Letter From The BOF Chairwoman
Dear Mr. Clarke:
Needless to say, I and other Board of Finance members are disappointed in the budget defeat. This budget process has been the most difficult in all my years on the BOF; primarily due to the economic downturn and resulting economic hardships.
Tomorrow the Board of Finance is holding its May meeting beginning at 7:00 pm in the school library. The board will begin working on a budget to bring back to another Town Meeting mostly likely to be held June 1. There are public comments at the beginning of the meeting where residents can voice concerns or make suggestions. The BOF would need to complete its work by next Tuesday at the latest to comply with properly posting the June 1 town meeting. At this point I do not know if additional meetings will be held after tomorrow evening.
After last night’s town meeting, BOF briefly discussed next steps. There was discussion that it was not clear on why the budget failed. There were two train of thoughts - was it because the elementary school reduction was too high and/or that the tax increase was too much? It was unfortunate Bill Black did not distribute the exit polling sheets he mentioned at the start of the meeting. It would have been helpful to BOF. Another option mentioned was to increase education budget and leave town operations at same funding level resulting in a tax increase.
3% out of the 3.56% tax increase presented last evening goes toward paying required annual payments on town debt. Thus to further reduce taxes, town positions or services need to be reduced or modified. BOF has been hesitant to recommend such actions since not much support has been voiced for these actions to accomplish further tax reductions.
Residents are encouraged to attend tomorrow’s meeting. Also, the meeting will be taped for the cable TV public access channel. I can be reached by email or at 295-9686. I will continue to work towards a budget that is equitable for all residents.
Regards,
Catherine Gaudinski, Chairman
Ms Gaudinski, thank you so much for your service to the town of Marlborough. And thank you to all who serve, the BOF, BOE and BOS deserve our thanks.
It’s unfortunate at best that after all the work put in by your board that the town vote meeting was so chaotic.
This evening the Board of Finance voted to provide the Board of Education with $20,000 more. This was done by taking funds from the town’s reserve account and reducing that account from 7.5% to 7.4% of the annual budget. The reserves are maintained to keep a good bond rating which in turn impacts the interest rates we pay on debt. It appears to me that the public was manipulated by Bill Black in order to get additional funds for the BOE. On Monday looks like Bill withheld the exit poll because he did not want to get results that would have been non-supportive of providing more funds to the BOE. Bill was fully prepared to hand out the survey had the crowd been overwhelmingly in support to more funds, but when he saw that the crowd was in favor of a tax reduction he decided to hold off on distributing the survey. If you don’y want to hear the answer you don’t ask the question. That is being manipulative and disrespecting those who came to the Town Meeting. It is dismissing the opinions of those voters who were not in agreement with Bill Black’s agenda.
Mr. Black apparently has little interest in what the majority of people he “serves” actually want. I see no empathy or compassion for the economic condition he’s fostering. Quite the contrary, in fact.
This budget, coupled with the WPCA and Black’s blind eye to sewer cost distribution, will force residents to put their homes on the market (and this is not rhetoric – one as specifically told me they’re packing up now.)
All this, while Mr. Black want’s a $2,600 pay raise. How completely inappropriate and apathetic, especially considering the salary for the First Selectman position has already been increased by $6,951 since 2005.
As a real estate agent I would be pleased to assist anyone planning on selling their home.@David Durel
David…maybe next time around you should try for a town employee job since the private sector doesn’t seem to be working for you!
town employee job??? what are you kidding. they only got a 4% raise. be a teacher and get 6%.
@Ken Hjulstrom
The resident to which I referred has commented on this blog. I’ll point out to him/her that you have an interest. Thank you.
@Anonymous #1
I appreciate your support! Feel free to make a motion at any town meeting, and perhaps I’ll get elected to a position where I can ignore you, and dictate your financial future. That way, the status quo would be maintained.
But, I doubt that will happen, so I’ll just have to struggle along in my 18 year old, annually profitable company, darn it!
I surmise the popular belief that I, personally, am suffering financially stems from statements I’ve made about refinancing my mortgage. I’m very wise with my money (which I can’t say for this town’s government) and make appropriate financial adjustments when necessary. Refinancing to obtain a lower interest rate is a common occurrence, and will assist me in offsetting the unfair sewer “benefit assessment” charge.
However, I would much rather spend/save/plan with my money how I wish, than be forced to hand it over to the town to disproportionately fund a town betterment project. Wouldn’t you?