The Yarmouth Taxpayer

Let's get it together & stop this school comm. budget arrogance NOW! They have 1000 fewer students then 10 years ago yet the same number of teachers!IF they fired 35 teachers they could save $5 million. First we need to replace Morris on the DY SC. We need to replace Marasco & McAulif with two new selectmen. We need to show a unified voter turnout AGAINST the school budget same as we did against Marasco's Fluoride fiasco. The town workers unionsknow the school is responsible for screwing up their budgets so lets go to the root cause & send a loud & clear message to the SC. The DY school comm. is havin a hearing on this coming Monday March 2, 7pm @ the Station Ave Elem. school to allow us to vent. Lets show up in force & tell these arrogant SOB's they can't get away with this crap again. DM, Y'port

atleast we agree on that

Well Al, it's good to know you got your facts straight, because obviously YOU know more than the UNION and Mr. Lawton. Great idea to leave the stations unmanned while calls are going on! I blame Carol Woodb ury for the the current mess as well!

NO sand Im saying they are responsible for the w.y sta being closed. They have never been very cooperative with the town in trying to work out a soulution. benifical to the taxpayers. How about NO call Backs if either of the other two stations in town are is fully manned for starters. Dont get me wrong I see this greed with most unions in town. Yours just is the worst

'Bottom Line'...

Make it a part of the deal with the "Golf Lifetime Memberships"...

That once a year -during a thunderstorm-these dudes have to play a round... For the gripper.

While I dont agree with all the taxpayers posts, I have to say this was pretty much spot on. I am not sure why anluke and albert's post have to do with the topic. Our time would be better spent demanding accountiblity from our school district(as well as our town dept's) I wish Jerry Sullivan well in his battle with cancer. I hope that the davenport project gets the support of all the citizen's of Yarmouth. But instead of posting mostly negative comments get involved go to the school district and selectmen's meetings, ask questions and become informed.

What makes them think they will get more money from the tax payer? If they don't have the money,THEN "they don't have the money." The towns r literally driving people off cape in droves. It is very sad.

So Alby, YOU are saying the greedy UNION is responsible for the town's fiscal crisis?

Be careful Mr Luke You are hitting a nerve. The Greedy FF Union Is the problem and they dont give a rats behind about the towns people they serve. Only their pocketbook! Good Luck to the New Chief!! As for the Tech school. Yarmouth is sending more kid because these kids understand they will get a quality education that prepares them to make a good living here on Cape. That does not happen at DY. Grad from DY and dont go to College you are DOOMED and these kids understand that. Expect more and more kids to want into CCT. It is a great school and gives these kids a great start on life unlike DY.

anluke, I am not quite sure were you are going "call backs at the Fire Dept."
After the 3rd Override attempt, Schools got $1.5 Million, that caused the town to CLOSE the brand new fire station in West Yarmouth. There are NOT call backs everytime the Ambulance goes out despite what the Madam Chairwoman and Dr. Marasco say. This depends on their shift manning. Also the VOTERS passed that the 3 stations be covered ALL the time. The FIRE UNION presented to the board a concession to NOT cover Sta.3 when the AMBULANCE went out.

Well-lets not start by throwing that house rock.Lets get rid of Cape light compac and save a hundred thou a year. Lets look at call backs at fire dept --started so the town would have coverage when the first one went out and we might need another well now we have other station with men and ambulance --estimate savings three hundred thou and more savings are available why not ask our dedicated workers that are our best at knowing how we could save money. Lets lead the way to better goverment by doing things that may not be popular but could save money. We must come up with ideas and at least try them or we will all be faced with problems shortly. Ten most important two letter words. IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME --lets go we can do it.This is OUR TOWN

Naw, we need a nice, national value-added tax. That should take care of things.

Chances are better that off-site owners will take advantage, as opposed to onsite?
This tax would hurt a lot of people but most importantly, the economy of the Cape that relies on tourism.
I find the reference or suggestion that off-site owners are slier and "provide poor accomodations" ofensive. It is of-site owners that make the Cape so wonderful 9 months of the year when the occupancy is significantly reduced. Off-site owners pay taxes and only use facilities 25%-50% of the time.

Tom & Albert, New Chief starts 1st week of Feb. I expect you will fill him!

Well, Dr. Marasco just made a complete fool of himself at the Selectmen's meeting in regards to the Ambulance service! He baffles the other selectmen with absolute BS on EMS topics that he does NOT have a clue about of how it works. They buy it because is a "Doctor"

Gee, pretty quiet here from RV, I mean YTP!

If the Cape selectmen didn't spend money like drunken sailors, there'd be no need for another tax. When these town governments have tightened their belts -- no more overtime, join the state health insurance coop, stop building monuments to politicians' egos - then we can discuss the "need" for more taxes.

As Chairman of the Board, Suzanne McAuliffe says, "Sometimes we don't deal with logic, we get involved with the emotions and the politics of a situation."

We must stop reelecting these politicians. Too many of them view another tax as another tax trough they can feed on. Many of them have been feeding there for years.

If I understand this correctly, hotels and motels on the Cape (as well as the rest of the state) currently assess a lodging tax to all guests' stays.
Property owners who use a property that they own, be it their primary residence or an investment property do not assess this occupancy tax on any guests who rent their properties.
This does not appear to be a 'new' tax, nor is any property owner who is renting their property liable to pay this tax. Their responsibility lies in collecting and remitting the tax to the state. If guests are paying the tax at the Sheraton, why would they not expect to pay it when renting a private residence?...why would the property owner be resistant to collecting the tax?
Yes, it's an additional record keeping burden for the property owner, but isn't the owner reaping some benefit from the rental? Aren't they running a business in a similar fashion, albeit smaller, than the motel around the corner?
Nobody's real happy about paying any taxes; either repeal this one in its entirety, or apply it equitably.
FYI-I collect a similar tax for my condo in SC.

Well folks..
1..
all the Yale and Harvard pals of Washington got their bailout ( on our dime)for failed business policies
2
all the Mass pols and their cronies upped the Mass Pike tolls for failed business policies( on our dime).
3
local towns will be screaming for higher(and more) taxes (on our dime) for failed business plans

4
Washington Commission looking to raise the gas tax by 50%!!! since we working folks are driving less

again on our dime!

The problem is..

I'm out of dimes!

Are you?

Whose gonna bail us out?

possee

Looking at this site, though it is 2006, Yarmouth is pretty cheap to live in!

http://www.celebrateboston.com/statistics/taxes/taxratesbyresidential.htm

You could abolish the room tax as an alternative. Not very likely so let's apply it in an equitable fashion. The tax is not evenly and fairly applied to properties that are in the lodging industry. The current law was created prior to condominium ownership. The unfair loophole is that a condominium or other form of ownership complex can function the same as a Hotel or resort and avoid the 9.7% room tax. 4% goes into the Towns General Fund. How much are the taxpayers loosing each year because of a flawed law?

"NO"....to new taxes!! I say "NO" to Old taxes also. "No" to state, income, Federal, & property taxes. Let's not forget "NO" to excise tax & sales tax. Why pay more? We already get nothing in return so why give them more? Oh Yeah! So they can get their promised yearly pay raises.

Albert Kelleher lost the job because of the problems with the f.d. most of those problems were directly caused by Sherman. The problems you so often quote about the contract are mostly clauses that sherman himself negotiated into the contract when he was on the other side. but the problem is not greed it is everyone living up to the contract that was legally negotiated. I am a taxpayer in the town of Yarmouth and know that there are many things that have to change with the coming fiscal crisis but they have to be negotiated. The town had the opputunity to change the coverage issues when they opened station three, but with sherman driving the bus he mandated 100% coverage. only after he went in the whole did he finally figure out that things needed to change instead of negotiating, he instituted direct violations of contractual language for a budget crisis he created! Why has the town continued to allow this? Kelleher could have been acting chief with out Randys supervision and maybe he would have been able to make some changes as the head of the dept.

eesh sandyneck, you certainly have alot to say about everyone here... do you own this site? Or do you need anger management

Hey Taxpayer, you forgot to print the part. The town agrees to pay the cost of the option change!

Albert, again talking out of your....!
Let's see where to start - You say;"WE keep the ambulance $.IF you attended the Spring town meeting Randy EXPLAINED the Ambulance receipts. The FD has NOT been in captial budget for over 10years thanks the Ambulance. It does help pay some salaries, building maint. for the 3 stations, and yes the ladder truck. Let me educate you on the ladder. The prior Chief Dennis Brown was a big proponant for a new aerial truck for the FD. He wanted to purchase a truck with a bucket called a tower. He stated the reasons behind the purchase, such as the FD traded in the old ladder truck and a fire engine to offset the price. The Tower Truck is actually 2 trucks in 1. They call it a quint. IT is a fire engine, carries water, hose, has a pump, aerial device, etc.
This apparatus also helps the toen's ISO rating which in turns bedefits you the homweowner in your homeowners inurance rate.
You seem like a very angry man and for that I am sorry. Maybe IF you went and talked with the guys and Paul ( still don't believe you have) then maybe you would change.

Sorry for typo should read the TOWN doesnt see it anyway.....

sandy neck said "So RFP? Who is WE? Go for it, I'll bring the popcorn! If you ran a business, would want to give up close to 2 million in revenue" WE are the taxpayers!! answer to second question you mean the ambulance fund money you keep for yourselves? YES!! The own doent see it anyway You keep it all! including using saome to pay your dumb butts and buy fancy ladder trucks you dont need!

prince albert in a can you might want to reread my post this symbol is a question mark ? it means Im asking a question. DUH!! educate my self? like your Union did about the Library? Why is the town paying for 2 Fire Chiefs? are they?? Thats a question queenie. Kelleher did not get the job because of the UNION not Randy! Did you watch the meeting? The BoS said they picked the new guy because of the goings on at the FD NOT Because of Randy. By the way I am no fan of Randy but less a fan of Greedy Unions that think they can bully the town and taxpayers. By Yarmouth Standards you guys have a pretty darn good deal and make waaay more than those who pay you. SHUT UP and get to work making this a better town and a Better FD instead of always crying!

You are right lookbeforeuleap! I believe they have been working the first schedule taxayer referred to since January of this year.

Again I say how does the FINCOM feel about this hummm.......??

And to taxpayer either you are lying or Lawton told you a story (which I doubt) the firemen are still working the same schedule they were months ago. get it right. Maybe you should call the Mr Holmquist and just ask him like I did

Albert I would love to know where you get your info. I have heard that some of the bloggers have nothing better to do then send out false stories to make themselves look more intelligent. I can tell you you are way off track

So RFP? Who is WE? Go for it, I'll bring the popcorn! If you ran a business, would want to give up close to 2 million in revenue?

Man albert, you are a piece of work! POST FACTS NOT ASSUMPTIONS!

Princealbert is right, Randy is still there, he has given NUMEROUS dates on his pending retirement, but is still on the job. Why is the town paying for 2 Fire Chiefs? I agree Kelleher may have had a better shot at becoming the Chief, if Randy retired when he said he was going to!

The P.D. did not lose five guys they did not fill five open positions. Try educating yourself albert instead of making half assed comments about something you know notihing about.

Its called negotiation. and Randy is still there by the way. I hear the town is now paying the salaries of two chiefs WTF. Maybe if he had stepped down sooner Kelleher would have had a chance at the job instead of our inept board of selectmen to allow things to deteroiate to the point it is now.

Answer me this. The PD lost what 5 guys? Why no public crying from their Union? or for that matter any other town union? Time you boys look in a mirror.