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- Mon, Nov 22, 2010, 8:54 P
Tax bill
Mike: Actually we tried to bring the "split" tax rate nearer even during the later 80,s through the mid 90,s. The assessors lobbied hard against it, especially when the value of residential property escalated . I don,t know what has happened with that since 2000,
You are right though, one of the big reasons for the split rate was that the utility owned sooo much.
- Mon, Nov 22, 2010, 6:38 A
Tax bill
Mik has told me in the past that my posts are too long, people won't check it out because takes too long. I say to you Mik, that no one has any business posting things on this board unless they can take the time to learn what the hell they are writing/talking about! I look at the left and right leaning propaganda posted on here to see how you all think. Frankly is scares me seeing all the pro government rhetoric when government workers in my own town and state are the root of ALL the evil we see here in our area. Open the mills up and down the river to hemp products and you will see the crime wave all but disappear. Art and tourism is a JOKE! 2020 is the cutoff date to fazing out personal cars!! Bikes trains and buses living in a sustainable community IS your pre-planned future!! Detroit is the farthest along on this path to date.
- Mon, Nov 22, 2010, 6:19 A
Tax bill
Debt that can't be paid, won't be paid, and debt that won't be paid will be cleared out and collected! THAT is what bankruptcy does and where we are today.
United States Supreme Court Will Soon Issue a Landmark Decision on the Validity of the Constitution
The decision should be rendered by the end of the year. Unless The Supreme Court acts, federal judges will be free to void the Constitution.
http://www.breitbart...rnw.20101113.CL01025
Oatkeepers.org leadership and members know that what is shown on Jesse Venturas latest show is fact 1000% and the dots connected properly.
Oathkeepers founder Attorney Stewart Rhodes is in the episode.
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVyCEwrcl9o
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOHDrZZCJyg&NR=1
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-wqoWMRhB8&feature=related
We oathkeepers.org members are on a fast track education effort to convert all the men under oath with guns to stand down when asked to follow unlawful orders, our rights are unalienable!
- Mon, Nov 22, 2010, 6:08 A
Tax bill
Speaker-Rep. James Traficant, Jr. (Ohio) addressing the House:
"Mr. Speaker, we are here now in chapter 11.. Members of Congress are
official trustees presiding over the greatest reorganization of any Bankrupt
entity in world history, the U.S. Government. We are setting forth
hopefully, a blueprint for our future. There are some who say it is a
coroner's report that will lead to our demise.
It is an established fact that the United States Federal Government has
been dissolved by the Emergency Banking Act, March 9, 1933, 48 Stat. 1,
Public Law 89-719; declared by President Roosevelt, being bankrupt and
insolvent. H.J.R. 192, 73rd Congress m session June 5, 1933 - Joint
Resolution To Suspend The Gold Standard and Abrogate The Gold Clause
dissolved the Sovereign Authority of the United States and the official
capacities of all United States Governmental Offices, Officers, and
Departments and is further evidence that the United States Federal
Government exists today in name only.
Full story, http://www.apfn.net/Doc-100_bankruptcy.htm
This video series will explain everything in a non partisan manner. I am non -partisan. Watch them all, no matter how long it takes you. You will gain an understanding like never before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uWCOvnOtTI
- Mon, Nov 22, 2010, 2:00 A
Tax bill
Miken
Sorry Mike. I was off by $5. It's nice to know there is a max cap.
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 9:49 P
Tax bill
PS: And please stop saying ignorantly uninformed things like, "They could raise the tax rate to $30 per thousand and there isn't jack we can do about it."
No, they can't, and they haven't been able to since 1982. At least in the aggregate -- total property taxes cannot be more than $25/thousand, period. There is the wrinkle of the split tax rate, which Montague is one of the few towns to use, but that actually makes residential taxes LOWER while raising commercial taxes. (I've heard this is because of NU, which pays a pretty big tax bill, but it also affects every other business in town. You want to make Montague more business friendly -- start a movement to eliminate the split tax rate and raise taxes on residential property owners to level the playing field. Good luck! ;-)
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 8:18 P
Tax bill
"Monopoly!!!! We need a freeze on our tax rate and tax assessments for at least 3 years."
Well, a freeze on our tax rate without a freeze on assessments wouldn't do much good -- assessments could rise, and taxes would rise with them. And assessments are controlled by the state -- they're supposed to be fair, so they have to be redone every three years. But maybe it would help if the town were limited as to the total amount of money it could collect in taxes. I don't know about a freeze -- costs do go up, and we have to recognize that -- but maybe limit the total to a 2% or 3% increase?
You know, it's funny -- that idea came up about 30 years ago, and there was actually a question on the ballot asking if the voters wanted to limit their town property tax increases to 2 1/2% from one year to the next. Too bad it never got anywh....
What!? It passed!?? Since 1982, Montague and every other town in Massachusetts hasn't been able to raise taxes by more than 2 1/2 percent a year??? Mark2 -- why didn't anyone know about this???? This is what you wanted, and it's been in effect for almost three decades!! Break out the bubbly, man -- life is good!!
Oh, wait...there is that little matter of the debt exclusion, that I mentioned earlier. You know -- that's where local voters get to stick it to the state and say, "Raise our taxes -- there's something we want to pay for that we can't afford with the money we're already taking in". And Montague voters have done just that, for the high school, for the sewer project, and most recently for the police station. That's why our taxes are going up this year -- because we told the state we wanted to pay more for the police station, so they're letting us do it.
Again, the fact that times are tough doesn't mean that all the guys working on the police station didn't get paid, nor does it mean that all the materials used in the project got donated. The guys did get paid, and the materials were paid for, and now the bill is coming due. As I said, if you're unhappy about it, blame your neighbors who voted for the police station debt exclusion (I assume you voted against it?). But, this time at least, don't blame town officials.
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 6:24 P
Tax bill
All conservatives had slaves or at least they wish they did. Is that what Mickjen is trying to spew.
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 5:49 P
Tax bill
Man, I just realized I have spent my entire day online. I did talk to two live people, one for over an hour, but mostly, on facebook, huff post and youtube... wow.... It's too dang cold out anyway! I am curious about the Lottery earnings Monty receives. If they based it on sales, Franklin County should be rollin in dough! (I should know, I pick up enough scratch tickets/litter to paper my walls!)
Below is an awesome link, and then something I stole off of craigslist....
http://act.credoacti...Dvz6kox&rc=confemail
Here's a short list of Conservative "Achievements" over the last 80 years. As you can clearly see American conservatism is characterized by greed, avarice, mendacity, racism, division, pettiness and most of all failure.
Prohibition (1920)
Klu Klux Klan (1920’s)
Cross burnings and Lynching (1920’s)
The Teapot Dome Scandal (1922)
Charles R. Forbes - arguably the most corrupt public official EVER (1922)
Warren G. Harding – the worst President yet (to that point – 1923)
The Florida Land boom (and bust) (1925)
The California Land boom (and bust) (1925-1928)
The Agricultural Depression of the 1920’s
Banks gambling with stocks on margin (1926-1929)
The stock market boom (and bust) (1929)
Bank Executives giving themselves bonuses after the 1929 crash (1929)
Hoovervilles (1930-1932)
Bonus Army (Homeless Vets) (1932)
The Anacostia Flats Massacre of the Bonus Army by Douglas McArthur (1932)
The Right Wing “Butler” or Business plot to overthrow the government (1934)
Republican congressional attempts to stall the New Deal (1933-1940)
Conservative Opposition to Social Security (1935)
The Conservative Supreme Court Blocking New Deal recovery (1936)
Prescott Bush and his business dealings with the Nazis (1940-1943)
Conservative opposition to rearmament (1934-1942)
Conservative resistance to the integration of the Armed Forces (1948)
Red Baiting and Sen. Joe McCarthy (1947-1947)
John Foster Dulles and Brinksmanship (1953-1959)
Conservative support for segregation and Jim Crowe (1940’s-1950’s)
Resurgence of the KKK (1940’s – 1960’s)
America’s entrance into Vietnam (1955)
John Birch Society (1958)
The Military Industrial Complex
J. Edgar Hoover
The “Civil Rights” murders of the 1960’s including Medgar Evers (1963-1964)
Conservative filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Conservative filibuster of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Gov. George Wallace (1963-1967)
Conservative opposition to Medicare (1965)
Richard Nixon’s “Southern Strategy” (1968)
Secret Bombing of Cambodia and Expansion of the Vietnam War (1968-1972)
Watergate Scandals (1972-1974)
Richard Nixon – the only President to resign in disgrace (1974)
Anita Bryant
California Proposition 13 (1978)
The Regan Recession – worst recession since 1930’s (1983-1985)
Reaganomics - “Greed is not enough” (1983-1989)
Reagan Deficits (1983-1989)
Reagan and the Soviet Union - “With enough Shovels” (1983-1989)
The Stock Market Crash of 1987
Moral Majority and Christian Coalition
Iran Contra Scandal (1986)
Attorney General Edwin Meese (1985-1988)
The Savings and Loan Meltdown (and bailout) (1986-1992)
The First Iraqi War (1991)
Colorado Amendment 2 (1992)
Constitutional Originalism: Robert Bork, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas
Contract on America (1994-5)
Conservative opposition to Health Care Reform (1995)
Christian Coalition and Family Research Council (1988-2010)
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (1995)
Welfare Reform Act (1996)
K Street Project (1995-2006)
Repeal of Glass-Steagall Act (1999)
Kenneth Star Investigation (1994-1998)
“Election” of George W. Bush (2000)
Bush v Gore (2000)
Richard Cheney’s Energy Task Force
Enron Scandal (2001)
Bush Tax Cuts (2001)
Attorney General Ashcroft (2001)
Bush Deficits (2001-2009)
Bush’s failure to stop 9-11 (Jan 2001-Sep 2001)
Bush’s month-long vacation in August 2001
(Bush took 500 days vacation from 2001-2004)
Bush reading “My Pet Goat” while the country was under attack (Sept 11, 2001)
The evacuation of the Bin Laden Family from the US (Sep 11-14, 2001)
Guantanamo Bay Detention Center
Abandonment of Habeas Corpus
Warrantless Wiretapping
Extreme Rendition
Phantom WMD’s and the Iraq War
Abu Ghraib
“Disappearance” of $ 12 Billion in Cash by the CPA in Iraq (2003-2004)
Halliburton unable to account for a valid reason for $ 1.8 Billion in invoices paid to them from US Treasury
KBR getting billions in no-bid contracts for worthless Iraq construction
Letting Bin Laden get away (more than once)
Scooter Libby outing CIA operative Valery Plame
Hurricane Katrina and the destruction of New Orleans
Diebold Voting Machine Fraud (2004 election)
Swift Boating, Super PACs
Evisceration of Campaign Finance Reform
Firing of US Attorneys
Medicare Part D – The Donut Hole (2003)
Grassley Bankruptcy Bill (2005)
Dubai Ports Deal
President George W. Bush – worst President yet (2001-2009)
The Real Estate Boom..and bust (2006-2007)
Subprime Mortgage Bubble (2005-2007)
The Stock Market Boom and bust (2002 and 2008)
Derivatives and Credit Default Swaps
The Depression of 2007
TARP (Bank Bail out) (2008)
California Proposition 8
Sarah (Refudiate) Palin (2008)
Tea Party Racism (2009-2010)
Republican Race Baiting (2009-2010)
Republican opposition to Health Care Reform (2009-2010)
Republican opposition to Financial Reform (2010)
Republican opposition to extension of Unemployment Benefits (2010)
Arizona Immigration Bill - Arizona SB 1070 (2010)
Citizens United v FEC (2010)
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 4:59 P
Tax bill
Mickjen
Thank you for the links, it's a lot to digest. $590,000 in excise taxes for starters. Peace out
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 4:34 P
Tax bill
http://www.huffingto...6.html?ref=fb&src=sp
http://www.montague....a_Assessor/Tax_Rates
http://www.montague....nance/FY11BudgetInfo
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 4:34 P
Tax bill
The problem is with the line items is that they don't break them out enough. For instance the line item "fixed cost" deals with the most expensive items in the budget. Health and Pensions. that should be broken out by cost person and list the reserves for the funds. In addition the fees paid to the unions should be listed as separate line items.
If you can't account for every dollar...the dollars disappear
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 11:41 A
Tax bill
Patrick
I know. There must be a PDF file that I could download from the town.
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 11:31 A
Tax bill
Mickjen
Once again you missed the point. I would have to believe there is some sort of means where tax payers can see where there money is going to. Salaries, police,fire,dpw. Etc. You might be a little more concerned about how the tax payers money is spent if you indeed paid any. And once again your name calling willingness to put people down is a sure sign of your character. Please keep them coming I find it amusing
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 9:57 A
Tax bill
Dear god, mark, do you not get the logic that an itemized bill would increase costs? Someone would have to be paid to create it....
And I take back any suggestion of attending selectboard meetings, the length would double, with all of Mark's uneducated complaints. Though, I do think it would be intersesting to see Mark Fairbrother get a turn at trying to explain anything to mark2....
Also, please stop feeding the BillBry machine, folks. It's obvious the man has a very limited realm of finding his sources and also, the complete lack of the abiltiy to have a calm conversation. But a tip, BB, it might work in your favor if you stop calling people ignorant sheep. Y'know, flies and honey.....
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 9:48 A
Tax bill
I am neither pro or con when it comes to unions. I see their benefit because without them the "free market" wage levels would probably be pushed very low for unskilled labor.
The biggest problem is fraud and racketeering in pension plans. Currently there are over 3000 multi-employer plans with over $379 billion in assets and growing. This is a big pool of money that leads to corruptions and infiltration by organized crime. These funds are not well manged and are excessively bloated.
The office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations have conducted investigations into pension and health care plans that have resulted in 253 indictments; 237 convictions; and over $271 million in criminal, civil, and administrative fines, restitutions, and recoveries. Currently, they are conducting investigations into pension plan improprieties involving plans with nearly $1 billion in total assets suspected to be at risk.
If you have to have a governmental office that acts as a policing agency for a specified entity tied to unions then government needs to take a closer look at the legislation that supports union pension and benefit funds.
Just my opinion...
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 9:35 A
Tax bill
IF you want an itemized bill, look at the town budget. For more details attend the town meetings when they are discussing the budget.
Unions can be good or bad depending how they are run, They were originally designed to help the workers from being exploited. They still do this but employers are now balking at the price. People are willing to work for less to get a job so now most job openings are now below a living wage. Unions allow workers to keep their jobs usually without a pay cut.
So unions are also good or bad depending if you are in one or not.
Rob
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 9:25 A
Tax bill
Bill,
I'm not sure what "Our town in under mandate by the Federal Reserve under bankruptcy" eludes to but I'm sure it has meaning to you.
The video had some good information and issues we should be concerned with. The references to the PIMCO fund and others are startling until you look at the context of the declines. The chart showed was of a closed end fund that rises and declines based upon a "gamble" on how public debt is serviced or the amount of bonds issued for debt. If too much debt is serviced by bonds it falls. If it remains low it rises. The fund is gambling on how debt will be serviced and they lost. Such is capitalism. It has zero relevance to inflation.
The bond drop that was shown in the video was dramatic when taken out of context. If a one month view would have been shown it would look minor but the one day view was more dramatic. Was the video producer being honest or alarmist. The fund only fell 14% pretty minor compared to the 67% decline due to the 2008 market crash. BTW the fund has already recovered a third of its losses and I image it will regain the balance once the feds bond issues are purchased.
I apologize or the long response. I am a habitual fact checker...
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 9:21 A
Tax bill
Greg
Some good points, I have never been a fan of Unions, maybe back in the day they were needed, but nowadays there are not. Unions always raise the cost of any project. I'm sure any future investor will do his own research into the old Monty school to see if it's worth while. A shrewd investor will not risk his money on the report of someone else. You can't sell a building that's not trying to be sold, how many years has it been sitting empty?? Basically the town will raise the tax rate if property values drop. I would like to see my itemized bill please, I want to see what I'm paying for.
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 8:58 A
Tax bill
Mark,
The report included demographic information, design uses, reconfiguration cost, revenue projections...everything an investor would need to assess the viability of purchase for an income property. But guess what Mark...we are in the midst of a severe real estate crash brought on by the free market and deregulation. Ever notice how capitalism wants to privatize profits but make losses public. I was a disciple of Ayn Rand until late 2007 and 2008. Then I saw the real face of "competition" and the "free market".
As far as the fine wine...you really need to get involved in town business so you can have a better understand of its finances.
What you should be railing against is the laws that structure the pension systems and union's participation in the cost structure. There are better ways of handing the health, pension and benefit packages of governmental/educational employees and still meet the expectations of the employees.
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 7:35 A
Tax bill
MikeNaughten,
You have no idea what you are talking about. Our town in under mandate by the Federal Reserve under bankruptcy, The town workers are just servicing the debt, which is being foreclosed on using fascism. The town services that most people do not want are bribery for votes and secondary to profit for the banksters criminal syndicate. I have proven this many times on this coarkboard, so no need to link the info again. Wake the hell up town workers! You are killinng America RIGHT HERE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNst5CDHlAc&feature=player_embedded
- Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 5:26 A
Tax bill
Greg
What other info did that study provide that was useful? Mike N. Fee for services, I understand that but in the real world people have choices. If they don't like how much someone charges or how much a certain product costs, they go somewhere else. But with government your screwed they got you by the short hairs. And when that happens the motivation to be fair and reasonable goes out the window. Competition always keeps prices on products and services in check. Except of course bill oil companies, power companies. Like I said before they could jack up the tax rate to $30 per thousand and there would be nothing we could do. Maybe I should just demand all my customers to pay more than a fair price. You know I have expenses also. But you now what would happen, they would call someone else. Monopoly!!!! We need a freeze on our tax rate and tax assessments for at least 3 years. Then the town will be forced to deal with the hand they are dealt just like every other business, household etc. Peolple find creative ways to survive on less. Maybe Montague has too many expenses, more than is needed. Maybe instead of drinking the fine wine the town should drink Bud light for now.
- Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 10:33 P
Tax bill
@Mike, I sooooo agree with everything you just said, except my river would be BBC's Steel Rail. And maybe some streams of Element's ESO or PP's Hope St Bitter.....
- Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 9:56 P
Tax bill
"Why is the town still allowed to collect the same amount of cash when the values drop."
Um, the same reason the electric company is allowed to charge the same (or more) on your monthly bill when your home value drops. And the oil company . And the cable company. And your grocery bill doesn't go down either, does it? When you go into a restaurant, do they say, "Hey -- your house value dropped by 50%! Just divide all the prices on the menu by two!"?
Get a grip, man. Stuff costs money. The fact that you might (theoretically) get less money for your house if you wanted to sell it doesn't change that. In fact -- and I'm sorry if this is upsetting to you -- the rest of the world (including town government) Doesn't Really Care. The rest of the world, including town government, is allowed to collect what they consider a fair amount of money for the services they provide, and they will continue to do that because, mainly, they have no choice. They've got to pay their workers and suppliers, and those people aren't going to accept a pay cut just because your house went down (theoretically) in value.
Sure, it would be great if everything were free. It would be great if the rivers ran high with beer (People's Pint IPA would be my choice), although my wife would prefer a nice Chardonnay. As the song says (http://www.stlyrics....ckcandymountains.htm)
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats
And the railway bulls are blind
There's a lake of stew
And of whiskey too
You can paddle all around it
In a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
But that isn't the world that I'm living in right now, or you either, and we have to deal with the world we've got. When you do your job you expect to get paid, and when other people do their jobs they expect to get paid. If you've got a job and can afford to pay your bills, then I think you're pretty lucky in today's economy (I know I am). Since Thanksgiving is coming right up, I suggest that we all just hold that thought .... :-)
- Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 9:16 P
Tax bill
"How many properties is the town of Montague sitting on that are longer being used"
If you have a constructive solution to the property issues I would love to hear them. And the 19K did more than tell us that it could be used for a school. Actually had some good information in there.
You know the town has openings on committees for local citizens to assist in making good decisions on behalf of the entire community not just the taxpayers. Join one make a difference.
- Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 6:33 A
Tax bill
Mickjen
Oh I will pay my bill, like all the rest of us who pay property taxes here. Now let's see cleaner streets, less potholes, less senseless studies for stupid shit. Get rid of the dead wood, let's stop building new buildings when we don't need to. It's easy to spend other peoples money, let's try to live within our means and do what it takes to do so. Jacking the taxpayer is the easy solution. How many properties is the town of Montague sitting on that are longer being used, and just costing the tax payers money through lack of revenue and upkeep. I drive by the Monty school everyday and I just shake my head, what a waist of a good building, and to think we paid $19,000 for some educated expert to tell us it's a perfect place for a school, money well spent there. The school is gone people it's time to move on, what's the price for maintaining that building every year, and other properties not being used. And finally is everyday ( get up and blame George Bush for everything bad day) man it's like a broken record, I see it everyday from our organizer in chief and here. And yes Mik is a good dude.
Mark2
- Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 1:33 A
Tax bill
Mark (2),
Do you read anyone else's posts?!
Stop playing the victim and pay your bill. Otherwise, don't expect paved roads, sewer expansions, police services (let alone the right to bitch about garages at the station) or y'know, civilization as we know it......
Jeez.....
And get over the knee-jerk GOP defending, it's just plain predictable at this point......
<3,
mick-to-the-jen.....
and for clarification's sake, it's mick jen, like irish mick. or mick jagger. I am not a part of mik... (though, mik does kick ass!)
- Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 12:53 A
Tax bill
Looks pretty simple to me. Cut federal taxes in half? Cool! Wait... how do we pay for the teachers and cops and fire dept and road crew and and and...? I know, raise property taxes, since these are people that work here, and this is the only way a town can raise money to PAY for these services.
Hmmmm... turns out we didn't get a tax break after all. What we did was shift the tax burden from federal income taxes, which is calculated by affluence, to local property owners.
Essentially, we spread the burden from the wealthy to the poor. The opposite of spreading the wealth, which of course all Republicans hate.
The really funny thing of all this is that the side effect of this spreading of the tax burden is that the rich just got that much richer... and all we got for our trouble is higher local taxes, and a DVD player. Seems like a quality reaming to me.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 9:50 P
Tax bill
Why is the town still allowed to collect the same amount of cash when the values drop. So they raise the tax rate when values fall. Either way they win. They could raise the tax rate to $30 per thousand and there isn't jack we can do about it. Or back in the day they raised our property value assessment but they were kind enough to keep the tax rate the same as the previous year. End result was we paid in more. Damn Bush
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 9:00 P
Tax bill
Mike Naughton for President! For real! Logic rules!
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 8:37 P
Tax bill
How did we go from montague taxes to George Bush being responsible for killing goat farmers, women and children in Iraq. Just saying.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 8:36 P
Tax bill
"Falling home values and police station payment cited as reasons" [cited from the very first post on this thread]
There's your answer right there (if you care about what the answer really is). There are two factors at work here: falling home values, and the new police station.
Falling home values: If your home is worth $200K and the tax rate is $10/thousand, you'll pay $2,000 in taxes. If your home value drops to $100K, and everyone else's drops likewise, the town is still allowed to collect $2,000 from you, and, naturally, they will -- as patrick pointed out, the cost of plowing your street did not get magically cut in half. So now your tax rate has doubled to $20/thousand, but you're still paying $2,000. Did your taxes go up? You tell me.
The new police station: it actually cost money to build, believe it or not, and that money is being added on to our tax bills because we the people voted (through a debt exclusion) to allow that to happen. So if you paid $2,000 last year, you'll pay more this year because you're also paying for the police station, which is extra. But remember: it's extra that we the people said we want to pay. All the people hinting that there's some kind of nefarious conspiracy seem to have missed that point: we all got to go to the polls, and those of us who did voted, and the police station debt exclusion was approved. So if you're concerned about your higher taxes, blame your neighbors who voted for the police station. Let them know what you think of their free-spending ways! But don't blame town officials --in this case, they're just doing what the people told them to do. ...
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 6:52 P
Tax bill
Yes, mark, actually, yes....
Well, not Bush, he was just the puppet/frontman, but I honestly don't see how any adult with brains, eyes, or ears cannot see how the Bush administration screwed us all?!
One of my fave bumper stickers: Which is worse: screwing an intern, or screwing the country?
Not to mention the thousands of Iraqi civilians (we're talking goat farmers, women and children here)
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 6:48 P
Tax bill
Bush made the promises. There are three ways to place the blame. 1) the people who voted for Bush and his followers, 2) the people who don't bother to vote because both sides look the same after a while or 3) all the American people who haven't revolted yet.
I agree we must learn from our past mistakes but more effort should be spent looking at how to improve the system instead of laying blame. We need more positive energy.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 6:32 P
Tax bill
So George Bush is to blame for my ever increasing property tax bill ?? Wow
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 6:13 P
Tax bill
I think we've been over this. You really have to see the big picture when you talk about taxes.
And pardon me if I utter the unutterable...
A decade ago Bush promised a tax rebate and deep tax cut to every American if you voted for him, including those that pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. The next year we fired a few dozen teachers and property taxes started their steep incline. That was the initial "win" from the tax rebates/cuts. Yay to everyone who bought the scam. And what did you get for it. A new DVD player?
If you're going to slash taxes you have to also slash services, or you're just changing their income stream, and fooling the gullible.
Me? I voted against the tax cut, 'cause I know that it's just BS unless they also cut services, like teachers and cops and road maintenance, etc.
If you'll recall, two years after slashing taxes, we started a grandiose decade-long war in two countries, one of which was probably illegal, but who was going to stop us? It made for good TV.
Of course, in the final analysis we were eating our own legs, and now we're really paying for it.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 4:21 P
Tax bill
Mick Jen
The recorder stated there would be an increase of $180 or so on a average house. I can't find the exact figure, that paper is currently lining my daughters guinea pig cage. How fitting is that lol
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 9:46 A
Tax bill
mickjen
Simply a figure of speech. Why waste time and money trying to resuscitate a building which has been canabolized by these so called investors who keep coming to town and taking full advantage?
This building (Strathmore) has been closed for many years. Keep in mind most of the copper piping and wiring holding up the walls has been stripped out of the building. Perhaps by doing this it may have weakened the structure to some extent?
I can't argue the fact that Monty needs outside investors. We have an industrial park for such things. Not to mention an airport wthing this park.
Haven't received the Monty Reporter yet. Currier must be sleeping in......
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 9:10 A
Tax bill
Junkman, for shame!!!!! Bulldoze it over the bank?!
If you hike behind Strathmore and Southworth, you will see not only the NEW pollutants being added to the river (I'm talking open chemical spills into the CT!), but the massive amount of rubble from the old mills.... It's disgusting.
Not to mention all the things that make it over the dam, that get caught on the rocks and various articles from locals up to no good... (tents, litter, bikes....)
Many birds, wildlife and fish are in the river. The last thing we need to do is add asbestos, rubble and general shit to something that used to be "America's largest sewer".....
What Turners really needs is outside money. Investors willing to fix up buildings, apartments and houses. I don't care if the rent rates would go up, maybe that would drive the crack dealers out of town..... There are literally hundreds of investment opportunities right now!
And according to Janel's article, though tax rates have gone up, the bill might actually be the same, because of decreased home values.....
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 8:26 A
Tax bill
Drive around town, any town and you will find homes becomming empty. This really sucks! It sucks for the taxpayer let alone the family being evicted in a way that the current home/property owners will be picking up the tab. Think of it as a bailout. The banks did it, the car industry did it, and now towns/states are doing it.
Bulldoze the Strathmore building over the bank. Do the same to the RR Salvage building, The Power Block building, the building behind Aubochon's. This is the only way the tax came for those areas will go away. I along with other town folks are fed up with the same old routine of trying to make something out of a pile of rubble.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 7:52 A
Tax bill
They've been trying to figure out the Strathmore thing for years, obviously it's not easy. And the school should have stayed a school, as we said at the time, because there is not another use for it and the savings are negligible compared to the value of having it. Maybe if there was still an elementary school on that side of town, property values would not be dropping (again, we said this at the time) and taxes wouldn't have to go up as much.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 7:31 A
Tax bill
Seems like we are paying more and getting less. I like how the article said they did not want to raise the tax rate too much on commercial and industrial, just the little guy. How's the sale of the Monty school coming along, how's the strathmore working out for us, etc. Money pits and potential revenue is just sitting there costing us money. Maybe we should tax every single person in town no matter how old or what you do or do nor own. We could call it a citizen tax. Then we would have that tax plus excise tax plus property tax etc. That way everyone pays there share of the bill. I think $200 per month per person from age 1 to 100 seems fair.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 7:29 A
Tax bill
And I blame my stoopid cell phone for any sentences that don't make sense. We're having issues and the damn thing just wont listen to reason....
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 7:22 A
Tax bill
In all seriousness, Mark, this town does wonders with very little. I've sat in town meeting and heard Bergeron talk about all the things they've had to deal with and yet he submits a budget with a reduction from the previous year. Same with the other depts. People complain about taxes yet I see people upset all the time when they go town hall and it's closed. Something's got to give. If we don't want to pay, we're going to lose services.
In the latest elections, the Republicans ran one one thing, and one thing only: cut taxes. Yay, good for them. Easy to say, hard to do, and in fact they never actually do it. But I look around and I see things that are coming out of government expenditure that simply would not exist otherwise. There are bike paths going up all over the place. They're good, they'll help our country's health and well being, but the private sector won't even build them because you can't make money on them If that's what my tax dollar is going to, I'm all for it. I have yet to see any benefit from the tax money that went to Iraq, but I'm already enjoying the benefits of a new bike path that connects Easthampton to Northampton. Bringing broadband to remote communities is the same thing. It costs money, but it will help us compete in the global marketplace in the long run. At some point, roads and telephone and electricity all had to be brought to places like Montague, and now people who can't get it need broadband because you can't compete without it.
It's amazing that the Republicans can buy people's votes with the promise of lower taxes and never even have to deliver yet people go for it every single time.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 7:19 A
Tax bill
There's a nice article in the Montague Reporter about it this week as well, the selectboard writeup by Janel Nockleby.
But even I get the logic that the tax percentage has to increase when house values fall. Otherwise, assets the economy hits the shitter, the revenue would collapse.
Rather than people just bitching about the taxes in Montague, how about attending selectborad meetings, contacting town services and demanding better service? I'm new to town, yes, but I have never been told by a town official (in MO, my home state) "oh, we just don't have the $/man power for that" and just been dismissed. I heard about Yankee ethics, but I have yet to see them.
It's time for everyone to roll up their shirtsleeves, even if it means renters in Turners picking up litter, or the phone to report crimes.... apathy is contagious, and this town is sick.....
Gah, another verbal dumpage, but I'm tired of feeling like I'm the only one w eyes who gives a shit.....
Take back your town, Montague! And not just the Center......
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 7:07 A
Tax bill
because the total tax levy will continue to increase by 2.5% (or so) regardless of your home value. It still costs as much or more to plow the streets, keep the lights on, pay the town employees (and most have over 2.5% raises in their contracts), etc....
That's what happens when we continue to slash state and Fed budgets (except military) but still want/need/demand/are required to provide services at the local level. Unfunded mandate anyone?
You'll be happy to know it is not just Montague, everytown in the country is experiencing similar issues.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 4:50 A
Tax bill
Well I guess I'm screwed then Patrick. It's funny how the value of our homes have gone down but the amount we have to pay in goes up. You have to love that logic. Good Job Montague way to ram it to the homeowners.
- Fri, Nov 19, 2010, 12:08 A
Tax bill
I think it said that the guy who bitches the most gets the highest increase.
- Thu, Nov 18, 2010, 7:26 P
Tax bill
" montague homeowners likely to see tax bill hike". This was the article in today's recorder. "Falling home values and police station payment cited as reasons" Thats just ducky! It never ends
