Election season has arrived. Beware of politicians who are adept at spinning the truth, and who
subscribe to the belief that, if you repeat it often enough, it will become fact.
Here are some facts that can be proven. You can find everything in the public records of our
Town and our Commonwealth:
1) It is fiscally irresponsible to use free cash for a recurring expense. Being fiscally
irresponsible affects a town’s bond rating. Trash disposal is a recurring operating
expense. The Town’s fiscal guidelines (pdf page 4, section G.2.) for free cash state,
“Since Surplus Revenues are unpredictable, it is the policy of the Town to use Surplus
Revenues for non-personnel and non-operating expenses.”
2) The reasons that our water bills have occasionally been lower in the recent past are
primarily due to skipping the customary funding of the maintenance of the water and
sewer pipes, a lower assessment from the MWRA, and most recently, a billing period on
the water bills that was shorter than usual. When DPW workers’ salaries are moved out
of the water and sewer department, the impact to the water bills is insignificant, and we
pay with our taxes instead. The cost is still ours to pay.
3) The Selectmen have never lowered your tax bills. Every year since the enactment of
prop. 2 ½, the town raises the tax levy by 2 ½ %, the maximum allowed by law.
Individual tax bills may fluctuate up and down, but overall, our taxes have always gone
up.
Seasoned politicians on a mission to capture your vote can be convincing, especially when they
possess a talent for the ability to tell you exactly what you want to hear. Check the facts and
don’t be misled.
