2. Templeton Finances
●Templeton has no Bond Rating
o Withdrawn by Moody’s July 2014
o Must complete audits to regain rating
o 2013 audit shows $1,000,000 deficit
o What will be the interest rate on the
school bond?
3. Templeton Finances
● Templeton would exceed our debt limit
with the borrowing for this school.
Based on FY 14 data EQV
5% = $28,574,135
10% = $57,148,270
4. Templeton Finances
●Templeton will need to ask MFOB to
exceed 5% EQV debt limit.
● Templeton will need audits and a bond
rating to apply to exceed 5% EQV debt
limit.
5. Templeton Finances
No Audits = No Free Cash
● No Free Cash Certified = No $$$ for
Stabilization Fund
● Templeton has a very low amount in
our Stabilization Fund
● Adequate Stabilization Fund is one
consideration in issuing a bond rating
6. Templeton Finances
● The School was “sold” as costing $1.74
per thousand valuation – that is a
mistake
● The $1.74 per thousand valuation did
not include retiring the “old school” debt
from the high school/ middle school
project
● The bottom line – no one knows what the
effect on the tax rate will be.
7. Templeton Finance Conclusions
● The town of Templeton has bad credit
and will have a HIGH interest rate.
● The recession hit us hard. Many families
in town are struggling financially, and
most Seniors are on fixed income.
● A big tax hike could force you or people
you know out of their homes or into
short sale, which is a personal tragedy
and brings all property value down.
8. What are the problems?
Site Problems
● Inadequate land for the planned school
● A Really Bad Traffic Plan
◦ Adds Two One Way Streets in Templeton Center
◦ Dangerous Drop-off and Pickup
◦ Based on 80% bussing. What if that changes?
● Destruction of new playground is not
environmentally friendly.
● Why create traffic problems in Templeton?
9. What are the problems?
Ashburnham and Athol just built similar sized
schools for a similar capacity of students.
Athol’s price tag = $3.8M (7.8%) less than our
proposed school.
Ashburnham’s price tag = $17.6M (37%) less than
our proposed school.
Templeton’s proposed school is more expensive
for the same need because we’re building on a
postage stamp lot when there is plenty of room in
town.
12. Could the School be Smaller?
The Donahue Institute at UMASS Projected
Population for Each City & Town in Massachusetts
● Projection for Templeton:
◦ School Age Population Drops 8.2%
◦ Elderly Population Increases 98.1%
13. Vote YES on Article 8!
Who of us would take out the biggest
mortgage of our lives without knowing how
much money we have, what the interest
rate will be, and how much we’ll ultimately
have to pay back?
Who of us would not want a less
expensive school with more room for safer
traffic pattern, adequate green play and
parking space, and room for future
expansion?
No one. This is no-brainer.