This week’s webchat, moderated by State House News Service reporter Craig Sandler, brought out the kind of passion that only financial issues can. "In this world only two things are certain, death and taxes." To which, Sandler added:
10:56Craig-State House News Service
Jon, there’s a saying about that conflict at the State House: "Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."
Click on this post to read the full webchat log…
09:47Craig-State House News Service
Hello.
10:16Craig-State House News Service
Well, Newton North is not being built in Ipswich or Rockport or Beverly or Waland or the amazingly large number of towns this year that are looking for - and rejecting - overrides. Things are ugly, both for taxpyaers and town leaders. Ugly!
10:20Radio Boston
How long have you been covering Massachusetts and is this the worst you’ve seen it ?
10:22Craig-State House News Service
So as bad as it is now, what’s alarming is knowing how bad it’s going to get.
10:24guest519973
Can we get rid of Police Officers doing road duty at $85 per hour? How about a few state troopers making over $200,000 per year?
10:29Craig-State House News Service
But it’s hard to describe how powerful the police unions are in that building - the reps and senators know who the centers of political support are in their towns, and it’s based on teachers and cops and firefighters.
10:29guest519973
According to the Globe over 75 City of Newton employees, mostly in the schools, make over $100k per year. Nice work if you can get it I guess.
10:31guest519973
@Craig Agreed about the "power centers"
10:31guest519973
@Craig Agreed about the Power Centers
10:34guest519973
Here’s a question: according to wikipedia they talk about the idea of an Underride - reduction in the base tax. Is this possible?
10:35Craig-State House News Service
It absolutely is possible. When I covered Lowell, you would see this proposed every once in a while. But the city council there - and the selectboard in towns - has to put it on the ballot just like an override.
10:36Craig-State House News Service
And councils and selectboards don’t want to do it - citizens might, but do you think people are angry enough to support underrides?
10:36guestacton9
It seems that the override process pits Sr. Citizens on fixed incomes but with appreicated homes and high tax rates against younger families who are concerned about funding the school systems.
10:38guest519973
Credit to all the guests and wbur for running a quality discussion. I better get around to give’em some money. =)
10:38Craig-State House News Service
But remember, that just means pressure to raise state taxes.
10:39Craig-State House News Service
….enough to cover medical inflation? ;->)
10:40Craig-State House News Service
..And seriously, Widmer’s right if you’re listening on-air too - medical costs are the killer, killer, killer. So to speak.
10:40Radio Boston
But health care costs are tough. Health care is a huge employer in this state– makes it tricky..
10:41jimel1939
The Town of Brookline is seeking an over-ride. Part of the problem there is that there is a full time town but only a part-time elected government. How can part-time elected officials truly oversee the town’s budget ?
10:42prooverride
I supported my town’s recent override. The taxes we pay to the federal government, the state government - we get nothing back for that. The taxes I pay to my town government gets spent here. They are the best value tax dollars I spend.
10:42Craig-State House News Service
Does Brookline have a town manager? I’m assuming yes.
10:43jimel1939
The town manager is a town employee
10:43Craig-State House News Service
So that sounds like you’d be willing to support an override? Or have you come to the end of your ability to pay, enough though you see and support the services?
10:44Craig-State House News Service
On Brookline - I do think a good town manager and his/his staff makes all the difference. You can run a town with p-t elected folks IF the full time professionals are good financial managers.
10:44guest158392
Lucky you are in a town that went through a process of looking at ways to economize.
10:45jimel1939
I’m a retiree and put pressed finanically. I’d be willing to consider an overide if I knew the Town Manager was beholden to the voters directly.
10:47jimel1939
I disagree. Town employees ake decisions that effect their own salary structure first and the town second.
10:48Craig-State House News Service
It’s a good point about the TM and accountability. And it’s true that they can’t help being conflicted when making choices about what benefits to reduce.
10:49local elected official
Its not just about bringing in taxes. Its about how we spend it.
10:49differnet7
I love how people want to reduce OTHER people’s benefits and wages. I wonder what you would do if it was YOUR benefits and pay.
10:49differnet7
i’m not a teacher or a city or state employee, by the way.
10:51Craig-State House News Service
They’re right - Prop. 2 1/2 is not going to be changed. And definitely not in an election year!
10:51jimel1939
Tax increases reduce my benefits
10:51differnet7
well, you can always move to say Arizona where you can pay taxes on your food and clothing.
10:52guest640200
They simultaneously increase your benefits too!
10:52Craig-State House News Service
And here’s the thing: if health costs increase more than taxes EVERY YEAR, which they do, do you want to reduce town employee’s health benefits EVERY YEAR?
10:52differnet7
ultimately, no one will want to work for cities and towns, at least no one who is smart and capable.
10:53local elected official
Yes - there are alot of unfunded mandates particularly in education and where schools are concerned, but there are also areas where school departments and other municipal departments need to look at to economize
10:53Prop Question1
My property taxes have tripled in 15 years; this is magnitudes more than a 2.5% increase per year. So how does 2.5 really work?
10:53local elected official
REGIONALIZATION is a wonderful idea!! Unfortunately, the majority of the elected officials will not support it!
10:54differnet7
Prop… it’s more likely that the value of your property has increased and you were evaluated at a higher rate..
10:54local elected official
I think Newton tried an underride
10:54jimel1939
Health costs increase too much because we give so much of our health care dollar to insurance companies. With the new Mass. health care law hospitals are being forced to reduce staff because they are receiving less aid.
10:54guest640200
I see two needs: 1- uncouple education funding from local realestate taxes, and 2 - allow teachers to get paid through a merit based system.
10:54Craig-State House News Service
I don’t recall any passing.
10:55disgruntled6
An underride will never happen so long as Newton’s elected officials keep spending like drunken sailors
10:55Jon in Wayland
It seems clear - we need to increase income taxes, reduce property taxes and pay for the services we need. Why can’t we admit it?
10:55local elected official
it didn’t pass.
10:55differnet7
jimel… health insurance is killing everyone.. towns, hospitals, the consumer… the only people doing well are the insurance companies..
10:55Craig-State House News Service
Jimel, you make a fine point - the problem is not going to be addressed with tax policy - it’s gotta be health policy
10:55differnet7
guest.. have you ever taught in a classroom?
10:55guest640200
no
10:55guest630004
Amesbury did have a $1M underride in FY08.
10:56Craig-State House News Service
Jon, there’s a saying about that conflict at the State House: "Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."
10:56differnet7
*smiles @ Craig*
10:56local elected official
I disagree with Widmer. There are ways to improve and make efficiencies and unless people feel the pain, there is NO incentive to go that route.
10:56disgruntled6
Since Newton’s 2002 override no cost-saving programs have been put in place. Want another override passed — show me you’re not going to waste what you’re given. "Most cities well managed"?! Not in Newton
10:56local elected official
I agree!!!
10:57differnet7
i disagree!!!
10:57local elected official
why is that?
10:57Craig-State House News Service
L.O.E., you’re right - fiscal crises force businesses to try harder and be creative, and it’s necessary in the public sector too.
10:58Craig-State House News Service
Great stuff you guys!!!
10:58differnet7
because most money is spent efficiently… i’ve seen the budgets of my local town and i’ve priced out some of what they are purchasing… we are getting excellent value for our money..
10:58local elected official
thank you!!!
10:58local elected official
Newton is not one of the communities that should be bailed out by the state
11:00Craig-State House News Service
Not right now…it’ll be interesting to see how Cohen fares next year. I’m sure he’s, um, interested too!
11:00Radio Boston
THank you Craig for being our moderator today..
11:00local elected official
does this mean this is over now?
11:00Radio Boston
It is over now. Thank you for joining us.
11:01Craig-State House News Service
A pleasure. Great job by BUR and all the guests. Be well and Go Sox!
