I recently wrote how as little as a 39-cent difference in rate per thousand between Budget #1 and Budget #2 would give Tiverton the money it needs to manage the town responsibly. That generated a few letters and some comments at the FTR public forum, which I would like to address.

One of the assumptions that has to be challenged is that tax revenues go into government pockets and stay there. No, that’s not what happens. The money provides town services that benefit everyone in the community – that’s what makes a community.

Sometimes the money is put into a reserve fund in case there is a town emergency, another sensible use of town revenues. The alternate budget folks would like to keep that reserve fund to the bare minimum which, by the way, would keep our town operating for only about one month or less.

Proponents of the alternate budget, however, assure us that we are not likely to have an emergency so we don’t have to worry about that. These folks also like to use the phrase ’the sky is falling’ and argue that people who oppose the cuts use threats, exaggeration, and speculation to scare people.  They should read their own letters which warn people that they could lessen their quality of life, lose their house or have no money in retirement if they vote for the Budget Committee’s budget.

There is a point when you have to stop and think to make sure you are providing adequate services to the town and not making irresponsible cuts or engaging in wishful thinking. Wouldn’t it be fine if there were no storms, fires, or medical emergencies for the next ten years? Wouldn’t it be nice if the town received almost $1 million in extra revenue starting in September? Wouldn’t you like it if budgets cuts had no bad effects on anybody or anything in town?

I think a more productive, and realistic, approach is to plan ahead, use resources carefully, find out the needs of the town and work together to create a priority list for the next one-year, five-year, and ten-year plans. In fact, some members of the public, town government and town departments have already started this process and have begun to implement their ideas.  

Debate and differences of opinion are welcome, but let’s not get caught up in all the rhetoric.  Let’s use common sense and get some work done.  Vote Budget #1.

Christine E. Ryan

Tiverton

Ms. Ryan is a member of the Tiverton Town Council.