This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Simply Can’t Understand

On May 10, Clinton taxpayers will vote on a proposed budget that’s being represented as a four percent increase, but that’s completely misleading. It’s common knowledge the state’s in financial trouble, facing a huge deficit, which will severely diminish payments to municipalities. Considering the most likely decrease in state funding, if the proposed four percent spending increase is passed, Clinton will actually see taxes increase by an estimated 11.3 percent. The Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance should be ashamed to present this budget under these circumstances. As we heard at the public hearing, taxpayers can barely afford current taxes.

By comparison, Westbrook residents are looking at a 2.3 percent tax increase. In light of the state’s financial situation, Westbrook is freezing bonding to prevent debt service increases. Debt service increases are responsible for 43 percent of Clinton’s current proposed budget increase. That will also increase budgets for the next 20 years. But Clinton officials are requesting $7 million in yet another bonding package. Facing a potential 11.3 percent tax increase, do voters really want to approve $7 million more in additional debt, plus interest? And the bonding package is all or nothing. I recommend that voters say, “Nothing!”

I simply can’t understand how the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen could justify such an irresponsible budget. It’s also extremely unsettling that the lone budget request chopped was the Police Department, as always, when the first priority of every elected official in Clinton should be the safety of its citizens.

It would be prudent for Clinton to hold the line on spending, since the reduced state contribution will already result in higher taxes. On May 10, I encourage your readers to vote “No” on the irresponsible Clinton proposed budget.

Vincent Cimino

Clinton