Winchendon; are you kidding? (sale, real estate, health insurance)

[writerj]

though this town is quite safe and clean, it is so disorganized and lacks overall cohesiveness from officials and residents that the town continues to suffer badly.
The operating budget for schools is a mere 12 million; 43 teachers laid off in less than 2 years, a huge problem with dropout rates, and residents sit and do nothing to make the situation better. Many residents don't support overrides that would benefit schools, and ultimately, the town's future. Residents fight gov. officials on virtually everything. Lack of jobs abound, and kids have NOTHING, no place to safely gather except The Clark, a YMCA affiliated community center.
Robinson Broadhurst, a philantropy organization provides so much $$ for the town, because the town fails to generate any kind of revenue! The district used them to purchase textbooks!? the commonwealth gives them $ just for that type of expense.
Attend some local gov. meetings, verbal fights are not uncommon. Numerous online forums are dedicated to such nonsense as bashing the town manager.
Not the kind of attitude to have when the town is in trouble.
Unless residents band together in a positive way and officials generate jobs and revenue...winchendon will cease to exist.
Housing market is WAY down, very limited job opportunities and advocacy agencies, and overall, no choices, makes Winchendon an easy pass.
sorry, it's true.

[bryfry]

Originally Posted by writerj

The operating budget for schools is a mere 12 million; 43 teachers laid off in less than 2 years, a huge problem with dropout rates, and residents sit and do nothing to make the situation better. Many residents don't support overrides that would benefit schools, and ultimately, the town's future.

Question: What percent of the school budget that gets covered by the state? My guess is that's it's low. This is a similar problem that we have on the Cape. We are property rich and income poor. Unfortunately this translates into elevated school bugets and overrides. We have a low stipend from the state, but it only equates to around 15% at the most. It's been as low as 9%. We are always asked to pay more in taxes to cover these budget short-falls, but we always vote them down. Most of the opposition is the elderly (of which there is a huge population here), due to the fact they are all on fixed incomes. I don't blame them.

[airedaly]

I think it is very sad that town residents are disrespectful in their discussions with municipal leaders; that is a symptom of today's entertainment/news programs on TV and radio. Rather than polite, respectful discussion of a topic, it breaks down into a tirade of angry remarks and accusations. What are we teaching our kids? That it's OK to talk to teachers, town officials, police officers, with disrespect?

It's also sad that older people don't feel the need to support the town's schools after their kids graduate. It's a fact that towns need overrides to pay for the cost of special ed and skyrocketing health insurance for town employees. In the end, it's the town and the next generation that suffer. Real estate values plummet because nobody wants to live in a crappy town with a lousy school system.

I don't know the solution, but the State needs to look at what's happening in these towns with failing schools. I don't know if casinos are the answer, but we need more revenue.

[smarty]

Originally Posted by airedaly

It's also sad that older people don't feel the need to support the town's schools after their kids graduate. It's a fact that towns need overrides to pay for the cost of special ed and skyrocketing health insurance for town employees. In the end, it's the town and the next generation that suffer. Real estate values plummet because nobody wants to live in a crappy town with a lousy school system.

I don't know the solution, but the State needs to look at what's happening in these towns with failing schools. I don't know if casinos are the answer, but we need more revenue.

I wonder how I would feel when I'm old and the property tax doubles every 5-6 years with my fixed income. Poor old me

[airedaly]

Towns in Massachusetts work with their elderly residents who cannot afford the r.e. taxes. The resident can either get a tax deferral that will be repaid upon the sale of the home, or they can work part time for the town in lieu of tax payment. No town will put an elderly person out of their home because they can't afford tax payments.

[Logic72]

Originally Posted by airedaly

Towns in Massachusetts work with their elderly residents who cannot afford the r.e. taxes. The resident can either get a tax deferral that will be repaid upon the sale of the home, or they can work part time for the town in lieu of tax payment. No town will put an elderly person out of their home because they can't afford tax payments.

Amen to that.