Sensible Spending -Local: August 2008 Archives
".......we hope that selectmen, school board members, county commissioners, city councilors and members of County Conventions will take a hard-nosed approach when it comes to proposals for so-called 'big-ticket projects' such as new buildings or proposals to add employees."
Article Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Gov. John Lynch is calling for two kinds of budgets when a new Legislature convenes — tight and tighter.Republicans have been trying to weaken Lynch's big advantage in the polls by trying to identify him with the huge revenue shortfalls of the current biennium. So far it hasn't stuck. Voters seem prepared to identify the shortfalls with the weak national economy. Lynch met with department heads Friday and told them it's not going to be easy. He wants innovation and efficient use of limited resources. He also wants two proposals — one holding programs at current levels and one cutting spending by three percent in 2009 and 2010, going back to current levels in 2011.By assuming this posture of fiscal discipline, Lynch certainly set the tone for the fall campaign.But his approach should reach beyond the political debate of the coming weeks. It should also frame the discussion for the work of preparing budgets in the various cities and towns, school districts and counties across the state.
John Andrews, director of the
Given the current economic climate, they can be assured that the majority of taxpayers will support them in this effort. To this end we hope that selectmen, school board members, county commissioners, city councilors and members of County Conventions will take a hard-nosed approach when it comes to proposals for so-called 'big-ticket projects' such as new buildings or proposals to add employees.Even at times as difficult as the ones we are facing there will be some cases where major capital improvements or adding staff is absolutely imperative. But for the most part these requests, though they may produce certain benefits, fall short of being absolutely needed right here, right now.
Just as importantly, those officials — whether elected or appointed — who have a role in determining pay and benefits for public employees need to demonstrate they understand the burden under which so many taxpayers are finding themselves. To advocate pay raises on the grounds that there have been pay raises in previous years is simply untenable. Public employee unions also need to acknowledge the present economic realities when they sit down to negotiate new contracts. To push for substantial pay raises or to be unwilling to accept proposals for members to pick up a bigger share of health-care benefits will only hurt their credibility with taxpayers with private-sector jobs who fear being laid off. In the last several years, local communities and school districts have been more or less successful in funding the higher cost of government by capitalizing on the volume of residential and commercial construction, which has produced a tremendous expansion of the tax base in many area communities. But the tax base is no longer expanding at the same rate, so any increase in the cost of government is going to fall harder on current taxpayers. Those leaders in government who recognize that they are the stewards of the resources that come from the people understand that this coming budget season presents challenges far different from any other year in recent memory. It requires taking tough stands and standing by those decisions. And it also requires a sensitivity that
the taxpayer's ability to pay is not as great as in past years.
