Westford's elected officials ignore this year's fiscal reality

[Tony1941]

Westford's elected officials ignore this year's fiscal reality
A letter from a Westford resident to the The Lowell Sun
Updated: 03/22/2011 06:35:50 AM EDT

A copy of the 2011 Annual Town Warrant arrived in the mail this week. Upon review of this document, I conclude that elected officials in Westford are tone-deaf to the economic circumstances of residents who, through tax payments, water-use payments and numerous fees, provide the town with its funding.

While property taxes, water rates and fees continue to rise steadily, many residents struggle with lower incomes and higher costs for benefits, energy and food. Senior citizens have not received an increase in Social Security benefits for two years. Reductions in federal stimulus and local aid from the commonwealth are reducing the funding available to support the town budget. Available revenue for fiscal 2012 will rise 1.55 percent, thanks to increased property taxes. The School Department, Water Department and Public Works Department are requesting 2.49 percent, 2.48 percent and 2.05 percent increases, respectively, to their annual budgets. The total annual operating budget is requested to increase 2.97 percent. The gap between funding and spending will be closed with a $1.7 million drawdown from town reserves, which will reduce such reserves to minimal levels.

The capital budget request includes two new backhoes, one for the cemeteries and one for the Water Department, when the town already owns numerous backhoes in various departments with questionable utilization rates. The School Department is requesting a new elevator for the Abbot School that will need to be funded with borrowed money. The School Department has not accomplished simple cost-reduction plans such as centralizing the purchasing of office supplies resulting in lower costs. There are duplicate staff, overhead and capital equipment throughout town departments as each department nurtures its own group of cronies that provide budget protection.
This proposed budget is irresponsible. The system of inefficiency that guides town operations is fostered and supported by low attendance at Town Meeting, allowing a minority of cronies to protect this inefficient system. I urge all Westford voters to attend Town Meeting on March 26 and demand efficient, cost-effective town operations. Time is running out. Urgency is required.

[Brandi]

I have seen documents that show teacher have received cumulative pay increases over the last 3 years of over 20%.

While the taxpayers consider a job with no pay increases over the last 3 years in industry to be a fact of life, the municipal unions with the support of elected officials and so called management ride the gravy train.

[Tony1941]

I have seen documents that show teacher have received cumulative pay increases over the last 3 years of over 20%.

The teachers and municipal union members have God on Their Side.

Be a good citizen and pay your high taxes with a big smile on your face.

[jbluestein]

I have seen documents that show teacher have received cumulative pay increases over the last 3 years of over 20%.

While the taxpayers consider a job with no pay increases over the last 3 years in industry to be a fact of life, the municipal unions with the support of elected officials and so called management ride the gravy train.

I don't suppose you have any sort of pointer to back this up? The notion that public school teachers are somehow overpaid is one that I hear a lot from places like Fox News, but so far I haven't seen any actual evidence of it.

[EDIT: For the record, the information that a few minutes on Google popped up for me suggests that MA public school teachers received a 3% salary increase last year, and have generally increased in salary by 35% over the last 10 years.]

[Brandi]

[EDIT: For the record, the information that a few minutes on Google popped up for me suggests that MA public school teachers received a 3% salary increase last year, and have generally increased in salary by 35% over the last 10 years.]

Be careful of Google. If you want facts contact Tony Martinez who has obtained the last 3 years of municipal contracts for Westford. The annual raises averaged about 2.5% but the yearly step increases are 4 to 7% between steps. So a beginning teacher hired at step B-1 in Sept. 2007 would have been a step B-4 on Sept. 2010 for a increase of over 20% in the last 3 years.

[jbluestein]

Be careful of Google. If you want facts contact Tony Martinez who has obtained the last 3 years of municipal contracts for Westford. The annual raises averaged about 2.5% but the yearly step increases are 4 to 7% between steps. So a beginning teacher hired at step B-1 in Sept. 2007 would have been a step B-4 on Sept. 2010 for a increase of over 20% in the last 3 years.

Interesting. Is step progression automatic for public school teachers on a year by year basis? If I start as a B1 and keep my job for three years, am I automatically a B4 at that point?

[jbluestein]

Interesting. Is step progression automatic for public school teachers on a year by year basis? If I start as a B1 and keep my job for three years, am I automatically a B4 at that point?

This also looks like a site one might be tempted to call authoritative:

http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/schfin/...ry.aspx?ID=326

(The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website)

[Tony1941]

Interesting. Is step progression automatic for public school teachers on a year by year basis? If I start as a B1 and keep my job for three years, am I automatically a B4 at that point?

The answer is Yes!!! I do not believe that a single teacher has been kept on step in the last 30 years.

9/1/2007 9/1/2008 9/1/2009 9/1/2010 3 yr Cum %
1 $ 36,968 $ 39,845 $ 42,946 $ 45,891 24.14% B1 to B4
2 $ 39,190 $ 41,837 $ 44,663 $ 47,269 20.62% B2 to B5
3 $ 41,151 $ 43,510 $ 46,004 $ 48,214 17.16%
4 $ 42,804 $ 44,816 $ 46,923 $ 49,227 15.01%
5 $ 43,616 $ 45,712 $ 47,909 $ 51,168 17.32%
6 $ 43,741 $ 46,672 $ 49,799 $ 53,111 21.42%
7 $ 45,531 $ 48,513 $ 51,690 $ 55,055 20.92% B7 to B10
8 $ 47,323 $ 50,355 $ 53,581 $ 58,018 22.60% B8 to B11
9 $ 48,253 $ 52,198 $ 56,465 $ 59,230 22.75% B9 to B12
10 $ 52,492 $ 55,008 $ 57,645 $ 61,181 16.55% B10 to B13
11 $ 52,963 $ 56,157 $ 59,544 $ 63,134 19.20% B11 to B14
12 $ 54,762 $ 58,007 $ 61,444 $ 68,949 25.91% B12 to B14
13 $ 53,394 $ 59,858 $ 67,104 $ 68,949 29.13% B13 to B14
14 $ 63,683 $ 65,371 $ 67,104 $ 68,949 8.27% B14 to B14

Sorry for the spacing problem. The attached pdf and thumb nail have the information.

The B11 thru B14 do not receive step increases once they got to B14.
The B14 line indicates that the basic salary increase was about 2.7% per year without the step increases.

The attached pdf file shows the 3 year cumulative increases for all degree levels.

Westford Teachers FY08-11.pdf

I am still working on the police and fire but I am meeting resistance from the Town Manager on releasing the Quinn bill, OT and paid detail wages.

[Webbers10]

Was I mistaken when I heard that $50K was voted on to support a 50 Million & counting unfunded pension liability? While I support seniors having turned 60 this year (without a pension) I amnot sure how this will be paid in the future? Taxes are more like a mortgage nowadays and without future raises or equivalent stock performance increases I am not sure how a senior on a relativel fixed income will be able to live in Westford and for that matter MA!

Sorry if I have my facts wrong.

[Amber]

My mortgage payment went up $100/month due to the property tax increases. $1200 more this year than I have to spend. I am going back to school full time with four kids so I can get a real job (hopefully). I AM on a fixed, very tight budget right now. The only wiggle room I have is in my food budget, which directly impacts my kids' quality of life.

Some dire economic things happening in this town, and someone needs to fix it yesterday.