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This week the Selectmen voted to put a debt exclusion over-ride on the Fall ballot in order to fund the repair of seriously deteriorated town buildings as suggested by the Capital Planning Improvement Committee (See the CPIC report .)
I'm not disputing the fact that the Town buildings are in miserable shape. But, we need to be talking about improving efficiencies -- not shining up the same old sneaker. We just spent $3 million renovating a town hall that will have less usable office space than the old one -- and a meeting room that we don't need (anybody notice the big school buildings which are already heated and lit with lots of parking and many toilets?).
I understand its a historical building, and it was funded with Community Preservation dollars -- but, all esoterica aside, the reality is that we still spent 3 million tax dollars without improving the efficiency of anything. The fire and police stations are still falling into the marsh. People still have to visit at least three buildings to do business with various "town hall" offices.
The other problem is a more pragmatic one. We know that unless there is an operational override next Spring, there will be a drastic reduction in Town/School services. Personnally, I believe the odds of an override passing are similar to the liklihood of me receiving flowers from the Mass Teachers Associaton. The current economic conditions are certainly not conducive to asking anybody for more money for anything.(Simmons Kids -- are you listening?)
But, if the capital override should pass in the Fall, is there anybody who thinks there is any possibility of ANOTHER override passing in the Spring ? (Especially if the override does not provide any new/improved services!)
I have no words of wisdom on his situation (at least not yet!). But, I hope both the BOS and the SC start making a very concerted effort to outline EXACTLY what services will be lost if no override is approved. The only way to get anyone's attention is to show EXACTLY how they will be affected by the service cuts.
It's going to get uglier.
4 comments:
As long as the $300,000 for the elevator at the golf course is included in the capital improvements debt exclusion, I will be a NO vote. Isn't there an enterprise account for the golf course? Why isn't that fund covering the cost?
Bobby, what do you say about closing down one of the school buildings in an effort to limiting the economic operational efforts. The present Union leadership and its school committee suporters will surely not allow a reduction of the Teachers salary, which adds to the structual deficit by over million dollars at the present time. This structual deficit has done a great disservive to our community and it can only get worst.
Given the firing of the present Superintendant
will only add more dollars to this deficit, we will be in a no win situation for the children of Sandwich and recovery will not be easy.
The Truth Maker
There's been a lot of talk about combining schools over the years -- but the numbers aren't there yet. BUT, after the capital maintenance study is done on Wing, and we see what it will cost to fix the roofs, windows, heat, plumbing, floors, etc..., that may change.
One thing is certain --- there was absolutely no way to justify allowing the Community School to build a new building two years ago. Some members of the prior school committee have been criticized for questioning the efforts of the old Community School Administration and their Executive Council to build a new pre-school.
But, as Nana used to say ".... the proof is in the pudding..."
Couldn't agree with you more Bob about the reckless decision of trying for a debt exclusion, given the 2.2 million dollare budget deficit, in a Special Town Meeting (that until last Thursday was not under consideration until later in the fall anyway, due to other town business that needed Town Meeting approval. Your point about creating efficiency is a good one also.
The elevator for Sandwich Hollows wasn't even on the Capital Improvement list. It came up at the table as a negotiation between Mr. Baker and the BOS it appeared. I think this illustrates the challenges of agenda driven volunteer committees and small town politics. The big picture is often left out of the equation.
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