Ides of March Edition  –    Editorial

Inflicting Fiscal Pain On Town Taxpayers Not Justified

The Westford town meeting this year will be presented with an unprecedented, multi-year proposition 2 ½ override to support a 5.6% increase in town spending for FY 25, with additional increases up to FY28. Combined, this proposal will result in an 18% increase in taxes over the next three years and this increase will be permanent.             

Inflation and increases in health insurance and energy costs will be blamed as the cause.  That is partly true.  Yet, households and personal budgets of many town residents particularly those on fixed incomes are also impacted by these factors.  This tax increase will compound the financial situations of many causing major economic pain.   This pain is unnecessary.              

These cost drivers are all self-imposed, the result of policy decisions in Washington.  They can be changed.  Is it wise to commit the town to a burdensome taxation plan, passing the costs of failed federal policies onto Westford taxpayers ?  Wouldn’t it be more prudent to scale back on spending, and utilize reserves for a short period to see if these impacts abate ?               

The state has also drawn back from its commitment to support municipalities with state aid.   State assessments and mandates, coupled with local aid allocations that fail to keep up with inflation, have pushed more of the revenue burden onto our property taxes. We cannot maintain the current level of town services solely on property tax revenues, unless we are willing to drive a large segment of our population, many born and raised here, out of town.  The state pullback must be offset by drastic restructuring of local government in which regionalization becomes an imperative.              

The tax plan calls for an “override stabilization fund”, a risky fiscal proposition.  It creates a pile of cash presenting a significant temptation to draw upon.  If control of this fund is lost, our difficult fiscal situation will compound.  The town should stand by year-to-year budgeting.             

3.8M of the town budget increase is driven by the Westford Public Schools.  The School Committee and Superintendent made commitments in contract negotiations with multiple unions that went beyond the fiscal capacity of the town to support. The so-call “market basket” communities, cited to support these increases, have per capita incomes greatly exceeding that of our town. The fiscal impact on the town’s taxpayers was never considered.  The school department also maintains multiple reserve accounts estimated at close to 3M.  A portion of these funds can be applied to offset operational costs but no analysis of how much of this can be utilized has ever been done.             

Streamlining town government can yield additional savings.  Public safety management is top heavy, vendor contracts can be better managed, fuel costs and vehicle replacements within the DPW, the Police Department and the Council on aging can become more efficient.  The transfer of several positions to the town budget, originally funded by ARPA funds can be deferred.               

Costs associated with the override are not the only burden to be foisted on taxpayers.  Debt exclusions to fund a library expansion and repairs to the Blanchard Middle school roof will be added. A water rate increase is in the offing to pay for two new PFAS purification plants and despite what the Governor says, prospects for additional state tax increases are highly likely.                 

The property tax is the most regressive tax for raising revenue.  It impacts people’s most vital and necessary asset aside from food itself, shelter.  Taxation is pain. If it must be inflicted, morality dictates it must be as a last resort.  That cannot be said in this case.   Reject this override.

OVERRIDE OPPOSITION BEGINS TO BUILD

A Call For Volunteers : Spread The Word : Get Out The Vote

An organized effort to oppose the unprecedented override proposed by the Select Board is beginning to mount.  This measure can be killed if enough voters attend Town Meeting on March 23, 2024 and vote NO against it. The meeting will start at 9.00AM, registration will begin at 8.00AM.  DO NOT DELAY IN REGISTERING  GET THERE EARLY.             

Everyone has to attend TOWN MEETING and Vote ‘NO’ or your tax bill is going to rise.  If the measure passes there is still a chance to kill it at the ballot box in May but let’s not let it get that far.