To the editor:

The Tiverton Town Council’s proposed use of the casino revenue deserves our support. The proposed Charter Amendment No. 10 requiring the town to use the casino revenue for debt reduction, capital expenditures and infrastructure is a sensible use of the casino revenue.

Let me give a few examples. In the town’s budget for the current year, the town will spend $4,794,269 on debt service. If the town were to place some of the casino revenue in a debt service reduction account, the town would be able to pay off some debt early saving the town interest expenses over a period of years. The savings would be substantial. To the average taxpayer, it would be like paying off your mortgage early.

Likewise, if the town used some of the money and put it into our existing capital account, the town could save financing costs that the town currently pays when there is a need to purchase heavy equipment items. In a past year when the town purchased a fire truck for $500,000 spreading the payments over several years, it cost the town $100,000 in financing costs. To be able to purchase a truck, or any other heavy equipment outright, would result is a substantial savings to the town.

Those savings can be used to meet other town needs, and there are needs to be met. Stop by the town garage when it is pouring rain and watch the rain come through the roof. Don’t be misled by the inflammatory comments of the TTA to defeat this. It is not a power grab or an attempt to create a slush fund. The TTA seeks to cripple government and not insure the long range financial interests of the town.

If the town uses the casino revenue wisely, as Charter Amendment No. 10 proposes, the town can meet its needs and reduce and stabilize its taxes. What is better than that!

Louise Durfee

Tiverton