Refund Warrant - Town of Southborough

[Neil Rossen]

I would like to draw the attention of the group to the issue of the
new $1.1 million sitting in Southborough Town accounts that had been
earmarked for the communications lawsuit, now settled.

Frankly if we just leave that money there, without vocal taxpayer
claims on
it, it will make it hard, very hard, to maintain fiscal discipline.

At the last town meeting we raised more than we needed to, more than
if we had
perfect forecasts. Erroneous forecasts should not result in higher
taxes.

I believe that the money should be refunded, as an appropriation. This
should result in better government as the fund is then not available
for any overspending

Bear in mind that something like this happened a few years ago when
the Town underestimated its free cash by a few million. Certain
townspeople wanted the Town to cut checks to residents and tried to
put a warrant on the ATM to do that. This caused some apoplexy, and a
hasty "determination" sought by Jean Kitchen from dept of Revenue that
it could not be done. I believe it certainly should be done.

To begin the process there is below – perhaps on a second page, a
"refund warrant" on the Town.

If you agree with it, please complete your details on the warrant
which should be separated from this note and mail the physical
document to me as soon as possible at:

Neil Rossen
89 Pine Hill Road
Southborough, MA 01772

Signed original please as for this purpose copies, faxes or email
attachments are not acceptable to the Town Clerk."


BTW, my email is ros...@msn.com


Note:

Town Hall may try various administrative vetoes, and we should be
prepared for that.


WARRANT


The undersigned registered voters of the Town of Southborough,
Massachusetts hereby request that the following warrant article be
placed on the Warrant of the 2011 Annual Town Meeting:

“To see if the Town will act to refund to taxpayers the sums collected
in excess of the sums raised and appropriated by Town Meeting due to
the funding of the Overlay Reserve Account held in reserve for the
resolution of the so called telecommunications suit or suits or act or
do anything in relation thereto.”

Signature of Voter Printed Name Street Address Precinct