever have
the right to limit communities to what they are allowed to put on the
ballot," said Binienda.
His counterpart, Sen. Cynthia Creem (D-Newton), said she hasn't received
requests in the past concerning the bill's proposal. "It's a new concept
we haven't had the chance to talk about," said Creem.
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