Letter: Elector Petition Budget #2 is best for Tiverton taxpayers

Posted 5/3/18

I would like to address a letter by Councilor Christine Ryan regarding the 39 cents difference of Budget #2, the alternate budget. Budget #2 is balanced with a sharpened pencil. How often have …

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Letter: Elector Petition Budget #2 is best for Tiverton taxpayers

Posted

I would like to address a letter by Councilor Christine Ryan regarding the 39 cents difference of Budget #2, the alternate budget. Budget #2 is balanced with a sharpened pencil. How often have we heard the same old claims through the years of “it’s just 39 cents or 50 cents more”?

That 39 cents adds up to hundreds of more dollars for the taxpayers’ house taxes per year, and compounds year over year.  I’m tired of the constant threats of impending doom every time the government doesn’t get its money by arm twisting and threats. The real-life threat is, can the taxpayer afford the increase and still have quality of life, or is it the difference of losing their home. Not to mention that all this is on top of our recently increased house assessments.

The casino revenue offsets the tax levy, so why underestimate the amount? That means money is left on the table that taxpayers will have to make up to pay a higher levy.

Ms. Ryan complains that it is a tight budget, yet municipal spending increased by 10 percent, which includes pay raises, while our wages stay flat. What about our wallets and our ability to pay? 

The constant cry for a Town Planner, another expensive town employee with benefits, ignores the fact that every time this position has been filled it was wasteful turmoil. Past tracking of the monthly activity sheets of past planners showed nothing going on enough to support the large wage and benefits. Just outsource when needed. 

The casino being approved is a product of the citizens being desperate for tax relief, not more spending beyond the ability to afford the services. Is the money you earn really yours, or are you simply the guardian of it until the government decides it needs more?

The town is an entity that confiscates more and more of your hard-earned money and has no heart. There will never be enough money to feed the beast. It doesn’t care if you have enough money left after taxes to take care of yourself or family. But through this FTR vote on Saturday, May 19, you can keep the taxes affordable, so you can live in your home without fear of not having enough money to live or for retirement.

Councilor Ryan encourages you to do right by the town. I say do what’s right for your yourself and family.

The elector petition budget #2 removes the stipends for town council members like her, so she's got a reason to complain about everybody’s “39 cents.”

She is always able to write a check to the town if she feels she wants to pay more.

Donna Cook

Tiverton

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