TRUE "FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY"

Much of the time and energy in the debate over the town/school budgets is spent discussing the importance of town & school services. This is understandable. A community's "quality of life" is tied directly to the quality of schools, public safety, infrastructure, recreation, library services, and town services.

Maintaining these things obviously costs money. And the tax burden on a town's residents is also an important consideration. We hear a lot about "fiscal responsibility", usually used to mean "lower taxes and spending", which is hard to argue with. No one likes tax increases, and everyone favors lower taxes and spending ... until the consequences affect him/her, or a family member. The goal of government should be to find a balance between the services the majority wants and the amount of taxes they're willing to pay to maintain those services.

That's the decision each of us in Tiverton face at the May 8 Financial Town Meeting (FTM). The bottom line is this: the Budget Committee proposed plan will cause a 4.4% tax increase and still result in a closed elementary school, elimination of sports & activities, elimination of funding for all community service organizations, increased fees, and huge cuts in services. The Town Council and School Committee budget requests will require a 9% tax increase, resulting in a $3 per week increase above the Budget Committee plan, in exchange for maintaining current town and school services.

What does "fiscal responsibility" really mean? Is it simply lower taxes and spending, no matter the consequences? Those who criticize the possible 9% tax increase conveniently omit the fact that this increase is due primarily to a one-year loss of revenue caused by the State's withholding of $1.4 million in car-tax funds promised to Tiverton. The State's tax-cap law allows towns facing such a loss to apply to the State to adjust the tax-levy increase in order to recoup those funds and maintain services. Is it "fiscally responsible" to try to deny the FTM voters, who are the only body legally empowered to set the budget and tax-levy, their right to decide? Is it responsible to allow the state's financial crisis to destroy our community, when for an extra $3 per week in taxes we can maintain our quality of life?

If the Budget Committee's recommendations are adopted by FTM voters, the school department will find itself in a $1.2 million hole. Having looked at how such a deficit would be eliminated, the School Committee has made clear that eliminating extracurricular activities and closing an elementary school will almost certainly be required. Closing a school will not only create ballooning class sizes and hurt education, but will cost us the state reimbursement funds for construction of the new school. Is it "fiscally responsible" to close a 2-year-old school, and end up saving almost nothing in the long run? Is it "fiscally responsible" to deprive our students of sports and other activities, and force parents and grandparents to pay out of pocket to make up those activities? Aren't they taxpayers as well?

Decimating the town's education system and town services will clearly have a negative impact on the primary financial asset of most residents: their home. Is it "fiscally responsible" to save $3 per week on taxes but set in motion actions that will result in lower property values? Without sufficient tax revenue, the town will be forced to institute fees for things currently included in tax payments (rescue services, trash pickup, etc), and raise fees already in place. Is it "fiscally responsible" to save $3 per week in taxes and spend more than that amount in new costs and fees?

Among the Budget Committee's proposed cuts are the loss of our full-time Town Planner and cuts to our Economic Development efforts. Is it "fiscally responsible" to save $3 per week at the expense of beneficial economic development that could build the tax-base and help ease the tax-burden? Another major cut is to our legal accounts. In the past few years, our town attorneys have successfully defended us from several multi-million-dollar lawsuits, including one concerning the Bay Street toxic waste situation. Is it "fiscally responsible" to save thousands in legal costs and end up paying thousands or even millions in liability?

Our roads and infrastructure are in dire need of maintenance and replacement. is it "fiscally responsible" to put the town in such a hole that this will never happen? Our library needs replacement to continue to receive state funds. Is it "fiscally responsible" to create a financial environment in town that will make passage of a bond for a new library impossible, costing us both a new library and all state funding?

We are obviously in a difficult economic time. An old adage says that when you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. Does it really make sense to cut services to seniors and children and those most in need during tough times? As the town and schools are teetering on the edge of financial ruin as the result of lost state funding, is it "fiscally responsible" to both decimate services and push our town and schools towards bankruptcy? Is it smart to send the town on a path to insolvency from which it will never recover, rather than spend an extra $3/week in taxes now to preserve the town and schools and keep us on the path to recovery and reform? It's worth noting that those most affected by even a $3/week tax increase can contact Town Hall to see if they qualify for a hardship abatement, and the Town Council has the capacity to extend those considerations if they feel it's needed.

It's up to the people of Tiverton to decide the proper balance between taxes and services. No one likes tax increases. But the majority gets to decide if it's worth an extra $3 per week in taxes to preserve town and school services, stabilize the town's fiscal stability, and safeguard the value of our homes. Almost everyone with experience with Tiverton's government and financial situation is united in rejecting the Budget Committee's plan and supporting the "fiscally responsible" budget requests of the Town Council and School Committee. Please join us in preserving the community we love.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI