Latest news with #DOR
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
McCabe presents $163.8 million budget to City Council for review
WESTFIELD — Mayor Michael McCabe presented the fiscal year 2026 budget of $163.8 million for review to the City Council at its meeting on June 5. 'This budget has been a difficult budget to prepare,' McCabe said, and specifically thanked City Council President John Beltrandi and Finance Committee Chair Ralph Figy for helping sit in on some of the budget hearings. 'I came before you in March or April and we spoke briefly about issues this budget was going to face and a number of unexpected increases that were beyond the control of the city's management staff or financial team to be able to foresee,' he said, listing special education increases of $1.1 million, transportation increases of $1.3 million, mandatory staff increases of just under a million, contractual obligations of $1.8 million, a health care increase of $5.8 million, utilities cost increase of 15 percent across the board and trash and recycling fees that had a $2.3 million deficit. He said there were also $5 million in inflationary cost increases. McCabe said in FY25 there was also a tax decrease to residents. 'When we used free cash last year to give a tax decrease to folks and offset the budget deficit … that came out to negative one percent,' he said, adding that all in all costs were $17 million over the previous year's budget. He said last year the city used $5 million in free cash to balance the FY25 budget, and the funding is not available to do that again in FY26. Later he said $2 million in free cash was used to balance the FY26 budget. 'Our budget looks like it's going to come in on a free cash balance of 3%. The DOR recommends 5%. I'm not too worried about it, I think when the new free cash number comes in November, I think there will be more than 5 percent overall,' he said. McCabe said there are no new personnel across the board, no vehicles across the board, and an appropriate level of services will be kept status quo. 'There is no real decrease in services in FY26 over FY25, even though we've had this $17 million gap to close.' McCabe said the city closed a couple of schools, specifically Fort Meadow, Abner Gibbs and Franklin Avenue, and added a state-of-the-art Westfield River Elementary School. He said the consolidation in elementary schools helped to reduce costs in personnel and services. Without getting into details about the levy limit and levy ceiling and their interrelatedness to city financing, which he said currently stands at $12.5 million in excess capacity, he said, 'I remember sitting through council meetings in the cheap seats over the last 15 years, and I remember hearing that it was a really good thing if we had excess capacity built into our levy. As as it turns out, the state doesn't want to see excess capacity in our levy, because when you go to them for help, they say 'spend your own money.' ' McCabe said the city expected help from increases in Chapter 70, Chapter 74 and Chapter 90, the state's funding sources, but 'there really was not a lot of help at all.' He said unrestricted government aid went up $120,000, 'which isn't really an awful lot of anything.' In his letter to the council, McCabe said the plan is to spend $3.5 million of the excess capacity in FY26. 'By doing so, better positions to receive state funding, especially Chapter 70 and Chapter 74. This also means we will return to using only minimal free cash this year, and hopefully no free cash in FY27.' McCabe suggested in reviewing the budget, that councilors go to the Mayor's recap in the beginning of the budget for a thumbnail read. He also suggested looking at pages 194-214, the appendices in the back of the budget, 'they will walk you through all the items I just talked about.' 'If you're looking at it, you'll see how we tried to balance the budget. There are only three ways to balance the budget; through new growth, you can pick up through some local receipts — this year we're going to get an advantage of a local recept that is significantly higher than it's been before, and you can do it through taxation and excess capacity monetary use,' McCabe said, referring to the additional $2 million that will be generated by the increase in the trash collection fee. He said without new growth, the only thing left to do is tax at 2.5 percent and then tax the excess capacity at 2.5 percent, which added to the $2 million in free cash and $2 million increase in local revenues was how the budget was balanced. He said the mayor's cut sheet shows the cuts made to city departments of $3.2 million, It also shows a positive offset of $3.5 million in the insurance category. He said the School Department budget was cut by $5.2 million, but saw a four percent increase over FY25. 'It's important to realize that a four percent increase, while greater than the city budget, is a necessary increase. Unfunded mandates are crushing the School Department budget and crushing the taxpayer,' McCabe said. 'I've tried to address it with the governor. The problem lies within the legislature - the body that creates the rule and then they don't fulfill the rule that they create. They're the only ones that can fix that rule. If you have any influence with your state legislators, I would urge you to ask them to fund where they say they're supposed to fund,' he added. McCabe gave two examples of funding disparities from the state. He said the Massachusetts School Building Authority is supposed to be funded at 80 percent. The Westfield River Elementary School cost $16 million, and the city was reimbursed $32 million, roughly 50 percent. He said to be fair, the MSBA created their own exemptions. 'If they exempt pieces of the puzzle, they can still say that they're funding 80 percent of the non-exempted pieces of the puzzle,' he said. The other exemption was the funding of Circuit Breaker for special education expenses. McCabe said they are supposed to be funding at 75 percent, but are instead funding at 44 percent. 'That little difference is worth about $1.5 million,' he said. Before running off to the Westfield Technical Academy graduation, McCabe thanked Auditor Vicki Moro, who created the 214 page document, Assessor Ashlie Brown, Personnel Director Anne Larkham, Treasurer/Collector Matt Barnes, School Business Manager Shannon Barry, Solicitor Shanna Reed, City Councilors Ralph Figy and President John Beltrandi and Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski for all the help they have been in working collaboratively on the budget. 'I greatly appreciate their assistance,' he said. The budget was sent by the Council to the Finance Committee for review. Finance Committee reviews were scheduled for June 9, 10, 11, 16 and 17 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in various rooms in City Hall. A financial overview and public hearing for the budget is scheduled for June 23 at 6 p.m. in Room 207, City Council Chambers. On June 24, also in Room 207, city councilors will review the entire budget and make recommendations. On June 30, councilors will vote on the budget. The schedule of meetings is posted on the city website at The budget is also posted on the website under departments, auditor, Fiscal Year 2026. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Georgia residents to receive special tax refund checks soon, Gov. Kemp says
ATLANTA () — Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) announced today that the state will begin issuing one-time, special tax refunds this week. The refunds were approved during Georgia's legislative session (HB 112) to provide a one-time tax credit for individual taxpayers who filed income tax returns for the 2023 and 2024 taxable years. Most eligible taxpayers who filed their 2023 and 2024 returns in a timely manner and before the filing deadlines can expect to receive their refund within the coming weeks. 'Because we've managed our state's resources wisely, we're again able to return money to hardworking Georgians who know how best to use it,' said Governor Kemp. 'Along with our acceleration of the largest income tax rate cut in state history, this latest refund is just one more way we're working to support the people of our state, their families, and their businesses, because that's not the government's money, it's theirs!' Individual's refund amount will depend on their tax liability from the 2023 tax year and is capped at: $250 for single filers and married individuals filing separately $375 for head of household filers $500 for married individuals filing jointly In addition to HB 112, the General Assembly also passed House Bill 111, which will reduce Georgia's income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%. This was the second acceleration of the income tax cut implementation schedule signed by Governor Kemp in 2022. For more details, including Frequently Asked Questions and refund tracking, visit: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Worcester restaurant serving food from Ghana seized by state due to unpaid taxes
A restaurant located on Worcester's Grafton Street that serves cuisine from Ghana has been seized by the state's Department of Revenue (DOR) due to unpaid taxes, according to two signs posted on the building's windows. Accra Girls at 1280 Grafton St. was seized by the DOR because of nonpayment of taxes, the two orange signs read. Emmanuel Larbi and Manasseh Konabu, the co-owner of Accra Girls, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. The Department of Revenue did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the timing of the seizure on Monday. Accra Girls first opened in 2017, according to the Worcester Business Journal's profile on Larbi. The Instagram page of the restaurant reads that it offers 'hospitality on a plate.' The restaurant serves dishes from Ghana, which feature foods such as Jollof rice, boiled yam and spinach stew and Banku — a starchy dish made of corn and cassava doughs. Worcester father of 4-month-old deported after ICE 'violated his rights,' attorney says Mass. Hidden Gems: Comfy classics and a mystery menu at Peppercorn's Here's where to see fireworks this weekend in Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Wisconsin teen pleads guilty in series of burglaries at Amish businesses
WAUSHARA COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – A 17-year-old boy from Wisconsin has reached a plea agreement after allegedly burglarizing two Amish-owned businesses, including one location that was targeted twice. According to the Waushara County Sheriff's Office, the first incident occurred on November 6, 2024, when an Amish business owner reported a forced entry and theft of money. While deputies and detectives were investigating that burglary, a second Amish business owner reported a similar break-in at his business. 160+ grams of meth laced with fentanyl seized during traffic stop in Wisconsin Both buildings had been locked, entered without permission, and one of the doors was reportedly damaged during the intrusion. Weeks later, on November 29, 2024, one of the previously burglarized businesses reported that its entry alarm had gone off. Deputies discovered that the previously secured door was again open, confirming a third burglary at the same location. After a lengthy investigation, authorities identified Leon L. Borntrager of Arpin as the suspect. Borntrager, who had no connection to either business, confessed to all three break-ins during an interview. Investigators also found his fingerprints on the door handle of one of the businesses. Borntrager was charged with three separate felony burglary cases in Waushara County. As part of a plea agreement reached on April 15, 2025, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft. Wisconsin DOR agent solves property fraud case worth over $800k, restores inheritance to rightful owner He was sentenced to eight days in jail, two years of probation, and ordered to pay restitution to the affected businesses. No further details have been released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Wisconsin DOR agent solves property fraud case worth over $800k, restores inheritance to rightful owner
(WFRV)—The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) said that one of its Special Agents participated in an interstate investigation that resulted in a person's arrest for property fraud, with the rightful owner of the money getting their inheritance in the end. Special Agent Michael Austin with the DOR Office of Criminal Investigation was alerted by bank employees in Tennessee after a customer suspiciously deposited nearly $900,000 in unclaimed property checks. Appleton Police Department warns of increased scams during Draft Week Bankers placed a hold on the funds and contacted the DOR, leading to Special Agent Austin coordinating efforts with the bank that would have the customer claim the money in person and be arrested by local officials. This plan failed last second, and Special Agent Austin had to change gears; however, he told the suspect the money could be picked up at the Georgia DOR. The suspect was subsequently met by law enforcement, who were unsure if it was the person due to prior contact made only through a 'burner' phone. To ensure it was him, Special Agent Austin dialed the phone number he had previously spoken with, and the phone rang. The suspect was then arrested and identified as a former law school student serving parole time for multiple large financial crimes. United States Attorneys in Georgia prosecuted the suspect, who will serve 15 months in prison. Not only was an arrest made, but the true owner of the unclaimed property, a Wisconsin taxpayer, was found. The person who was the rightful owner was found through contact with five local law enforcement groups, the United States Postal Service and the Social Security Administration. The person who was given their rightful money expressed disbelief that he was found, especially considering he didn't know he had unclaimed money owed to him. The Wisconsin DOR expressed pride in Special Agent Austin, saying only somebody with his skills could've possibly done what he had. 160+ grams of meth laced with fentanyl seized during traffic stop in Wisconsin 'In this case, he was able to use his negotiation skills, quick thinking, intelligence, communication skills and charisma to locate the suspect and get the funds to the rightful owner,' Office of Criminal Investigation Director Justin Shemanski said. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
