Editorial
The
Gray Town Council evidenced a lot of teeth gnashing
Tuesday night as they struggled with reducing their
proposed 14% increase down to the Town meeting mandated
5% increase.
Granted,
the Council did work hard with putting together a
budget that they believed in, that they felt balanced
the needs and wants for the town, and that adequately
funded services and programs to an appropriate level.
And
it is understood that with six months' worth of emotional
and intellectual investment into a project that ultimately
failed at Town Meeting, the Council would then have
a difficult time regrouping and adjusting to the new
reality.
At
Tuesday night's meeting, though, audience members
heard many reasons why the budget increase was reduced.
Councilor Richard Barter said it was because the public
didn’t understand the issues and because of "screaming
headlines." Chair Pam Wilkinson said she would
have felt happier if more people had been involved
earlier in the budget-building process. Ex-Councilor
Jack Goosetrey said it was because people don't care
and don't show up to Town meeting.
They
were full of reasons and excuses as to why the citizens
turned out, in record numbers, by the way, to vote
down the increase. All except for the one real reason:
the Council miscalculated.
The
SAD #15 Board Of Directors have for years put forth
school budgets that were 7%, 10%, 15% increases. Lately,
the voters have been saying 'thanks, but no thanks.'
This year the School Board decided to pare down and
offer a 5% budget increase, having learned that the
public will accept small increases if justified and
reasonable. Their budget passed on the first try.
The
Gray Council ignored that object lesson and blithely
went forward with producing a budget that was initially
a 36% increase, and finally a 14% increase. The municipal
budget failed at a 14% increase level, but the voters
accepted a 5% increase, just as they had accepted
the School Board's.
Let's
hope that when the budget building process begins
for next year, that the Council will take their fingers
off the calculator and put it where it belongs, on
the pulse of the community.
