Well the crack of dawn came about an hour early this morning. right at 4:00 A.M. Thunder storms are still one of nature's most awesome things.
In the news this morning ... Wareham voters rejected a Prop. 2 1/2 override. Soundly rejected it. With a 29% turn out, by over a two to one margin.
Truthfully, you would be a bit idealistic to have expected otherwise. Until that stuff actually hits the fan, and people get a bit covered by the blow back, they will for the most part be a bit reluctant to take you at your word for anything.
At the very local level, when it comes to spending, i.e. spending more of the local tax payer's money, the concept of having a tea party reigns supreme.
Fairhaven has passed three debt exclusion votes. Extra money, for a finite term for a specific and limited purpose. My guess is you won't see another one of those for another solid 10 to 15 years. As to an override, I believe we are 0 -1.
Absent some calamity, you probably won't see a true need to attempt another one of those for a solid 10 to 15 years either.
Calamities however can arise in many ways. Too many to cover here. Too may ways to even predict what may happen.
The whole point in this little exercise today though is to remember that if you expect your local government to work and maintain within the confines of Prop. 2 and 1/2, do not expect your local government to continually expand services, add services, and stretch that dollar any more than physically possible.
The absolutely most frustrating thing to hear is "well its only a few ______ dollars (fill in the blank with hundreds, thousands, any amount you like). Add up all the few dollars more, and then the constant parade of requests, and don't forget to throw in the continuing "need".
Factor in operational mandates, legal requirements, and the true fixed costs everyone has. don't forget about the increased employee costs.
Sooner or later the black becomes red.
Enough. The story is really getting old. I don't disagree at all with a Tax Cap. What I tend to disagree with though are the arguments about taxes going up every year and "what do I get" for my taxes.
Remember one important fact. Prop. 2 1/2 was never intended to lower your taxes. It was meant to cap the amount your taxes could go up in any one year. It has also fostered the perpetuation of the "use it or loose it" concept on a much wider spectrum.
Lower taxes and level services is a classical oxymoron phrase.
It is an openly deceptive mantra that eventually results in some pretty ugly situations which can at times result in some seriously funny situations, but nonetheless result in sad smiles over the realization that the path taken only will result in negative growth.
Anyway, as I said, enough. Seriously. I mean it this time.
In the circle you wagons concept, it is getting about time to do so. Not enough horse power out there to continue to move that wagon train forward.
And not enough brain power to move this along at this point.
You know what. Be safe. Seriously. I mean that.
We're seeing more frequently that the "same" costs more. Not the "same" costs less, or the "same" costs the same. There might not be a problem if revenues were increasing at the same rate of costs, but we know that's not true. So what to do? Cut our costs. Don't be afraid to say it, suggest it, or vote for it. I don't blame the voters of Westport. I'd vote right along side of them.
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