Town of Braintree

Common Sense

Thank you!

I just don't understand why people would vote the debt exclusion down, when for the same money out of our pocket each year, we can have the roads fixed, the high school roof repaired (read the commentary about this in this week's Forum), etc AND BE ABLE TO WRITE IT OFF ON OUR TAXES which we CANNOT do with the trash fee that provides NO help to the roads, etc. This is poor personal financial planning in my view.

I have researched the town budget and see no fluff large enough to fix the big problems (millions) in town. If you are one who says there is waste, please let us know each item of the budget where you see it so we can write letters of protest.

It is curious to me, if our Selectment are so bad, why are so view running in opposition to them? Are those that want change just blowing smoke on this site or are they deeply committed to the town? Why are more people not coming forward to run? I have only lived here about 5 years and I just don't get it...

Reply to Common Sense

Dear Common Sense,

Here is a reason not to vote for the debt exclusion, it is deficit spending.

Your argument of paying the same and getting the advantage of the tax break underscores short term memories that voters have, and that government has come to rely on. Go back 3 years ago, when we did not have a trash fee. Ask yourself why did we become burdened with a trash fee. Let me refresh your memory. The trash fee was put on us by the then BOS who were furious the electorate voted down 2 over-ride attempts that year. Instead of reducing personnel like the private sector does, they choose to burden the risidents with a trash fee. If you really want to find fiscal mismanagement all you have to de is look at the contract negotiations process. In particular, the recent Teachers contract. The school committee and BOS approved a contract for which we literally do not have the money to pay. Your analysis is shallow or you are just another liberal tax and spend Democrat.

Commonsense is nonsense

A debt exclusion is more like refinancing to improve your cash flow for other things that need to be done and has a payment program that ends after ten years. We listened to the NONONO gang for over twenty years and look what is has gotten us? We recently completed a 7 million dollar road bond project and look at the progress that we have made. This progress needs to continue and the debt exclusion allows for that.

The BOS accepted the trash fee to save school jobs but look what good that did. I don't mind that they told us what would happen if the overrides failed but we now have an opportunity to get more for our money.

The school committee entered into a bad contract, but the BOS has no say in that matter. The raise money will come out of the school budget whih means layoffs, but so be it.

By refinancing the existing debt and allowing for additioal borrowing, there will be money that is currently used for debt payments to be used for trash collection. This isn't tax and spend or shallow, it makes good financial sense.

By anon