THREE NUMBERS FTR BUDGET 2 BACKERS DON’T WANT VOTERS TO KNOW

While the backers of Budget 2 in Tiverton’s Financial Town Referendum have used many misleading figures to promote their self-serving proposal, there are three numbers they don’t want voters to know about.

The first number is $1.50. That’s the weekly amount Budget 2 will save the owner of a $200,000 home over Budget 1 (If you own a $300,000 home, the number is $2.25/week). Budget 1 was created with input from our elected and professional officials and the public; Budget 2 was created solely by members a small political group (previously TCC or Clean-Up Tiverton, now Tiverton Taxpayers Association). Budget 1 maintains vital community and school services, and funds All-Day Kindergarten, while preserving the town’s rainy-day funds. Budget 2 spends town savings to fund the budget, while intentionally underfunding many key items, and jeopardizing All-Day Kindergarten. Is it worth the financial chaos of Budget 2 to save $1.50/week in taxes?

The second number is 7.5%. That’s the tax-levy increase voters had to approve in 2010 to fund a budget that simply maintained services. The reason is simple: the town had been using money from the General Fund, our savings, to fund the budget and lower the tax increase. This practice left the town incapable of handling a crisis, like a $1.4 million funding deficit when the State withheld promised vehicle-tax funds. Voters faced the awful choice of a large tax increase or devastating cuts in services. A lesson was learned and the practice stopped. Budget 2 backers ignore this lesson, and want you to return the town to financial and tax instability, with higher costs via new fees. Is $1.50/week worth  cuts to services, instability, and higher taxes in coming years?

The third number is $25,000. That’s the amount of money Budget 2 petitioner Justin Katz and some of his supporters have cost taxpayers defending against their current lawsuit against the town over that 2010 vote. They believe voters shouldn’t have the final say. They now propose to cut the town’s litigation budget, used to defend taxpayers against costly lawsuits…like theirs. Ask yourself: does this benefit anyone other than those behind Budget 2?

Budget 2 will benefit a small political group at your expense; Budget 1 balances the needs of all in Tiverton. Be a part of strengthening our community and improving our financial stability. Vote to approve Budget 1 at the May 16 FTR, or at early voting May 14 and 15. Every vote counts in deciding Tiverton’s future. Don’t let someone with a personal agenda make that decision for you.

Brian Medeiros

Tiverton, RI