HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-04-19-AC-MIN.pdf F9
APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE
DATE: April 19, 1973
TIME: 8:00 P.M.
PLACE: Town Office Building, Room G15
PRESENT: Edward E. Furash, Chairman, Elizabeth M. Flynn,
Secretary, J. H. Blaisdell, Levi G. Burnell,
Richard M. Perry, Donald B. White
I . COUNTY BUDGET
Present: County Commissioner Paul Tsongas, Mrs. Davison
and Mrs. Rubenstein, members of staff; Stephen Politi Town
Meeting Member observed.
Commissioner Tsongas recided some of the very high County
budgets . He said County assessments and running county
government put about $50.00 on every person residing in
Lexington.
The mismanagement and errors in the construction of the
County Court House for debt and interst now is $4,000,000;
In 18 months it will be $6, 000,000; $931, 000 is now spent
for Court House maintenance , repair, telephones , etc. ; at
$76.00 per sq. ft. , it is almost the most expensive building
ever built.
The County Government has seven functions:
1. Training School - now phased out.
2. Judicial System - Superior and Judicial Courts.
Cambridge and Lowell Courts should go to the State .
3. Highway Dept. - Engineering Dept. - Great deal of
patronage exists. Altshuler has filed Bill to take
surveying from County and give to the State .
4. Walden Pond - Should be turned over to the Department
of Natural Resources .
5. House of Correction - Sheriff Buckley himself says this
should be phased out to the State .
6. County Hospital - Could become a private non-profit
corporation.
7 . Extension Service - 4-H Clubs, Courses, etc. , U. Mass. ,
could assume control.
I
2 a
The Historic shell of Middlesex County should be
maintained but the functions of government should be
abolished, at least within five years. The system
must be absorbed by the state , cities and towns and the
waste of taxpayers money through County Government must
be ended by phasing out.
In summing up the discussion the Commissioner stated that
Lexington taxpayers can expect a total reduction of about
$46,000 as their town's share of the drop in the Middlesex
County Assessment of this year.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted, 4
Elizabeth M. Flynn/mo'b
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