Man About Canton: WILL WE NEED ANOTHER OVERRIDE?

DID YOU KNOW…

A number of MAC’s readers are complaining about the steady stream of negative news concerning the operating school budget shortfalls from our outgoing school superintendent. Could it be we are being set up for another tax-increasing override? Superintendent John D’Auria has painted a very bleak picture indeed, and there’s no question that his vision of the probable negative impact on education in Canton caused by the lack of money is far reaching and depressing, especially since he’s talking about such things as increasing class sizes, increasing user fees, laying off teachers, and reducing the number of elective courses. Judging from all of his public statements, it seems the superintendent is laying much of the blame for the probable budget shortfall on an uncontrollable increase of funds needed to pay for out-of-district expenses to educate Canton’s special education students. However, in the eyes of MAC and many others, another override on the heels of our last one will really be a financial disaster for the town.

Going on to other things, the Massachusetts Circuit Breaker Tax Program is for persons 65 and older whose property taxes (or 25 percent of rent) exceed 10 percent of their annual income and who meet other requirements. Seniors may be eligible for this refundable tax credit for this year and the past three years. Seniors may file for 2006, 2007 and 2008. The filing deadline is April 15, 2010. The maximum credit seniors may receive for 2009 is $960; for 2008, $930; and for 2007, $900. For detailed information, contact the Massachusetts Department of Revenue at 617-887-4367 or online at www.dor.state.ma.us.

Paul Fireman, the billionaire founder and former owner of Reebok, and his charitable foundation in Florida have initiated grand theft criminal action as well as a civil suit against Arnold Mullen, his longtime friend and money manager, charging that Mullen embezzled more than $20 million. Mullen worked for and with Fireman since 1985 and was paid over $800,000 plus bonuses as the CFO of Fireman’s Florida operations. The Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation annually gives nearly $10 million to causes such as the fight against homelessness; and according to court documents, Mullen stole more than $11 million directly from the foundation’s accounts. Without Fireman’s personal knowledge, Mullen allegedly used Fireman’s embezzled funds for his personal use, such as purchasing real estate and an apartment complex in Lake Worth, Florida.

This year, we have seen a rare and unusual weather development. The National Weather Service reported that 49 of the 50 states had snow on the ground at the same time (Friday, February 12). Hawaii was the lone state without snow. However, Hawaii, which normally has some snow on its two tallest volcanos in the winter, had none this year.

The Canton selectmen are once again offering Canton senior citizens who are property owners the “Senior Citizen Tax Credit Program,” which affords seniors (60 and older) the opportunity to work for the town in various temporary, part-time service areas in exchange for residential property tax credit up to $750 per year. Interested seniors can pick up an application at the lower level of the Senior Center at 660 Washington Street or call 781-828-1323. Applications must be submitted to the attention of Diane Tynan, director of the Council on Aging, at the Senior Center by Friday, March 19.

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts will be selling their delicious cookies only a few more days until March 14. If you haven’t bought any yet, get moving. They only cost $4 per box, and the money goes to help Girl Scout programs. For information, visit www.hergirlscouts.org.

Trivia buffs should be aware that New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Observatory has lost its claim to the fastest wind gust ever recorded on Earth. New Hampshire’s long-standing record was 231 mph, set on April 12, 1934.  However, it was overcome by a gust of 253 mph on Australia’s Barrow Island during Cyclone Olivia in 1996.

On to other things. The operators of Connecticut’s Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun say their slot machine revenues continued to slide in December, compared with the same month in 2008. Does this mean we won’t be getting any of these one-arm wonder machines with bells and whistles in Massachusetts?

Wow! Cassie’s store (formerly Little White) at the intersection of Washington and Chapman streets has sold its second million-dollar scratch ticket in the last two years. The most recent ticket holder, Eddie Pomeroy of Canton, is the state’s first $1 million winner in the Massachusetts Lottery’s $5 Lucky 5 Game. Meanwhile, Cassie’s will be getting a $10,000 commission for selling Pomeroy’s winning ticket. Congratulations to all!

The only people you should try to get even with are those who have helped you.

This is all for now folks; see you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at
manaboutcanton@aol.com

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=1652

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Mar 11 2010. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.