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Cannot Afford Any More

Clinton elected officials have clearly forgotten who they represent. For the second time, voters led by the Clinton Taxpayers Association defeated the irresponsible budgets put forward by the Board of Finance (BOF) and the Board of Selectmen. Taxpayers simply cannot afford any more unnecessary tax increases.

If Old Saybrook, with its superior schools, can create a budget with practically no increase while enhancing services, why are Clinton officials incapable of doing the same? Because they are clearly unqualified. They lack the ability to assess and make necessary reductions. Heck, they didn’t even know they had the $1 million surplus recently announced by the finance director. Even after learning of the surplus and seeing their unreasonable tax increase defeated for the second time, they only reduced the budget by a mere $250,000. Simply insulting! The town needs leadership, not ignorant, arrogant, unqualified officials.

I encourage your readers to continue voting “No!” until a zero-increase budget is presented. If the selectmen and BOF members can’t do their jobs, represent taxpayers, and make the necessary cuts, they need to resign. If they refuse to do so, simply vote them out next election. We can’t afford their arrogance and incompetence.

Vincent Cimino

Clinton