Town of Braintree

Appointed

The Finance Committee is appointed so your appointed officials are stepping up to the plate - I have seen nothing from our elected officials.

hopefully this answer will do

To address the two specific questions you asked...I do not have the budget numbers from nine years ago in front of me. However?…based on municipal expenditure numbers available on the state website, I would say the figures you used (in both questions) look pretty accurate.

I would point out that the percentage growth could vary based on the arbitrary dates chosen to compare?…showing very different conclusions. For example, if you just look at the last three fiscal years (FY03-FY05), the school budget has decreased by $950,000 or 2.5%.

It should not be any surprise that municipal budgets grow. The percentages seem pretty big, but what does it really reflect? I think you can only tell by comparing Braintree to other municipalities. The fact is Braintree has been growing (revenues) at a lower rate than most other towns in Massachusetts. The state keeps track of municipal revenue growth?…from FY94 to FY05 the average change in the municipal growth factor was +1.40 (ranging from ?–3.90 to a +14.21?…next highest was +8.76). Braintree?’s change in its municipal revenue growth factor over the same period was +0.24. Braintree ranks 63rd out of 351 cities and towns with regard to its revenue growth. As I mentioned in a previous post, Braintree can only spend the revenue it takes in?…so the revenue growth is directly related to expenditures.

Having said all that, I do not think how much we grow (or spend) is the critical issue facing Braintree?…the critical issue to me is how we spend the money we have.

As to your request, please let me know the specific information you're looking for and I would be happy to try and gather it for you. ''Comprehensive breakdown'' can mean different things to different people. How many years? Just Department Budget numbers? I'll try to make it as easy to understand as possible...just let me know what information you'd like to see.

Take care.

-Ted


By Ted Langill