Will Rise to the Occasion
On Aug. 7, I received a letter from the governor stating, “In recent years, I have made it a priority to protect aid to municipalities...In fact, it could be said that we have sacrificed state services and raised revenue in order to shield town government from facing difficult choices required of state leaders and implementing reforms.”
I challenge the governor’s comments. In the past three years, Westbrook has lost approximately $621,000, including Educational Cost Sharing funding. Thus, the governor has not protected aid to municipalities.
During Westbrook’s budget process, we requested every department hold the line on their budgets except for contractual and emergency expenditures. Our Board of Finance decided not to take money from our current fund balance anticipating that there may be further cuts from the state. In May, I recommended that we table potential funding on capital projects until we know the status of the state’s budget crisis and its impact on Westbrook. Westbrook’s “financial house” is in good order and we know that we must go it alone.
During recent years, our tax increases have been very modest with our mill rate being one of the lowest on the shoreline. During this period, we have not decreased services to our constituents and, in fact, have added staff to address some critical areas like Social Services, Senior Center programs, etc.
The governor’s request through the Office of Policy and Management is a clear indication that Westbrook can anticipate that our current well-financed and managed town budgets and services are going to be under attack. Westbrook, like other municipalities, could be punished for fiscally conservative budgets with minimal tax increases.
I remain optimistic that with the full knowledge of what is occurring; we will rise to the occasion as a community to do what is in the best interests of our residents.
First Selectman Noel Bishop
Westbrook
Republican Noel Bishop is seeking re-election in November.