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A Fiscal Meteor

We should count our blessings for living in Clinton: the natural beauty, the arts and entertainment, great restaurants, our beautiful harbor, enthusiastic public education, robust parks and rec, and brave first responders. It almost seems ungrateful to vote against town and education budgets.

The problem is that Clinton’s town and education budgets continued to grow even as its population, its prosperity, and its economy has contracted. That was already unsustainable and sooner or later had to end.

We have been warned that a fiscal meteor is on a collision course with Clinton. Last year the state threatened to cut $1.5 million in aid to Clinton. This year the threat is $5.6 million. How much and exactly when this disaster will befall Clinton is uncertain, however, we know it’s coming and must prepare for it.

If this were a predicted natural disaster, failure to prepare and adjust would be considered gross negligence, but Clinton continues business as usual and makes no provision to shelter its taxpayers and service beneficiaries from the looming fiscal tsunami.

A budget that envisions an 11 percent tax increase will create great despair. Property values will be further depressed, businesses will be discouraged from growing here, and families will find it harder to feed and clothe their kids and to save for college and retirement.

It is very unfair to say those who oppose increased budgets are ungrateful or object to paying any taxes. I am very grateful and would not object to paying taxes that I can easily afford and that reflect a growing local economy, but raising taxes in the context of secular decline is foolish and very destructive.

It greatly saddens me to say I have no choice but to vote “No” on both budgets and the bonding resolution on May 10.

Victoria Dahl Vickers

Clinton