To the editor:

Hello, Tiverton friends! I started my third year on the Budget Committee (BC) with high hopes that we could all work together to submit a fair and reasonable budget to you, the residents and voters of your town. 

We have $3 million in casino revenue this year, so you would think it would be easy — it wasn’t. It seemed everyone said they needed or wanted things. Some departments had been waiting for awhile, thinking now they would get everything they need — it added up fast! 

Examples:  Municipal capital requests received $2.1 million, 375% over last year ($23 million total). New Town Administrator Jan Reitsma had listed even more, his helpful start of a 5-year plan (noting that the long term plan idea was initiated by Town Council President Rob Coulter years ago).

We voted in the ambulance at $240,000, and two Harbormaster Dept. boat motors, and many other items. The Fire Training course was funded. The schools were not level funded, due to new Superintendent Sanchione’s presentation of better things planned – a 4% increase overall ($31.5 million dollars total, close to $23 million from taxpayers). It was a huge effort at compromise; we trusted that departments said what was truly needed.

One example of working together was so heartwarming: the Town Farm Playground jungle gym which needed to be built, or children would miss out on this precious experience. It started at the first Town Council meeting when Vice President Justin Katz suggested it was a priority, and met with the TA numerous times to get the project started. The Budget Committee was led around Town Farm by Chris Romlein, telling us the history, how over the years volunteer groups helped create Town Farm as it is today. Rick Rogers, DPW director, pointed out logistical requirements.

Despite these genuine efforts, a few certain people started complaining – however, if every budget item gets "the world", the budget would use over the amount taxpayers living here, for generations, for decades, could afford.  “Afford to pay” for some means paying for food and bills - maybe no recreation, maybe not taking that course to help their career, etc.  Let’s hope this doesn’t cause a lower budget next year, because the taxpayers were promised tax relief for the casino dollars. 

So vote for the “work together” BC budget that lowers the tax levy -1.5%, lowering your taxes approximately -5% (minus 5%!). Instead of spending time and money attacking and selectively quoting/misquoting the current TC/BC who funded this compromise, non-extreme budget, please donate to or volunteer for your favorite town cause – I hear the Town Farm jungle gym and fields need it this year!

Ruth Hollenbach

Vice chairwoman, Tiverton Budget Committee