Thirty-nine cents will not buy you a cup of coffee. But it will buy you a decent budget for the Town of Tiverton.

That’s the difference between the tax rates of the Budget Committee’s rate per-thousand ($16.35) and the alternate budget’s rate per-thousand ($15.96). How was it possible for the alternate budget rate to be even lower than the Budget Committee’s rate on such a tight budget?

One way is to cut out a town planner, which is a sorely needed position in this town.  Also cut are legal services, contingency funds and others. More troubling is the projection of a casino revenue stream for the next budget year of $948,583! This is based on the casino opening by Sept. 1, even though other projections say the opening is more likely to be Nov. 1.

The Budget Committee used a more conservative estimated projected revenue stream of $786,840 and has a backup plan if that money is not realized.

Let’s hope that the casino is a success. But the alternate budget has no backup plan except to cut and cut and cut. That will have a direct impact on town services and is a big gamble for the town.

I’m fine if people want to take risky bets on their own dime. I’m not so fine with them putting the town at risk. Vote for Budget #1. And enjoy a cup of coffee knowing you did right by the town.

Christine E. Ryan

Tiverton Town Council