Middleboro official blasts state for Quinn bill mess
Towns must still fund benefit for police officers
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By Alice C. Elwell
ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT
Posted Apr 21, 2009 @ 03:00 AM
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MIDDLEBORO — Finance Committee Chairman Richard J. Pavadore greeted the House budget’s $1 million cut in state aid to Middleboro with one word, “Wow.”
Pavadore said reports the state isn’t going to fund the Quinn Bill provisions don’t sit well with him.
“If the state doesn’t fund it, why do we have to,” he said.But he says it’s not that simple, because Middleboro taxpayers are contractually obligated to the provisions.
Pavadore said last year nearly $300,000 was paid to 23 police officers as a career incentive under the Quinn Bill, with the state picking up 50 percent of the cost.
In addition 30 firefighters were paid $92,800.95 in educational incentives.
He said the Police Department budget is already down to the bare bones, and he doesn’t see where $300,000 can come out of that budget, because the town is under contract for minimum manning requirements through selectmen’s negotiations.
Pavadore said other departments will have to make up the difference, unless a one-time revenue can be found to make up for it.
He said taxpayers are funding the cost of the higher education and then paying the employee annually for having a degree. He said in many cases, degrees are not necessary for the position.
“I think we’re in good shape, based on what the town manager has forecast in state aid for 2010,” said Middleboro Assessor/Appraiser Barbara Erickson.
Town Manager Charles J. Cristello instructed a town-wide budget reduction of 31/2 percent to close a $1.3 million deficit. Cristello estimated the town would get $19,437,628 in state aid. The proposed House budget released on Friday is $19,678,743 in state aid for Middleboro.
Of that amount, the School Department will get the lion’s share, $17,290,908.
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Mr. Pavadore, always politically correct and professional, doesn't tell you that Wayne Perkins negotiated the contract that included the provision that provides that the Town will fully fund the Quinn Bill if the state doesn't.
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That was the contract that Mr. Perkins kept insisting was 3%, 3%, 3%, when in fact, I finally got him to acknowledge at Candidates' Night the he had negotiated
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36%, 3%, 3%
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Do you ever wonder what Mr. Perkins told you that is incorrect?
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Mr. Perkins also negotiated the contract that extended the Quinn Bill to the Fire Department. How many other towns do that? Find one and post it in the comments section, please.
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Mr. Perkins might have done so believing that it ensured his re-election.
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Judging from the election results, Mr. Perkins had to actively campaign for a nominal position of Town Moderator against a relatively unknown new comer and only won by a narrow margin.
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How'd that work out for you, Wayne? Are you still planning to run for Selectman next year?
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Putting the contracts in perspective, Wayne negotiated 36% pay raises along with a continuation of employees only contributing 10% of the health care premiums with a $5 co-pay.
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Find other municipalities that do so and post in the comment section.
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Collective bargaining contracts are public record if you care to do your own research.
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Prop. 2 1/2 allows basically for a 2 1/2% increase in revenue.
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How could Mr. Perkins justify this kind of legacy? Please say thank you next time you see him.
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You still think town government is unimportant?
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And BTW, we're still using one time revenues to balance the budget.
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That's like selling your furniture to buy food.
8 comments:
Taunton has education incentive very similar to quinn. Most FD's have some kind of education incentive.
correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it the police chief and Wiksten that worked with Wayne to get this?
the bobbles sat silent when call fire was cut compare salaries with benefits.no one else pays more
The Finance Committee has preached for years that the cost of General Government has eaten up the available increases. It looks like the schools have suffered. How do we get the town's voters to understand what Messrs. Perkins and Healey accomplished?
The Enterprise and the Gazette tried to report the facts of Mr. Perkins' legacy and created havoc.
How do you justify 2 raises each year for longevity and step raises?
It's easier to endorse the status quo, not make waves, not inform yourself and continue to vote people into office.
kelley
town employes kept waynsie in place there were enough town employes they kept adding cuts are good
Isn't it funny how the same few names keep coming up in a lot of these blogs, maybe an AUDIT would
be right!!!! FIRE THEM before they can collect their retirement from the town!!!!!
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