by Frank Schroth
The Milton View, a local online site from Phil Matthews, provides commentary and analysis of Milton. There is a recent post that looks at key economic metrics across a number of communities to illustrate where Milton ranks in comparison to other towns.
Matthews, a member of both the Warrant Committee and Town Government Study Committee, notes that the town is looking at an operational override next year (i.e. asking voters to approve a property tax increase above the 2.5% limit.) This is something that Milton has done every several years to address budget shortfalls. The data that Matthews presents provides a necessary context and a useful background for establishing a baseline from which to examine the issue.
Metrics include such factors as median income, tax as a % of income etc. You can find the post here.
A thank you to Phil for compiling some fiscal metrics as it relates to establishing a fiscal baseline for the Town.
A couple of comments.
1 it might make sense to include the average water and sewer bill into the equation .Some towns include that the figure in their tax rate , those of us in the MWRA, are not afforded that luxury.
2 Now that we have the baseline, it might makes sense to develop a similar matrix comparing Milton to other peers towns , if possible, to results as it relates to Town services.
For example ,if our School budget is X, how does that compare with other towns in terms of quantitative
results.
We might use SAT scores, MCAS scores, # of AP students etc. If these are not the right or most accurate measurements, then the School department
could/ should develop their own .
I don’t currently have a student in the MPS, but as a taxpayer, I would like to know how I can determine if my tax money is being well spent.
The answer to that question, I believe, is going to be crucial in convincing voters to support an operating over ride next year.
Thank you Dick
In response to your comments:
1) Water and sewer bills have nothing to do with these comparisons. They are treated as fee bills in every community I’m aware of and the cost reflects the individual rate of usage as a percent of the total communities costs for water and sewer, whether those communities are part of the MWRA or not.
2. Here is how the comparable towns expenditure on education translates into per pupil expenditure, which is the most important variable to look at with respect o support of education.
Town PPE
Westwood $15,380
Sharon $15,021
Needham $15,019
Westborough $14,880
Milton $13,499
Walpole $13,489
Scituate $13,300
Holliston $12,985
Belmont $12,799
Westford $12,525
North Andover $11,952
Reading $11,809
Hingham $11,675
It is an extremely complicated process to determine if the success of expenditures on education can be quantified and compared with other communities. For example, SAT scores measure aptitude, which is akin to IQ. They do not measure knowledge acquisition over the course of a 12 year education. The School Administration and School Committee present exhaustive analysis of the Town’s performance on State standardized testing each year. Any citizen interested in developing a knowledgeable understanding of these issues should attend.
Is there a reason that the School Budget is the only town budget you have interest in finding out more about?
Phil , thanks for the analysis
Your last comment first, I just picked the School Department as it it is the single biggest expenditure in the budget and , in all probability,will be the biggest driver for an override. Having said that, I am just as interested in measuring the quality of all other town services.
As to schoos,I understand that it is complicated to measure expenditures against results but nevertheless it should attempted.I was not advocating using SAT or MCAS scores as the measurement but could be included as part of a measurement to enable us to compare ourselves to other towns. This should be the role of the SC and Administration. We compare ourselves for collective bargaining and funding purposes (PPE), is it not possible to be able to compare ourselves relative to “results” after we decide what the desired results should be ? I don’t know but I do know when people are looking to move they will look at MCAS,Sat scores etc.
We should also attempt, if possible to quantify results for other major town departments, realizing that this also will be difficult.
As to the water and sewer rates.I agree that water bills are strictly a function of use but sewer fees are a little different.
Pre MWRA,Milton would issue municipal bonds to pay for our sewer needs and the cost would be in the tax rate under debt and as such , I think. allow a taxpayer to deduct that cost for tax purposes. Under the MWRA, they issue the bonds and there is no tax benefit going back to the user.
Why I thought that might be interesting but not critical,is that there is a total amount of money, not sure what it is,that people will pay to live in a particular town. That cost is usually made up of
Real Estate taxes and Water and Sewer fees.
This figure can be below what people are willing to pay, which makes an over ride easier or over what people are willing to pay , which will make an over ride more difficult.
People are always comparing towns in terms of the quality of services and cost, all I am saying , is that it might make sense to make it easier for them ,ie.show them that they are getting their monies worth , as we head into a long overdue over ride year.
Thanks again on your work on this, it was helpful and necessary.
7 of the 13 comparable towns are members of the MWRA. The MWRA Advisory Board publishes an annual survey of water and sewer costs in member communities. The latest is for 2013.
Town Annual Water and Sewer Costs
Reading $2,346
Belmont $2,167
Hingham $2,031
Milton $1,928
Needham $1,480
Westwood $1,457
Walpole $1,340
Charges include MWRA, community, and alternatively supplied services.
Rates based on average annual household use of 120 hundred cubic feet (HCF), or approximately 90,000 gallons.
Hingham, Needham, Walpole, and Westwood only receive sewer or sewer and partial water from the MWRA. Alternatively supplied services would presumably less expensive outside the MWRA.
The full MWRA Survey can be found here:
http://mwraadvisoryboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/0-Combined-Document.pdf
When I was in Raynham there was a separate water assessment itemized on tax bill in addition to a water usage bill from the water district association. They have since stopped itemizing the part of the water bill paid to the town.
I also find it ironic that we are constantly struggling to find affordable housing yet I’m one 2 1/2 override away from having to leave Milton because I’m well below half the median income level. It seems like a lot of people really don’t want lower-income people like me in their town.
The MWRA Water and Sewer Tax will never be rectified in Milton or the other MWRA subscriber towns until a class action is brought before the federal district court for injunctive relief.
Clean water and its subsequent effluence must be seen as a matter of national homeland security and come under the umbrella of the EPA and the National Clean Water Act.
It makes little or no sense to make a handful of communities financially responsible for cleaning up and maintaining Boston Harbor which is a national and international waterway.
The air above us is monitored and maintained by the EPA why then isn’t the very water we drink and use.
No criticism of the MWRA – The Massachusetts Water Resources Agency – but it must become The NWRA – The National Water Resources Agency. Only then will the nation share in maintaining a national resource and not approximately 34 cities and town in the greater Boston area.