Press Release: Blake Proposes Citizens' Audit

Editor's note: Milford Mayoral candidate Ben Blake, a Democrat, issued the following press release.

"When I was Chairman of the Board of Aldermen, we cut city spending and delivered the first and only tax cut in the City's history. We can trim city expenses again – but we’ll need the continued help of all the people of Milford.

"I am confident that many Milford taxpayers know of examples of wasteful spending. We all know about the overt incidences of imprudent spending in Milford like the $700 office chairs and $3,000 paper shredders. And we’ve recently seen Milford spend $27,000 to fund another city's garbage museum. But we also need to identify the less-conspicuous waste that inflates our budget. To this end, I have posted an online form where citizens can submit examples of wasteful spending that they see in their day-to-day lives. This government belongs to the taxpayers – they pay for it, after all – and we need to ensure that their money is well spent.

"For example, I have noticed thermostats in Parson's set way too high when the building opens – meaning that the city structure is being heated while unoccupied. I, like many others, have witnessed the lights burning late over an empty, snow-covered Washington Field in the middle of the winter. As mayor, I won't ask taxpayers to bear the cost of inefficient spending.

"So my message today is for each citizen of Milford: if you have seen examples of city waste, I want to hear about it. Please go to www.blakeformilford.com/waste and tell me what you've noticed. The source of each submission will be kept confidential. My goal is not to disrupt the parts of our government that work, but I do want to identify sources of waste and begin to deal with them in a responsible manner.

"I intend to be a mayor who will listen to the people of Milford and respond to their needs and concerns – but that is a process that begins even before Election Day, and I look forward to reading your submissions."