USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Rockland > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Rockland Massachusetts for the year ending 1945 > Part 11
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45
55
65
-70
175
BO
35
$22,056.33
$56,999.75
50
1940
1941
^20,567.70
$64,953.51
40
30
1942
$10,053.63
$60,000.00
20
1943
$9,139.30
$60,000.00
10
1944
1
$5,520.48
$70,000.00
0
1945
Percentage of total cost derived from local taxation
Solid Portion of Bar Open Space of Bar Total
Town Funds Reimbursements Total Expenditures
197
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
~20,329.96
$72,000.00
.
198
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
CHART B - FEDERAL FUNDS
As stated under Chart A the Federal Government re- imburses Rockland for a share of the cost of Old Age As- sistance in addition to what is received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The monies received from the Federal Government may be expended without an appropriation by the town.
From the Chart it may seen that the amounts being re- ceived in reimbursements each year are decreasing. This would appear to be an an unusual trend as the total amount being expended on Old Age Assistance in Rockland has been fairly constant during the same period.
The facts of the situation are that the Federal Govern- ment will only reimburse our town up to an amount of $40.00 per case. Any amount granted on a case in excess of $40.00 a month receives no reimbursement from the Federal Government for the amount in excess of $40.00.
Rockland today is expending approximately the same amount on an average of 236 cases as was expended five years ago on over 300 cases. Five years ago we had only a few rest home cases that exceeded the $40.00. Today we have over 100 cases in excess of $40.00 with the number steadily increasing with no appreciable change in the num- ber of rest home cases.
This situation will undoubtedly be corrected when the .
Federal Government takes recognition of the fact that the cost of living has gone up for people on Old Age Assistance as well as other groups including Congressmen.
The particular trend of this chart that is disturbing is the fact that we are expending more Federal Funds than we are receiving each year. A glance at the chart will show that our surplus in Federal Funds is inadequate for good business judgment.
There is only one way to correct the situation and that is to increase the annual town appropriation in order that a lesser amount of Federal funds will be required thereby' creating a surplus in Federal Funds.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE - Federal Funds
(Thousands of dollars)
1941|19421943|194419451946
15
10 15
20 25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
BO
RS
$53.946.01
15
1941
$49,032.89
$56.843.19
$48,631.97
12
1942
$53,778.86
9
1943
$56,739.22
$49,778.75
$56,749.81
6
1944
$49.426.41
$51,838.97
3
1945
$54,600.00
Est.
O
Thousands of dollars on hand in surplus federal funds at the beginning of each year.
Open Bar Funds received in reimbursement during years Solid Bar Federal Funds disbursed during year.
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
199
.
$50,000.00
1946
Chart D
.
200
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
CHART C - AVERAGE MONTHLY GRANT
This chart shows the agerage monthly grant for the years ending 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 and the months of 1945.
It should be quite interesting to note that the average grant per case has shown a constant and steadily increas- ing amount during the last five years. A year ago certain information was spread in the town regarding the treat- ment by the Board of Selectmen of recipients of Old Age Assistance. I will quote one short paragraph to illustrate the type of information that was printed and spread: "I could cite cases where even legal advice was utilized in order to get some semblance of fair play from you. Yes, cases where sick people were denied medicines unless they paid for them with part of the inadequate allowance given by your board. I know that many recipients have refused to let me or anyone else speak to you in their behalf. Why ? Because they were afraid you would give them a cut in pay."
I would simply ask the citizens of Rockland to compare this statement to the Chart and form their own conclu- sions.
The chart discounts the fact that in addition to the $13.00 increase there is a monthly contribution by sons and daughters averaging $3.00 per case which would raise this figure to $16.00 over the agerage of 1941.
Old Age Assistance is a good target for criticism as the sympathies of people can be played upon that old persons' are being penalized. The motives of such criticism with disregard of true facts can easily be analyzed by intelli- gent people.
President Lincoln once said "You can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."
Aparently the individuals who spread misinformation regarding Old Age Assistance in Rockland do not give the people of Rockland credit for being very intelligent.
This chart is for one purpose and that is to present to the citizens of Rockland a true picture.
Chart C
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE - Average Monthly Grant
- 1945 --
Dec 1941
Dec Dec 1942 -1943
Dec 1944
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May June July
Aug Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
$$$
45.00
40.00
35.00
30.00
25.00
20.00
$$$
30.58
37.23
37.71
40.41
44.55 40.86
44.06
44.11 42.51
41.51 43.39 42.63 42.18 -
42.42
44.97
43.64
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
201
202
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
CHART D - AVERAGE MONTHLY CASE LOAD
This chart shows the agerage monthly case load for the years ending 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 and the months of 1945.
The case load peak was reached in January of 1941 when we had 329 cases. This high figure showed a gradual drop during the year and by December it reached a figure of 299 cases. During the war years the total cases continued to decrease and by 1945 had leveled off to an average of 236 cases.
The reason for this reduction is in a large part because of opportunities of elderly people continuing in employ- ment. By and large the big majority of people on Old Age Assistance are not there from choice but because they can't find employment or are physically unfit to work.
The case load per capita for Rockland is unusually high and it is difficult to arrive at any particular reason why our town should have more cases on Old Age Assistance per capita than more or less comparable towns. Perhaps one of the reasons is that our citizens seem well informed on Old Age Assistance and applications are not denied if they are legitimate.
At the present time we are expending more money on an average of 236 cases than was being expended previous- ly on over 300 cases. If economic conditions reduced our case load to its present level it is not improbable that ad- verse economic conditions of the future might again in- crease our total to over 300 cases. Such an increase of 64 cases at the present day grant of $46.64 (deducting chil- drens contributions) would represent an increase of over $35,000.00 annually.
During 1946 our best estimate is that the case load will . increase at least 25 cases and an appropriation has been re- quested accordingly.
.
Chart D
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE - Average Monthly Case Load
1945
Dec 1941
Dec 1942
Dec 1943
Dec 1944
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr May
June July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
300
250
200
150
100
50
299
273
251
239
238
236
235
241
239
239
236
235
238
236
241
240
(Case Load)
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
203
204
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
CHART E. - TOTAL EXPENDITURES
This chart shows the total Old Age Assistance program including town, State and Federal funds.
From the chart it may be seen that Old Age Assistance in Rockland has reached the state of big business with an estimated program in 1946 approaching $140,000.00.
The program is largely financed by the Federal and State governments and by reason of this they take the right of supervision.
When we say supervision it means just that. Every action of our Board is subject to investigation by area visitors and auditors. Cases must be prepared in ac- cordance with regulations and all required records kept on file. These auditors don't sit on the fence, either a case is right or it is wrong. If it is wrong the town loses the re- imbursement and Rockland foots the entire bill.
From this it may be seen that a Bureau of Old Age As- sistance owes a double obligation. An obligation to see that every recipient of Old Age receives the benefits as intended by the regulations and an obligation to the tax- payer to see that only those individuals that are eligible are placed on the roles.
Looking at the financing program broadly we know that the State and Federal government have no revenue other than what we citizens pay in some form as taxes. Whether or not we grant our people in Rockland all the benefits possible under Old Age we will still pay our share of the total cost. Therefore, there seems to be only one intelli- gent reasoning to follow, and that is to take care of our own and see to it that recipients of Old Age Assistance in our town receive every last penny that it is possible to give them under the regulations.
Chart E
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE - Total Expenditures
(Thousands of Dollars)
0 10 20 30 40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120 130
$20,567.70
$44,385.81
$49,032.89
1941
$113,986.40
$23,987.55 $48,102.45
$48,631.97 -
$120,631.97
$6,486.04 $53,513.96
$56,739.22
$116,739.22
$9,139.30 $50,860.70
$56,749.81
1944
$116,749.81
$5.520.49 $64 179.52
$51,838.97
1945
$121,838.97
Est 1946
₾21,500,00
$68.500.00
$50.000.00
$140,000.
Solid Portion of Bar Shaded portion of Bar Open space of Bar
Town Funds State, other cities & towns, meal tax funds Federal Funds
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
205
1
1942
1943
4
206
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
January 1, 1946 a number of changes will become ef- fective because of revisions in the law governing the regulations. The following are perhaps of the most in- terest and are taken from the Acts of 1945:
"Section 2-A In determining the resources of an aged person under section two the following schedule relative to the financial ability to support by a child of such person shall be as follows :-
1. In the case of an employed single child living with his aged parent or parents, income up to fifteen hundred dollars per annum shall be considered exempt and avail- able to said child for his personal needs and his board and lodging. Of an amount of income in excess of the fifteen hundred dollars per annum received by said child, one third shall be contributed as support to the parent or parents.
2. Board and lodging paid by a child living with his aged parents or parents shall not be considered as a re- source unless it exceeds ten dollars per week.
3. In the case of an employed single child living apart from his aged parent or parents, income up to seventeen hundred and fifty dollars per annum shall be considered exempt and available to said child for his personal needs and his board and lodging. Of the amount of income in ex- cess of the seventeen hundred and fifty dollars per annum received by said child, one third shall be contributed as support to the parent or parents.
4. In the case of an employed married child living apart from his aged parent or parents, income up to twenty- seven hundred and fifty dollars per annum shall be con- sidered exempt and available to said child for his personal needs. Of the amount of income in excess of twenty-seven hundred and fifty dollars per annum received by said child, one third shall be contributed as support to the parent on parents.
5. The amounts of exempted income of any child here- in-above specified shall be increased by -the amount of five hundred dollars for each dependent, other than the spouse, of such child.
207
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
6. In any case any unusual circumstances within the immediate family shall be considered with a view to deter- mining whether such circumstances justify an exemption from the general rule relative to persons coming within the above classes.
7. Said support by children of their parent or parents shall include support by children residing outside the Com- monwealth as well as those residing therein.
8. The word "income" as used in this schedule shall mean income after deducting state and federal income taxes thereon. In determining the income of a child of an aged person or persons seeking to receive, or receiving, assistance under this chapter, the statement of said child under oath shall be accepted, except as hereinafter pro- vided. No investigation as to the income of such child shall be made by a local board of public welfare unless the child shall have refused to submit such a statement, or un- less the board reasonably doubts the accuracy of a state- ment submitted."
The above changes will have an effect upon those cases where at the present time sons and daughters are making a contribution and they will.of course apply to all new ap- plications. .
The same policy has been followed in 1945 in these changes as in the past. A notification in writing has been sent to each son or daughter making a contribution advis- ing them of the change in the law. At the present time we have 43 such cases totaling a monthly contribution of $708.24. Nearly all of the contributions are within the allowed exemptions of the new law and it will be necessary to increase the individual budgets by the amount of con- tribution now being made by a son or daughter.
This item alone may result in a yearly increase in ex- penditures on our present cases of nearly $8,000.00. In addition new cases will be added that under the old law would not have been eligible. There is no way to estimate the number of new cases that will come on but in any event the number will in all probability be substantial.
208
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
This increase in annual expenditures of several thousand dollars is not all bad news for our town as the greater part of the cost will be borne by the State and Federal re- imbursements. It does mean however that our town will have to provide the working capital for at least one-half of the additional expense for the first year. The reason for this being that although the State will reimburse our town 2/3s of any amount expended in excess of whatever sum the Federal government reimburses the town such re- imbursement by the State is not available until the follow- ing year when it will become an allowable deduction from the Old Age Assistance appropriation. In addition the Federal reimbursement although available to the town for expenditure as received will run some three months behind which means that these three months must also be financed by the town.
Any estimate at this time is not much more than a guess but in all probability we will need at least $16,000.00 more in 1946 to carry out the Old Age Assistance program under the revised regulations. Of this $16,000.00 only $7,000.00 will be applied to the 1946 tax rate.
Another factor that is beginning to have an effect upon the total program is the fact that in a number of new cases the applicants are receiving Old Age Assistance as well as primary insurance under Social Security. At the present time we have 13 such cases of individuals who are receiv- ing both. Because of the fact that the Social Security sy's- tem has been in effect since 1937 the big majority of male applicants in the future should be eligible for Social Secur- ity primary insurance benefits. Of the 13 cases we now have 57% of the case cost is borne by the primary in- surance.
In the case of the primary insurance under Social Secur- ity a man's wife is also eligible when she becomes 65 but generally the man is some two or three years older on the average than the woman. This means that the town has to assume the entire budget for the woman if she applies and is eligible for Assistance for these two or three years or until such time as she becomes eligible for
209
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
Social Security. At the present time our proportion is 93 males as against 143 females which would indicate that the relief by means of primary insurance on female appli- cants cannot be to optimistic for the next two or three years. After this period the increase should level off.
During the year 1945 Miss O'Brien has continued to re -: port each week to the Board on all cases visited during the week and from her reports the Board is able to correct any deficiencies in the budget.
Between visits which are normally at about five months frequency changes often occur that affect the recipient's grant. The Board without knowledge of such a change in status is not in a position to assist until the facts become known. We would like to repeat from former years that any person receiving Old Age Assistance is more than wel- come to sit in with the Board for a reviewal. If there is an opportunity to assist in a problem the Board is more than willing to co-operate.
In arriving at decisions the facts of the case are care- fully reviewed with regulations and the case is acted upon accordingly. Every effort is made to see that the recipient receives full consideration.
During the year every decision of the Board has been an unanimous one. No cases have been denied, increased or decreased without the full vote of the Board and there have been no disagreements on decisions. Miss O'Brien's; - reports have been acted upon promptly and no attempt has been made by members of the Board to impress upon re- cipients of Old Age Assistance that any increase was due to personal attention of any one member of the Board. The procedure calls for a form letter to be mailed to the re- cipient advising of any change and this method has been followed.
The following is the financial forecast for the year 1946 and financial statement for 1945.
Estimated Old Age Assistance Program for the year 1946 $138 010 84
Dec. 1945, 24 cases at $43.64 $125 683 20 Less estimated closed cases 2 400 00 $123 283 20
Dec. 1945 annual contributions 8 496 00
210
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Estimated 75% reduction 6 372 00
6 372 00
Estimated additional cases
8 males $4 189 44
Less S. S. 50%
2 094 72
2 094 72
70% of year
1 466 30
1 466 30
19 females $9 841 92
70% of year
6 889 34
6 889 34
Total estimated expenditures Appropriation - Local Funds
$138 010 84 90 000 00
Federal Funds, estimated grant $53 000 00 Bal. 1-1-46 422 25 $53 422 25
Estimated expenditures
48 010 84 48 010 84
Balance 1-1-47
5 411 41 138 010 84
Estimated Credits:
Federal Grants $53 000 00
State 66 725 00
Communities 1 325 00
Meal tax 5% 3 400 00
124 450 00
Estimated net cost to town Appropriation -
Local Funds 1946
$90 000 00
Credits - 1945
59 562 68 $30 437 32
Appropriation -
Local Funds - 1945
70 000 00
Credits - 1944
46 568 98
23 431 02
Net increase in amount applied to taxation in 1946 $7 006 30
FINANCIAL REPORT OLD AGE ASSISTANCE 1945
Appropriation - Local Funds Expenditures
$70 000 00
$70 000 00 70 000 00
Federal Grant
Balance available January 1, 1945
2 834 81
Credits received during 1945
49 426 41
52 261 22
Expenditures:
51 838 97
Balance available January 1, 1946
422 25 $121 838 97
Total expenditures Old Age Assistance
Credits Received from:
Federal Grants
49 426 41
Commonwalth of Massachusets
59 562 68
Other Communities
1 314 61
Individuals
200 00
Proportion of 5% Meal Tax
3 402 23 113 905 93
Net Cost to town deducting reimbursements received
$ 7 933 04
13 560 84
211
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
Administration Cost of Old Age Assistance
Appropriation - Local Funds
$700 00 400 00
$1 100 00
Expended from Local Funds
1 082 07
Under appropriation
17 93
Federal Grant:
Balance available January 1, 1945
94 15
Credits received during 1945
1 647 48
1 741 63
Expended from Federal Funds
1 620 70
Balance in Federal Funds available Jan. 1, 1946
120 93
Total expenditures on administration
2 702 77
Analysis of Expenditures
Mary L. O'Brien, salary and car expense
$1 867 84
Edith Duven, salary
444 00
U. S. Postoffice, envelopes and postage
255 72
Addressograph Sales Agency, supplies
16 80
Hobbs & Warren, supplies
15 19
Yawman & Erbe, supplies
22 93
W. B. Mason Co., supplies
8 50
A. S. Peterson, supplies
. 25
The Douglas Print, supplies
8 50
H. Metcalf, cleaning typewriter
. 25
The Todd Company, checks
53 29
A. H. Marks, expense
2 00
Mary L. O'Brien, expense
5 50
$2 702 77
Transferred from Reserve Fund
212
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Rockland Committee on Public Safety 1
Rockland, Mass., January 2, 1946
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
On May 8th, your committee on public safety closed the report centre and notified the personnel of the organiza- tion of this fact.
The equipment, owned by the town, has since been dis- tributed to the different town departments that would have use for it.
The balance of the funds of the "civilian defense" ac- count, I recommend be returned to the town treasury.
I want to use this method of thanking your board for the cooperation during the period of our existence, and to thank those who gave of their time to make our organiza- tion what it was. The many hours given in training in the various divisions, I am sure, were given in the desire to be of mutual help.
The equipment owned by the federal government is still in Rockland. Anyone having this equipment will kindly keep it ready for collection, if and when, the Federal gov- ernment calls for it. The federal property officer, Chief Adolph Johnson, will notify all upon receipt of any govern- ment call.
The acceptance of this report by the town meeting, ends an emergency war measure, in which over eight hundred of our townspeople participated as volunteers-to them a final thank you for their splendid co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
Warren B. Woodward, Chairman
213
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
Report of Town Treasurer
Treasurers Report of Receipts and Disbursements for the year 1945:
January 1, 1945, Cash on Hand
$133 531 15
RECEIPTS
Anticipation Tax Note
$ 50 000 00
Taxes - Real Estate, Personal
and Poll
318 882 29
Taxes - Excise
6 881 46
Taxes - Interest
1 408 72
Taxes - Costs
48 23
Redeemed Taxes
155 40
Licenses - Liquor
4 508 00
Licenses - Miscellaneous
447 50
Trust Funds - Cemetery
1 736 00
Dog Licenses
636 20
Town Clerks Fees
536 65
Water Department
36 857 13
Joint Water
12 900 04
Memorial Library
492 50
Sealer of Weights
155 52
Court Fines
424 30
Miscellaneous
83 25
School Department - Rents and Sales
310 85
Interest on War Bonds
422 55
Tuition
76 32
Use Road Machinery
56 25
Land Sales
1 393 93
Board of Health - Licenses
4 50
Retirement Funds
1 368 60
Withholding Tax
26 864 63 $466 650 82
Welfare Refunds
Cities and Town
369 40
Individuals
258 75
214
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Board at Infirmary
1 793 25
Old Age Assistance
1 496 48
$3 917 88
County Treasurer
Dog Licenses
533 61
Chap. 90 Maintenance
955 75
Refunds on Dogs
173 00
$1 662 36
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
U. S. Grant O. A. Asst.
51 073 89
U. S. Grant A. D. C.
3 376 21
Chap. 90 Maintenance
955 75
Highway Fund
10 300 58
Old Age Assistance
59 218 75
Income Tax
35 380 00
Corporation Tax
26 413 99
Meal Tax
3 402 23
Aid to Children
4 075 66
Education
544 23
Veterans Exemption
572 50
Temporary Aid
1 281 57 $196 595 36
$802 357 57
PAYMENTS
Public Welfare Warrants
$22 393 06
Mothers Aid - Local
8 500 00
Selectmen
173 966 28
School Department
143 203 53
Anticipation Tax Note
50 000 00
Water Department
21 205 43
Joint Water Dept.
19 968 90
Joint Water Special
9 783 16
Joint Rates to Abington
2 280 04
Cemetery Account 1 736 00
Old Age Assistance - Local 71 375 00
Old Age Assistance Adm. - Local 1 082 07
U. S. Grant O. A. Asst. 51 771 97
215
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
U. S. Grant O. A. Asst. Adm.
1 620 70
U. S. Grant A. D. C.
5 567 37
U. S. Grant A. D. C. Adm.
270 00
Tax Refunds 13 38
Income Tax Witheld
26 321 28
Retirement refunded
14 09
War Bonds
25 000 00 $636 072 26
STATE TREASURER
State Tax
$9 792 00
State Parks
251 36
Auditing Accounts
966 85 $11 010 21
COUNTY TREASURER
County Tax
$18 252 32 627 20
Dog Licenses
Plymouth Co. Hospital
Maintenance
5 642 49 $24 522 01
Cash on Hand December 31, 1945
$130 753 09
$802 357 57
PERMANENT LOANS
Junior-Senior School Notes 34% Maturing 1946-1948
$18 000 00
Union St. Construction Notes 2% Maturing 1946 Water Tank Notes 2% Maturing 1946-1956
$2 000 00
Municipal Relief Notes
$9 000 00
11/2% Maturing 1946-1948 Fire Station Notes 214 % Maturing 1946-1958
$20 000 00
Municipal Relief Notes 2% Maturing 1946-1950 Fire Departmental Notes
$22 000 00
10 000 00
216
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
$/4 % Maturing 1946 Municipal Relief Notes 11/4% Maturing 1946-1951 Joint Water Department
$1 000 00
12 000 00
Receipts :
Joint Rates etc.
$4 832 94
Abington - maintenance
6 906 08
Due from Abington
3 078 37
Rockland portion
9 984 45
$24 801 84
Payments :
Joint Warrants
$19 968 90
Joint Rates to Abington
2 280 04
Joint Rates to Rockland
2 416 47
Joint Rates due Abington
136 43
24 801 84
Special Wells Project
Total Expended
$9 783 16
Rockland Portion
4 891 58
Abington Portion
4 891 58
$9 783 16
$9 783 16
Water Department
Receipts :
Rates - Construction, etc.
$36 857 13
1/2 Joint Rates
2 416 47
$39 273 60
Payments :
$21 205 43
Warrants 1/2 Joint Warrants
9 984 45 .
Receipts over payments
8 083 72
$39 273 60
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES J. HIGGINS, Town Treasurer
217
TOWN OF ROCKLAND
Report For Burial of Indigent Soldiers and Care of Graves
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen; Gentlemen:
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