To the editor:

Every week, I think the Budget Committee meeting can’t get any worse than the previous week, but I have been proven wrong yet again. At the March 16 Budget Committee meeting, the Budget Committee decided to end public speaking at the beginning of the meetings. During that vote, two of the Budget Committee members were absent and one of them tried to delay the voting until next week. However, it appears to me the majority of the members in attendance saw this as an opportune moment to squash public comments.

They want full power and now that residents are becoming aware of the Budget Committee antics and we are having a supposed “Jesus moment,” they are starting to feel threatened and will do anything to shut us down.

On top of trying to cut funding to the schools, fire department, police department and library, the Budget Committee is now also trying to cut funding to East Bay Community Action Program. The East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) provides Head Start, social services, health services, a food pantry, programs for the seniors, amongst many other services.

Justin Katz suggested residents donate money directly to EBCAP instead of having taxpayers pay for it. This is a great asset for our town as it assists many residents, so why rely on donations rather than our tax dollars since it benefits our residents as a whole? Why cut funding to the less fortunate who are already struggling on a daily basis? We need services like this in town.

Educate yourself and vote at the Financial Town Referendum May 18-20.

Kimberly A. Brilhante

Tiverton Resident