Town Report on Lincoln 1956-1959, Part 59

Author: Lincoln (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Lincoln (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 1026


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1956-1959 > Part 59


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Recreation Committee


(The Finance Committee approves this appropriation and recommends that the sum be taken from Free Cash. )


ARTICLE 23. To determine whether the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Sections 42, 43 and 44 of Chapter 48 of the Massachusetts General Laws pertaining to the establishment of a fire department.


Selectmen


ARTICLE 24. To determine whether the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $12,000.00 to purchase a new fire engine for the Fire Department, or take any other action relative thereto.


Selectmen


(The Finance Committee approves this appropriation and recommends that the sum be raised by taxation.)


ARTICLE 25. To determine whether the Town will vote to request the Trustees under the Will of Julian deCordova to pay over to the DeCordova and Dana Museum and Park one hundred per cent (100%) of the B Trust net income for the year 1960, or take any other action relative thereto. DeCordova and Dana Museum and Park Directors


227


WARRANT


ARTICLE 26. To determine whether the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $900.00, or any other sum, for the purpose of providing adequate drainage for the Hartwell School Site along the course of the brook from Ballfield Road to Lincoln Road, or take any other action relative thereto.


Selectmen and School Committee


( The Finance Committee approves this appropriation and recommends that the sum be raised by taxation.)


ARTICLE 27. To determine whether the Town will vote to rescind the remaining unissued balance of the Water Main Loan authorized by vote of the Town under Article 26 of the Annual Town Meeting, March 17, 1958, said balance being $5,000.00.


Water Commissioners


(The Finance Committee approves the action contemplated under this article.)


ARTICLE 28. To determine whether the Town will adopt the rules and regulations of the Cemetery Commissioners as printed in their report, or take any other action rela- tive thereto.


Cemetery Commissioners


ARTICLE 29. To determine whether the Town will vote to rescind the vote of the Town under Article 19 of the March 16, 1959, Town Meeting, or take any other action relative thereto.


Water Commissioners


Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk, at or before the time for the meeting aforesaid. Given under our hands this 15th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and sixty.


Charles K. Fitts Elliott V. Grabill Warren F. Flint


Selectmen of Lincoln


228


THE CONCORD PRESS - CONCORD, MASS.


TOWN OF LINCOLN


Financial Section of the 1959 Town Report


Charities 1.6%


Cemeteries 0.3%


Library 1.9%


Reserve 1.0%


Schools 57.8%


General . Govt. 3.4%


Recreation 0. 6%


Unclassified 3.0%


Health & Sanitation 1.6%


Protection of Persons & Property 8.7%


Highways 8.7%


Debt Service


11. 4%


TOWN OF LINCOLN


REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE 1959


LINCOLN FINANCE COMMITTEE


Report with Recommended Budget for 1960


The Finance Committee Report and its recommended Budget for 1960 is being published in the "Financial Section to the 1959 Town Report". The Section also carries the report of the Long-Term Capital Expenditures Committee which is a useful background for current as well as long-term considerations.


We recommend the adoption of the several appropria- tions for General Purposes in 1960 itemized in the Finan- cial Supplement mentioned above which total $1,040,436, and compare with actual expenditures for the same General Purposes last year of $882,593. This is an increase of $157, 843, or 17.8 per cent. However, the 1960 budget is only $130,176, or 14.3 per cent, above what was actually appropriated last year.


We recommend adoption of a budget for the Water De- partment consisting of the several appropriations also shown in detail in the Financial Section and totalling $47,947. This compares with 1959 actual expenditures of $42,715.


In accordance with the new By-Laws, hearings are being held on the proposed Budget. The hearing on the Elementary School Budget was a joint hearing with the School Committee. The remainder of the Budget is to be separately presented.


Our Committee believes that a realistic estimate of the cost of Education in Lincoln should include the items in our proposed Budget for Elementary Schools, Regional High School, Library and the bond service for and insurance on their several properties. This cost for 1960 we estimate at $738,000, which is 72 per cent of the total 1960 Budget and accounts for the same percentage of the total increase of $157,843 in the total budget for 1960. The remaining 28 per cent of the increase is spread over all the other operating departments and amounts to $44,647. We estimate that salaries and wages account for 57.5 per cent of the total Budget excluding bond service.


1


The second largest departmental recommendation is $90,265, for Protection of Persons and Property, which is one-eighth of the cost for Education. The Highway De- partment is next with our recommendation of $90,199, which is $66.00 less than for Protection.


During the period 1953 through 1959 total appropria- tions rose 132 per cent from the $433,300 appropriated in 1953. The tax rate went up 73 per cent from $48.00 to $83.00. During the same period, the portion of the gross appropriations that had to be raised from local property taxes varied from 66.4 per cent in 1953 to the high of 70.4 per cent in 1959. The rise has been steady during the last three years of the period.


The various departments returned to the Treasury a total of $34,087 of unexpended appropriations. The following is the list of all that exceeded $1,000.00.


Fire Department Expense $1,522.


Schools, Administration & Clerical 3,237.


Schools, Instruction, Salaries 6,084.


Schools, Expense 5,503.


School Bldg. Expense


1,601.


Property Insurance 1,282.


Our Committee used a total of $4,541 out of the $10, 000 appropriated for it to use for emergencies and un- foreseen requirements. The list follows :


Town Office $ 100.00


Planning Board - Out of State


50.00


Tree & Moth Department.


1,000.00


Civil Defense 285.00


Board of Health - Garbage


79.93


Highway - Wages


1,747.26


Highways, Chapter 718


99.67


Highway Equipment - Maintenance


300.00


Recreation 89.40


Water Dept. - Wages


366.06


School Bonds, Expense


423.89


The Commonwealth has certified "Free Cash" as of January 1, 1960 to be $124,809.65. It is computed by subtracting from General Surplus the uncollected taxes at the year end. The following table compares the com- putations for 1959 and 1960:


2


-


1959 Jan. 1


1960


Jan. 1


Increase


General Surplus


$131,622.93


$141,605.25


$9,982.32


Uncollected Taxes


14,059.01


16,795,60


2,735.59


$117,563.92


$124,809.65


$7,246.73


If the 1960 assessed valuation of the Town turns out to be $150,000 greater than last year, bringing the total to $8, 450,000, every $8, 450 which the town meeting appro- priates will be reflected to the extent of one dollar in the ultimate tax rate.


As a result of action taken at the Special Town Meeting on December 14th, there will have to be added, in computing the 1960 tax rate, the $6,700 appropriated out of taxation by its votes.


It appears that construction of a new Elementary School will have to be begun in about three years and we assume we will want to obtain State Aid for it as an ap- proved program. In order to take advantage of Chapter 591 of the Acts of the 1959 Massachusetts Legislature which took effect December last, we recommend and have sponsored an article in the Warrant to provide that the Town appropriate to the Stabilization Fund from "Free Cash" this year the sum of $25,000, and continue the practice until the approved new construction is undertaken.


This legislation provides that at any time after December 13, 1959, whenever the State School Building Assistance Commission approves construction aid for any school, the Commonwealth not only will match any sum of $75, 000 or more which the Town by a two-thirds vote at an annual Meeting withdraws from its Stabilization Fund for the approved construction, but also will make the matching payment in the year the construction is begun. Cities can also participate. This does not increase the total aid but does save the interest for 20 years on the amount of the matching funds. If the borrowing rate is 3.75%, the saving for each $100,000 of matching funds would be $39,375.


We make no further comment at this date for the use of "free cash" other than the above and the notes to the Budget, but will present appropriate motions at the meeting.


3


Our comments on special articles involving the appro- priation of money will be printed in the Town Report to the extent our position is clarified at the time the report goes to press. Otherwise, we will report directly to the annual meeting.


Respectfully submitted, FINANCE COMMITTEE


William N. Page Leonard C. Larrabee Paul L. Norton John B. Tew F. Winchester Denio, Chairman


4


SCHEDULE OF APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES OF 1959 AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 1960


Appropriation 1959


Expenditures 1959


Recommendations 1960


GENERAL GOVERNMENT ($35,866 = 3.4%) (1959 - 3.05%)


EXECUTIVE


Selectmen


2. Salaries


$ 600.00


$ 600.00


$ 600.00


3. Expense


200.00


158.00


750.00


4. Out of State Travel


250.00


243.00


500.00


1,050.00


1,001.00


1,850.00


1


Executive Officer


5. SataTY Complication & Relever for Special low


Finance Committee


10. Expense


50.00


15.00


50.00


Town Office


15. Clerks, Salaries


4,300.00


4,300.00


8,403.00*


16. Expense


1,200.00


1,290.00 **


1,500.00


5,500.00


5,590.00


9,903.00


* Includes $1,000 to be taken from Water Dept. Treasury


Includes Reserve Transfer


Accounting Officer


20. Salary


3,479.00


3,479.00


3,513.00


21. Expense


260.00


259.00


300.00


3,739.00


3,738.00


3,813.00


Treasurer


30. Salary, Treas.


200.00


200.00


200.00


Asst.


Treas.


200.00


200.00


31. Expense


625.00


624.00


700.00


1,025.00


1,024.00


900.00


Collector


40. Salary


2,000.00


2,000.00


2,800.00*


41. Expense


600.00


502.00


650.00


2,600.00


2,502.00


3,450.00


* Includes $500.00 to be taken from Water Dept. Treasury


5


Appropriation 1959


Expenditures 1959


Recommendations 1960


Assessors


50. Salaries


$ 550.00


$ 550.00


$ 550.00


51. Clerk


1,075.00


1,074.00


52. Expense


800.00


790,00


800.00


2,425.00


2,414.00


1,350.00


Law


55. Legal


1,500.00


1,500.00


1,500.00


Town Clerk


60. Salary


450.00


450.00


450.00


61. Expense


50.00


47,00


75.00


500.00


497.00


525.00


Election & Registration


70. Registrars, Salaries


200.00


200.00


200.00


71. Tellers & checkers


100.00


66.00


350.00


72. Expense


650.00


607.00


650.00


950.00


873.00


1,200.00


Planning Board


80. Clerical salary


200.00


200.00


81. Expense


725.00


698.00


725.00


925.00


898.00


725.00


Consulting & Engineering


85. Consulting & Engineering


2,385.00


2,256.00


2,500.00


Town Hall


90. Custodian


1,500.00


1,288.00


1,500.00


91. Maintenance &


Expense


3,500.00


3,496.00


4,600.00


5,000.00


4,784.00


6,100.00


PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY ($90,265 = 8.7%) (1959 - 8.85%)


Police Department


100. Salaries


27,550.00


27,270.00


30,635.00


101. Expense


4,025.00


3,912.00


3,970.00


31,575.00


31,182.00


34,605.00


Fire Department


110. Salaries & Wages


10,100.00


9,140.00


10,100.00


111. Instruction & Training


500.00


445.00


500.00


112. Expense


4,250.00


2,727.00


4,350.00


113. Hydrant Service


3,495.00


3,495.00


3,495.00


18,345.00


15,807.00


18,445.00


6


Appropriation 1959


Expenditures 1959


Recommendations 1960


Fire & Police Bldg,


120. Custodian & Watch.


$ 3,750.00


$ 3,737.00


$ 3,750.00


121. Maintenance & Expense


2,300.00


2,177.00


2,950.00


122. Outside rentals


1,500.00


600,00


800.00


7,550.00


6,514.00


7,500.00


Communications


125. Wages


9,465.00


8,896.00


9,465.00


126. Expense


3,500.00


3,074,00


5,000.00


12,965.00


11,970.00


14,465.00


Tree Warden


130. Salary


200.00


200.00


200.00


131. Pruning & removal


3,500.00


3,580.00


3,500.00


132. Landscaping


500.00


409.00


750,00


4,200.00


4,189.00


4,450.00


Moth Department


140. Insect Control


1,500.00


2,499.00*


3,300.00


141. Dutch Elm Disease control & tree removal


2,000.00


1,984.00


2,000.00


142. Removal of Elm


Trees on private property 143. Poison ivy & brush control


2,000.00'


1,000.00


722.00


1,000,00


4,500.00


5,205.00


8,300.00


* Includes Reserve transfer


From free cash to be returned when collected


Civil Defense


150. Expense


400.00


Bal. from 1958 - $836.17


1,444.00*


400,00


400.00


1,444.00


400.00


Includes Reserve transfer


Inspectors of Buildings


170. Salaries


1,750.00


880.00


1,750.00


171. Expense


100.00


---


100,00


1,850.00


880.00


1,850.00


Board of Appeals


180. Expense


250.00


248.00


250.00


7


Appropriation 1959


Expenditures 1959


Recommendations 1960


HEALTH AND SANITATION ($16,810 - 1.6%) (1959 - 1.86%)


Board of Health


200. Salaries 201. Expense 202. Inspections services


$ 4,550.00


$ 3,725.00


$ 4,425.00


660.00


640.00


685.00


1,000.00


906.00


1,000.00


6,210.00


5,271.00


6,110.00


Sanitation


210. Garbage collections


4,500.00


4,580.00*


4,600.00*


* Includes transfer from Reserve


From free cash to be returned when col- lected


Pest Control


220. Mosquito control


6,000.00


6,000.00


6,000.00


Inspector of Animals


230. Salary


100.00


100.00


100.00


HIGHWAYS ( $90,199 = 8.7%) (1959 - 8.9%)


Highways


300. Salaries & wages


23,576.00


25,323.00*


28,000.00


302. Maintenance


20,300.00


20,072.00


20,000.00


303. Equipment


maintenance


6,000.00


6,004.00*


7,449.00


304. Snow & ice re-


moval & control


6,500.00


5,974.00


6,500.00


305. Street lights


6,750.00


6,739,00


7,000.00


63,126.00


64,112.00


68,949.00


* Includes transfer from Reserve


Highway Building


310. Maintenance & Expense 1,700.00


1,663.00


2,750.00


8


Appropriation 1959


Expenditures 1959


Recommendations 1960


Highways, Chapter 90


320. Maintenance $ 3,900.00


$ 3,899.00


$ 4,500.00*


* State & County share of $3,000 to be taken from free cash and re- turned when reimbursed


321. Construction 11,000.00


11,000.00


14,000.00*


* State & County share of $10,500 to be taken from free cash and re- turned when reimbursed


CHARITIES ($17,025 = 1.6%) (1959 - 2.09%)


Charities


400. Aid to Citizens


17,500.00


17,113.00


15,500.00


401. Administration, salary


850.00


850.00


925.00


402. Expense


100.00


82.00


100.00


403. Veterans' Services


500.00


500.00


18,950.00


18,045.00


17,025.00


EDUCATION ($601,361 = 57.8%) (1959 - 58.38%)


500. General Control


20,700.00


20,625.00


20,065.00


501. Out of State


300.00


673.00


540.00


502. Instruction


254,084.00


245,244.00


299,230.00


503. Operation


42,416.00


42,004.00


50,960.00


504. Maintenance


16,064.00


16,030.00


9,400.00


505. Auxiliary


Agencies


35,021.00


32,389.00


42,045.00


506. Outlay


5,190,00


4,569,00


9,150,00


373,775.00


361,534.00*


431,390.00 **


* Includes expendi- tures from Federal funds


Excludes expendi- tures from Federal funds


Regional High School 510. Regional School District 156,043.00


156,042.00 169,971.00


9


Appropriation 1959


Expenditures 1959


Recommendations


1960


EDUCATION - LIBRARY ($19,448 - 1.9%) (1959 - 1.65%)


Library


520. Salaries


$ 9,225.00


$ 8,908.00


$11,160.00


521. Books


2,000.00


2,000.00


3,500.00*


522. Expense


700.00


552.00


800.00


11,925.00


11,460.00


15,460.00


Includes $842.26 to be taken from County dog tax receipts


* $300.00 of Library Trust Funds Income received from Trustees to be applied at their request to this item


Library Building


530. Custodian, wages


1,250.00


921.00


1,248.00


531. Maintenance & Expense


3,050,00


2,648,00


2,740,00


4,300.00


3,569.00


3,988.00


RECREATION ($5,950 = 0.6%)


(1959


.50%)


Recreation


600. Salaries


1,975.00


1,900.00


2,875.00


601. Expense


720.00


809.00


1,275,00


2,695.00


2,709.00


4,150.00


Parks


610. Mowing


1,300.00


1,100.00


1,400.00


611. Labor


500.00


287.00


400,00


1,800.00


1,387.00


1,800.00


CEMETERIES


($3,570 - 0.3%) (1959 - . 40%)


Cemeteries


700. Salaries & Wages


225.00


210.00


200.00


701. Interments


600.00


318.00


600.00


702. Maintenance &


2,770,00


2,770,00


2,770,00


Expense


3,595.00


3,298.00


3,570.00


10


Appropriation 1959


Expenditures 1959


Recommendations 1960


TOWN DEBT SERVICE ( $118,575 - 11.4%) (1959 - 10.45%)


Town Debt Service


802. Fire & Police


Bldg. Bonds


5,000.00


5,000.00


5,000.00


803. Int. on Fire &


Police Bldg. Bonds


3,420.00


3,420.00


3,240.00


804.


Int. on Tax Notes


3,000.00


2,393.00


3,000.00*


805. School Bldg. Bonds


56,000.00


56,000.00


71,000.00


806. Int. on School


Bldg. Bonds


22,343.00


22,343.00


29,960.00


807. Library Bldg.


Bonds


5,000.00


5,000.00


5,000.00


808. Int. on Library Bldg. Bonds


1,500,00


1,500,00


1,375,00


96,263.00


95,656.00


118,575.00


* To be taken from free cash


UNCLASSIFIED ($31,367 = 3.0%) (1959 - 2.77%)


900. Middlesex County Pension Fund


3,804.00


3,803.00


4,817.00


901. Employee Ins. & Hosp. Fund


3,900.00


3,774.00


4,500.00


902. Property &


Indemnity Ins.


10,888.00


9,806.00


14,300.00


903. Dump rent & maintenance


4,500.00


4,052.00


4,500.00


904. Printing & dis-


tributing reports


2,000.00


1,961.00


2,500.00


905. Preservation of


Town records


750,00


25,092.00


23,196.00


31,367.00


RESERVE FUND ($10,000 = 1.0%) (1959 - 1.1%)


910. Reserve Fund


10,000.00


4,541.00


10,000.00*


TOTALS


$910,258.00


$882,593.00


$1,040,436.00


* $5000 to be taken from Overlay Surplus and $5000 from Free Cash, any unexpended balance in excess of $5000 to be returned to Overlay Surplus.


11


Appropriation 1959


Expenditures 1959


Recommendations 1960


WATER DEPARTMENT


950. Salaries,


Commissioners


Chairman


$ 75.00


$ 75.00


$ 75.00


2nd member


75.00


75.00


75.00


3rd member


75.00


75.00


75.00


951. Wages


11,500.00


11,866.00*


12,475.00


952. Expense


20,000.00


15,380,00


17,410,00


* Includes Reserve transfer


31,725.00


27,471.00


30,110.00


Pumping Station


953. Maintenance & Expense


5,000.00


2,894.00


5,750.00


Bond Service


955. Bonds


10,000.00


10,000.00


10,000.00


956. Interest


2,350.00


2,350.00


2,088.00


12,350.00


12,350.00


12,088.00


Items 950 to 956 inclusive to be taken from Water


Department Receipts


to the extent that


such receipts are available, the ex-


cess, if any, to be


taken from Water Dept. Surplus


TOTALS FOR WATER WORKS $49,075.00 $42,715.00


$47,948.00


NOTE : In the interest of clarity cents have been eliminated from 1959 appropriations and expenditures.


12


Table 1


Town of Lincoln - Proposed Program of Capital Expenditures, 1960-1969


DEPARTMENTAL


1960


1961 1962


1963


1964 1960-64


1965-69


GENERAL GOVERNMENT


Planning Board consultant


$500


-


$500


N. F.


Options & Stabilization Fund


7,500


$8,000


$8,000


$8,000


$8,000


39,500


$45,000


PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY


Fire equipment


12,000


12,000


15,000


Fire station


50,000


HIGHWAYS


Town expenditure


20,000


20,000


20,000


20,000


135,000


150,000


Chapter 90 Const.2/


14,000


14,000


14,000


14,000


14,000


70,000


70,000


Highway equipment


6,000


6,000


6,000


6,000


24,000


50,000


SCHOOLS


195,0003/


350,000- 400,0006/


545,000-


500,000


Regional High School 4/ "Lincoln Share"


375,000


375,000


375,000


STABILIZATION FUND5/


25,000


25,000


25,000


25,000


100,000


TOTALS


$684,000


$73,000


$73,000


$423,000-


$48,000


$1,301,000-$1, 255, 000 $1,351,000


WATER DEPARTMENT


Main replacement and major maintenance


$ 10,600


$15,000


$15,000


$ 15,000


$15,000


$


70,600 $


100,000


16" main to reservoir New water supply


175,000


500,000


1/ of which $35, 000 financed by borrowing


2/ of which 3/4 to be borne by state & county. Note: These monies will be accumulated in the years 1960-1962 or 1963 to a level of $50,000 or $60,000 and used for a single project.


3 / largely financed by borrowing


4/ largely financed by borrowing by the Regional High School District


5/ These monies to be appropriated to Stabilization Fund and accumulated in the years 1960-1963. Total sum resulting to be matched with portion of State Aid Grant to reduce total proposed borrowing by $200,000.


6/ Of which $100,000 to be appropriated from Stabilization Fund, $100,000 from State Aid Grant, and $200,000 financed by borrowing.


13


$473.000


595,000


Elementary Schools


55,0001/


Table 2 Town of Lincoln


Actual and Proposed Capital Expenditures for 1958


Proposed


Actual


General Government


Planning Board - Options on Land


$1,000


$ 500


Planning Board - Stabilization Fund for Land


7,000


7,000


Protection of Persons and Property


Fire station plans committee, construction, and paving and landscaping Fire alarm extension


--


-


900


2,100


Highways


Town expenditure


20,000


20,100


Chapter 90


14,000


11,000


Chapter 718


14,100


Highway equipment


6,600


6,200


Land (road widening)


1,000


-


Schools


Elementary school - Needs Committee


5,000


Elementary school - school con-


struction, 1957


---


5,500


Elementary school - school con- struction, 1959


251,0001/


55,800


Library


Addition


25,3002/


24,200


Cemetery Improvements


400


500


Water Department


Tower Road


7,500


Giles Road


2,500


-


Electric motor


2,500


--


Concord Road


--


--


4,800


Total


$338,800


$150,200


1/ To be spent in 1959 and 1960


2/ Remaining of $70,000 expenditure for 1958 and 1959


14


2,500


Old Sudbury Road


Table 3


Expenditures and Receipts- Divided Between Current and Capital Account 1959


( In thousands of dollars)


Expenditures


1. Total Town


$1,059.2


2. Water Department 47.5


3. Total 1,106.7


4. Capital Expenditures (from Table 2) 150,2


5. Current Expenditures (3 - 4) 956.5


Current Receipts


6. Taxes on Polls and Property 662.7


7. Receipts from Commonwealth (other than 9 & 10) .


206.0


8. Other current receipts 81.5


9. Chapter 90 highway construction - assistance 13.52/


Chapter 718 highway construction - assistance 14.0


10. School construction - assistance 19,3


11. Total (6 to 10) i


997.0


12. Water Department receipts 42.8


13. Total current receipts $1,039.8


1/ Excludes receipts and payments on tax anticipation notes, employee deductions, and Air Force School operation. 2/ Including small amount of arrears on earlier years.


Table 4


Debt*, Assessments, Tax Rate, Stabilization Fund


Borrowings - School Loan $240,000


*Repayments (including $10,000 for Water Dept.) 76,000


Increase in debt 164,000


*Outstanding debt $1,210,000


Stabilization Fund (for land) 7,000


Assessment, Real and Personal Property $8,272,000


Number of houses assessed 1,009 Tax rate, per thousand $ 83.


*Excluding retirement and outstanding debt of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School district, amounting to $75,000 and $1,050,000 respectively in 1959. Lincoln's current responsi- bility for this debt is approximately 35 percent.


15


Table 5


Debt Service - 1959*


Interest on debt (including tax anticipation notes) $36,600


Debt retirement 76,000


Total


$102,600


* excludes interest and debt retirement on obligations of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School District, but includes those of the Water Department.


16


TOWN OF LINCOLN


REPORT OF THE LONG-TERM CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS COMMITTEE


1960


Long-Term Capital Requirements Committee Lincoln, Massachusetts


In last year's report, the Committee called attention to a series of events which made it difficult to recommend a long-range capital expenditure program: the establish- ment of the National Park, with its effects on the location of Route 2, and the need to study the new pamphlet Planning for Lincoln prepared by the Planning Board's consultants. A year later the course of future development is no clearer, with the location of Route 2 still undecided, a new School Needs Committee at work but not yet having produced a final report, and tax proposals of importance for the towns under sharp debate in the General Court.


Accordingly, the Committee has decided to review capital expenditures for the past year and in five-year prospect in its customary way. The relevant data are set forth in Tables 1 through 5 which follow the form in the first four of the Committee's report. In addition, however, this report presents some retrospective charts covering current and capital expenditure, local and other receipts, outstanding debt, personal and real property assessed, houses assessed and the tax rate, for the period from 1946 through 1959. This information suggests that the increase in the tax rate by three times since 1946 is due less to direct capital expenditures, or to debt ser- vice associated with those which were financed by borrow- ing, than to the steady climb in current expenditure, much of which, to be sure, is an inevitable concomitant of the capital outlay.


The Record Since 1946, with Emphasis on the Fifties


The data charted on the opposite page, except for the numbers of school children and assessed houses, are derived from the earlier issues of the Committee's report and Tables 3, 4 and 5 below. The years to 1948 are perhaps not typical because of the delay in the growth of the Town after the war. But if 1949 be compared with 1959, it will be observed that current expenditure has increased by four times, while the number of houses assessed has increased less than twice and the assessment has doubled. The re- sult has been a steady increase in the tax rate to the point where it is now twice the 1949 rate.


17


Capital expenditures financed out of current revenue generally now run close to $70,000, and consist in major highway maintenance out of Town revenue and Chapter 90, replacement of highway and fire equipment, and Water De- partment replacement of obsolete pipe by 8 inch mains. Occasionally a bunching up of these tasks will lead to borrowing for a short period, such as five years, after which the level of regular activity will subside to permit the bonds to be retired. This $70,000 level is not very much changed from that of the late 1940s -- perhaps $20,00 higher.




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