Did you know that the Sis McGrath Recreation Center was solely built, absent any town, State, or Federal funds,  by volunteering Pepperell folks and businesses?  As a caring community, we have power.

I hope that the town's dream of sustaining the Fitz School as a community resource for arts, recreation and science won't suffer a budgetary end.  To better assure that our families can continue to enjoy all the activities and businesses there, I believe the business model the PFC needs to change.  

The initial feasibility model included leasing to anchor tenants that would deliver rent funds that could subsidize the community based programs.  In a conversation with Board of Director, Craig Hanson, I learned that the anchor tenant model was withdrawn.  

The PFC management choices have also been controversial and troubling, with tenants lodging complaints, a law suit with a donor, the opening of two summer camps without the required licenses, and avoidable competition with the Recreation Committee.  The PFC supportive and helpful Agricultural Commission found themselves fighting for a fair split of a five hundred thousand earmark fund for a kitchen/hub project. The PFC, spending their share unwisely now has a half completed kitchen, unable to open and serve waiting food businesses.  The town's contract with the PFC which describes town staff to provide oversight and advise them have also failed to stay on a path to success.  Select Board Chair Mark Matthews failed  to renegotiate  a new agreement with the PFC losing an opportunity to relieve the town of building maintenance costs.

Most recently Community Preservation Committee was asked by our Town Administrator and Craig Hanson to approve their request to provide funds for the buildings facade repair.  I recently pointed out that following a conversation with Senator Kennedy almost two years ago, he had agreed to direct a surplus $17,000 from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation to the Town of Pepperell for the repair of the facade and replacement of a door.  However, a reliable past PFC Board member recalls that there was a Board discussion of the use of those funds and Craig Hanson decided it would be used for a school security system instead.  Craig Hanson contests that history and describes that $15,000 in funds was put towards a matching amount for a One Stop grant request.

I don't have access to the records I would need to follow the money trail.  The funds may have been used wisely.  or not. It is difficult to know in the absence  of transparency.

While I admire the Chair of the PFC Board of Directors hard work and dedication to serving our community I believe the town has cause to end the PFC lease agreement and post another request for proposal for use of the building that includes a contract that better protects the town's interest in maintaining the building. 

The PFC could reapply and could be subject to anchor tenants requirements, better transparency, cost agreements and professional business advice. 

  

In 2023, the North Middlesex Regional School District, (NMRSD) asked for $1,500,000 from Pepperell which was more than Pepperell had budgeted for.  We voted to approve an override ballot for the $1,500,000 requested.

Townsend and Ashby, however, did not pass an override and the school district had to further reduce its budget request to meet their needs.  A reduction was made and Townsend approved the lowered school budget request last August, finalizing the school budget..  The reduction in the NMRSD budget meant Pepperell had approved funding that exceeded the original Pepperell obligation by $785,882.

At the December Special Town Meeting in December of 2024, a warrant article approved to still levy the $785,882 amount but not to be appropriated for spending.  It was collected and can be appropriated at another time.  The Town might have been able to hold another vote to reduce the override amount.  However, it was very late in the tax rate setting process and this may not have been accomplished before the end of the calendar year. when the tax rate should be set in order to send out the third quarter tax bills.  If bills were sent out late, the Town may not have had enough money to meet its obligations.

Tax rates are approved under the rules of the MA. Department of Revenue, (DOR).  Pepperell's tax rate for fiscal 2025 was increased based on three factors.

A 2.5% increase on the last fiscal year levy limit is allowed every year.  For Fiscal 2025 that amount totaled $640,579.

A "New Growth"  amount is added to the levy each year.  New growth reflects the additional tax revenue generated from new construction, renovations and parcel splits.  The amount for fiscal 2025 was $286,542.

Any overrides are added to the levy.  The approved override was for $1,500,000.

Pepperell's maximum allowable levy limit for fiscal 2024 was $28,185,569, including debt exclusions.  The new maximum allowable levy for fiscal 2025 increased to $30,580,699, including debt exclusions.

Pepperell typically levies taxes to the levy limit.  There could have been public discussion about not levying the surplus $785,882 that resulted from the reduction in the school's budget. That surplus was placed in reserves accounts. This option was not disclosed to the voters.  The full $30,580,699 was levied, resulting in a $14.63 tax rate for fiscal 2025.

I am sympathetic to Peppeerell's dire budget challenges.  I am also sympathetic to our tax paying citizens that are suffering increasing financial stresses.  I chose to support the passage of the $1,500,000 override for both municipal and school needs and taxing to our allowed limits.  I protest our Town Administrator',s avoidance of  disclosing the budget options due to the reduction in the NMRSD budget reduction.

Tom Nephew, DPW Committee Chair, asked at the Special Town Meeting if our property taxes were going to be. lowered in response to the lower school budget expense.  Mr. MacLean stated that we are not reducing the tax rate and that the amount that we are taxing is needed for what is required for the budget that was voted at the May Annual Town Meeting.  He also said that it would not be kept in surplus but is staying in reserves..  That was an incomplete answer and appeared to avoid telling the whole story of the financial choices available to voters..

Mr. MacLean learned through recent public meetings and survey that voters want more transparency in our government.  They have good reason to complain.