Is This the Right Room for an Argument?

My favorite saying is: If two people think exactly the same, then certainly one is not necessary.  It is a good saying.

I use it because I so often disagree with people I respect or like. There is nothing wrong with an honest disagreement and you don't need to hate the people you disagree with. I love a good argument. In college, one of the sketches I used to perform was the Monty Python sketch: "Is this the right room for an argument?"

But it is a rare occasion indeed when people as different and as outspoken as Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairman Tim Sweetser, Superintendent Dr. Robert McIntyre and myself all agree on a major issue: That the state will welsh on the promise of the $600,000 additional school aid that last year's funding formula promises us.

It's in the budget and the "law" says we will get the money but none of us believe it. I'll believe it when I see it.

I started fighting for more state aid for Barrington schools when I ran for the General Assembly in 1998, claiming we were not getting our fair share of state money.  Our percentage went down every year since .

So, it was with no small sense of validation when Deborah Gist said exactly that, that we were not getting our fair share, in last year's debate. So, with the formula in 10 years we will almost be getting our fair share.

Only there is that pesky math problem again.

 The state has to close a huge deficit. The Speaker does not want the governor's sales tax increase. Unions are suing to protect their pensions. They refuse a cut in benefits. New legislative aides get big raises. Central Falls is more than broke and they can't even keep a receiver in the job. Providence announces that it can't pay its bills past August. Other towns are almost bankrupt. Bristol, Newport and others are looking at millions less in state aid.

With all that going on, how are they going to pass the budget without a lot of towns getting less than they need and less than they got last year. How will Barrington getting a larger percentage increase than everyone else survive?

I mean  politically, can you see  our Rep. Joy Hearn on the floor of the House saying:" I know Providence can't make payroll but Barrington really needs to have the $600,000 more?"

Nobody wins that argument. Either there is going to be a card played that no one sees right now or we will lose that money.

And don't tell me that the new formula is the law. The law used to say that by last year there would be no more car tax!  My car tax bill is not zero and is actually up. Guess what laws get changed! Especially in June in Rhode Island .

 I am sure Dr. McIntyre has a contingency plan for the day the word comes down and we lose that money and that plan will involve very few layoffs if any. He sees, he has long seen, as do Tim and I see, that the money is very likely not coming. We all agree. It may be a while before that miracle  happens again.

But if two people think exactly alike then surely one is not necessary.