As we glide towards the March 13th Library referendum, I offer these observations about all the separate referendums.
Is it a divide and conquer stratagem?
The virtue of the Schlumberger purchase won't be written for a decade. Meanwhile, we are saddled with an additional $500,000 annually which will affect some budget - - be it Schools, Parks & Rec, Police, Highway, Fire or your own.
Town income has increased barely 1% yet we have started talking about a budget in excess of two times that. What does that tell you?
Chief Roche wants a $4.5 million addition to the Police Station. We have already invested $500,000 for complete building plans without having laid single brick.
There is talk of refurbishing the Community Center to better handle emergencies for $4.5 million.
The library wants $5 million to expand.
Can a new Fire House be far behind?
The first Selectmen, thinks that by sliding one project into the budget one year and another in another year, he can say our debt will not increase. But the fact remains these are 20 year bonding issues so, at some point, the debt & debt service for these projects will be carried forward simultaneously.
And none of the aforementioned projects include the normal capital requests which have averaged $3.5 million over the past three years. (This year there are capital requests totaling $6,000,000.)
Don't we taxpayers have the right to consider everything on our plate before making a decision? Mr. Marconi said we would be “distracted”. I disagree.
Vote 'no' on the Library referendum on March 13. Move it to May along side the Police Station, the Emergency Center project, all budgets and capital requests (a staggering $6 million this year). Let the taxpayer's vote determine priorities. There would be a higher turnout. That's good.
Is it a divide and conquer stratagem?
The virtue of the Schlumberger purchase won't be written for a decade. Meanwhile, we are saddled with an additional $500,000 annually which will affect some budget - - be it Schools, Parks & Rec, Police, Highway, Fire or your own.
Town income has increased barely 1% yet we have started talking about a budget in excess of two times that. What does that tell you?
Chief Roche wants a $4.5 million addition to the Police Station. We have already invested $500,000 for complete building plans without having laid single brick.
There is talk of refurbishing the Community Center to better handle emergencies for $4.5 million.
The library wants $5 million to expand.
Can a new Fire House be far behind?
The first Selectmen, thinks that by sliding one project into the budget one year and another in another year, he can say our debt will not increase. But the fact remains these are 20 year bonding issues so, at some point, the debt & debt service for these projects will be carried forward simultaneously.
And none of the aforementioned projects include the normal capital requests which have averaged $3.5 million over the past three years. (This year there are capital requests totaling $6,000,000.)
Don't we taxpayers have the right to consider everything on our plate before making a decision? Mr. Marconi said we would be “distracted”. I disagree.
Vote 'no' on the Library referendum on March 13. Move it to May along side the Police Station, the Emergency Center project, all budgets and capital requests (a staggering $6 million this year). Let the taxpayer's vote determine priorities. There would be a higher turnout. That's good.
Jan Rifkinson
February 16, 2012
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