I&M Question #1 for April 4th: Given the fact that town salary and benefit increases have outpaced the growth in municipal revenue, what changes, if any, would you propose to restructure the town's agreements with its labor unions?
We need to look at municipal revenue more carefully. In the past, we have relied on new growth to keep up with the salary and benefit increases. Most of the new growth has come from our vacation home housing boom. The Land Fill Operation was sized to accommodate the peak operations during the summer. The same is true of the Waste Water Treatment, the Police Station, the Water Towers, and Storm Water Treatment.
The BOS has increased 19 different permits and user fees this year. This hurts year-rounders struggling to make a living. If we look more carefully at the economic impact of an override, we find that 87% is paid by non-resident taxpayers and only 13% by resident tax payers. This means that for every dollar that the resident taxpayer pays the non-resident tax payer pays $6.70. Vacation homes caused the problem, and are rightly charged higher taxes.
Strategic planning is my greatest strength. Land based Wind energy can save the town $3M per year in a few years. Moving the bulk fuel to the airport will save $0.40/gallon or $4 Million per year. Doubling the scallop industry will bring $60,000 per day into the economy. Combining Our Island Home, ACDC, and Sherburne Commons into a public-private partnership will save $3 Million per year.
We need to grow our economy while protecting the jobs of teachers and Town employees, and reducing the cost of living for year-round residents.
Let's Grow Our Team!
Whitey and supporters stump the dump
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