As voters make decisions for November 6, the Financial Town Referendum (FTR) from this spring is worth revisiting. Everything members of the Tiverton Taxpayers Association (TTA) said proved …
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As voters make decisions for November 6, the Financial Town Referendum (FTR) from this spring is worth revisiting. Everything members of the Tiverton Taxpayers Association (TTA) said proved true.
Supporters of the higher-tax budget said the TTA-supported Budget #2 was reckless because it used estimated gambling revenue provided by the state, which assumed Twin River would start operating September 1 and be open 24/7. Well, the FTR was May 19. On May 25, Twin River confirmed the September 1 opening. On June 1, the Town Council approved 24/7 operation. TTA was even correct that sports gambling would add to the revenue.
TTA’s critics also claimed we were paranoid to worry that a charter change would take away residents’ ability to control taxes with the FTR, including tax relief from the casino. Sure enough, the council brushed aside charter proposals passed by the elected Charter Review Commission and put its own on the ballot, including one that takes gambling revenue out of the taxpayer-controlled budget process and another that would hinder residents’ ability to propose alternate budgets through the FTR.
This November, vote for TTA-endorsed candidates for Town Council and Budget Committee and to “reject” all local ballot questions. See TTA2018.com.
Justin Katz
Candidate for Tiverton Town Council