The Town of Lincoln remains one of a small handful of local communities in New England to hold an annual Financial Town Meeting (FTM) providing voters the final voice to approve or disapprove of spending plans for municipal and educational services while determining the local property tax required.
Currently, our community and the entire State of Rhode Island continues to face one of the most severe economic downturns since the Great Depression. We continue to face unprecedented fiscal restraints, state cuts in local revenue, and we are currently completing a state mandated town-wide property re-evaluation.
In addressing and planning for the many fiscal challenges ahead, we have worked hard to reduce spending, create efficiencies, preserve a responsible surplus, maintain excellent bond ratings, and provide effective and essential municipal services. As a result, our most recent fiscal audit ending on June 30, 2009 indicated that the Town of Lincoln was among the top 2 percent of communities in Rhode Island demonstrating excellent fiscal health.
I have recommended a spending plan for the Fiscal Year budget beginning July 1, 2010 in support of municipal and educational services that would again reduce spending, and in turn, the local tax levy. The Budget Board after much review and deliberation has recommended a spending plan that would maintain the current tax levy, while only increasing capital improvement spending. There will rightly be individuals or groups that disagree with these recommendations that will advocate for increased and/or decreased spending at the FTM.
Historically, Lincoln's Financial Town Meeting symbolizes one of the purest forms of democracy. While imperfect, a well attended FTM represents the collective will of the voters and provides crucial oversight and control of government spending. However, when attendance reflects only a small fraction of eligible voters, as evidenced frequently over the past decade, control of government spending is likely to be conceded to groups or organizations promoting their own self- interest, not those of the community at large.
In the Town of Lincoln we have historically enjoyed good fiscal health predicated upon realistic budget projections, responsible spending, and effective budget management. The Town's budget control contains balanced oversight between the Administrator's office, Town Council, School Committee, an elected Budget Board, and voters at the FTM. A well attended FTM is crucial to this oversight process.
I want to strongly encourage all eligible residents and taxpayers to attend the Financial Town Meeting scheduled for Monday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln High School auditorium. The recommended budgets can be reviewed on the town's website at www.lincolnri.org or obtained from the Town Clerk's office. The Town of Lincoln belongs to its residents; its elected officials are put in place to serve you! I urge you to participate and preserve your right to determine local government spending.
We look forward to seeing you at the FTM on May 10.
T. Joseph Almond
Administrator
Town of Lincoln
Almond
calls on voters to preserve 'outstanding fiscal health' of
This year I encourage all registered
Why is your attendance essential?
The local FTM represents one of the truest forms
of the democratic process, especially when special interest and taxpayers alike
are proportionately represented to allow for fair and objective debate of good
public policy. Regretfully, Financial Town Meetings throughout our state have
fallen victim to apathy, with an average attendance of only 2 percent to 3
percent of eligible voters.
What is happening in our community?
While our overall fiscal health remains strong,
the current economic crisis gripping our state and nation has resulted in
several millions of dollars in lost state aid and local revenue for the town of
What steps have we taken?
In February we were required to cut the current
municipal operating budget by almost $1 million dollars in response to lost
state and local revenues. All non-essential spending was frozen, staffing
levels were reduced, and capital expenditures were eliminated. The proposed
What are we proposing for our schools?
We have proposed, as required by state law, to
provide the same level of funding as in the current school year. However, our
lawful obligation to level fund requires us to repeat the unnecessary addition
of $517,000 to the school budget. In effect, this will provide an additional
$1,034,000 over the current year expenses. After careful review, the Budget
Board put forth a proposed school department budget that would adequately
preserve all the educational programs currently in place.
The Budget Board further rejected request to add
funding for wage increases and proposed a budget that requires that all school
employees accept a wage freeze equal to that accepted by all municipal
employees. Without this concession, employee compensation and benefits would
require an increase of $910,005 on
What should parents know?
As a parent myself, I can assure you that I
support maintaining the best school system that taxpayers can afford. I support
and respect the many excellent educators in our school system. However, in
deliberating a proposed budget, we must not to allow our children's programs,
extra-curricular activities, and sports to be held hostage in an effort to
protect wage demands during the most difficult economic challenges our
community has faced in decades.
Local taxpayers, many of whom are, or have been
parents of school-aged children, have generously increased their share of local
school funding over the past eight years in excess of $21 million dollars, an
increase of 77.82 percent, while State Aid to Education for our schools has
only increased by $978,716, or 15.23 percent, during the same period. In
contrast, average student enrollment in our schools has declined, yet overall
staffing and related expenses appear to have increased significantly during
this same eight-year period.
What solutions can voters and parents demand?
First and foremost,
Active participation in the deliberation and
outcome of the proposed budget will further hold our elected officials
accountable to engage in a public exchange of honest and straightforward
information with the parents, teachers, students, residents, and taxpayers they
serve to identify meaningful solutions, plan a responsible course of action,
and implement necessary changes to ensure the successful future of our schools and
town services.
T. Joseph Almond
The town of Lincoln's Budget Board is now midway through the budget deliberation process and quickly approaching our May 11 Financial Town Meeting, or FTM.
I must renew my request for Lincoln's school employees to accept a wage freeze. In doing so, I want to emphasize that I hold the majority of our school employees and administrators in high esteem and have great respect for the profession of teaching.
However, the current economic disaster facing Rhode Island is far from over, and the town of Lincoln is no exception. Many of our residents are facing job loss, home foreclosure, depleted savings, and decimated retirement accounts. The current state deficit is approaching $1 billion, and the state's fiscal outlook continues to deteriorate. If Lincoln is to emerge from this fiscal crisis with our good fiscal health intact, we will be forced to make difficult budgetary decisions.
Over the past several months, I have kept all municipal and school officials abreast of the fiscal crisis confronting our state and local communities. While I realize that employee contracts were previously negotiated in good faith, the town was unexpectedly faced with cuts of over $2 million dollars in anticipated State Revenue Sharing in January of this year. $1.5 million or a 75 percent share of this lost revenue was scheduled to fund our schools.
Despite a dismal economic forecast and the almost $2 million dollars of announced cuts in state revenue funding, a majority of the School Committee, with three members voting to disapprove, submitted a proposal to increase spending by $1,715,446 or 3.6 percent when adjusted to include the $517,000 added at last years FTM. Included in this spending request is in excess of $842,210 in wage increases scheduled to take effect July 1, 2009.
In recommending a 2009-2010 municipal and school operating budget, I have taken a firm position that I will oppose any property tax increases to provide employee wage increases. In fact, my recommendation further reduces municipal government spending. To achieve this, all municipal employees, including my office, have agreed to a wage freeze for the coming fiscal year and they should be commended for their timely and responsible resolve.
I have recommended a responsible school budget and have repeatedly called upon school employees to agree to the same wage freeze. In agreeing to do so, employees have an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to our children's education, preserve jobs for less senior teachers, and show respect for local property taxpayers generous funding of education.
Regretfully, despite the stark reality and repeated verification of this economic crisis, union officials have taken a leadership role to promote false information to resist this fair and equitable request.
In fact, over the past eight years it has been Lincoln's property taxpayers that have sacrificed, having increased their share of local school funding by $21,138,404, an increase of 77.82 percent while State Aid to Education for our schools has only increased by $978,716 or 15.23 percent during the same eight-year period.
I would point out, with no disrespect, that Lincoln's school department employees receive the highest combined wage and benefits when compared to municipal employees and are compensated among the top ranks of their peers statewide. As I noted, school employees did make some good faith concessions over the past year. However, in return, they received a collective total of $732,623.80 in additional wages and benefits.
On July 1, 2009 employee compensation and benefits are slated to increase by another $910,005.65 and by an additional $840,988.52 on July 1, 2010.
I urge all parents and taxpayers not to yield to inappropriate pressures and irresponsible wage demands. I assure parents and taxpayers that there is ample funding available in the recommended school budget to preserve required positions and maintain our educational programs.
I encourage all registered voters to attend the May 11 Financial Town Meeting and protect your right to determine how your hard earned tax dollars are being spent.
T. Joseph Almond
Lincoln Town Administrator
In recent editions of this newspaper, allegations were brought up by the Lincoln Republican Town Committee Chairman Michael Napolitano regarding the Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith campaign for state representative.
Mr. Napolitano made specific points and backed them up with sound facts.
The Republican Committee's Web site at www.lincolnrepublicans.com provides links and photos to back up the specific laws that were broken. This is evidence that can't be spin-doctored.
Patrick Crowley, who is the chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, never addressed any of the allegations in his letter of attack on Mr. Napolitano. Instead, he lashed out and used the opportunity to trash the Republican Committee in Lincoln. He even went as far as attempting to connect the short comings of the state Republican group to this local group. This comparison was unjust and unfair.
At the recent town administrator debate held at the Lincoln Middle School, John Barr, the endorsed Democratic candidate, made the following statement: "The people of Lincoln have a choice. In many communities the two-party system is not alive. Here in Lincoln it's alive and well and thriving." This statement is on video for all to see at www.on-radio.com/Special%20Events/Elections/BreezeDebates.html.
The comments come at approximately the 58 minute mark.
Mr. Crowley has failed to address the issues at hand and he has a history of doing this in his position on the town committee and in his position at the National Education Association Rhode Island where he acts as a union pit bull.
Most recently he was seen on the Channel 12 Newsmakers program screaming at Arlene Violet like a rabid dog.
Many talk radio programs here in Rhode Island have nick-names for him that are extremely negative and unflattering on any level.
While pointing the finger at the local Republican Party, he failed to document what a poor job he did in this year's election.
Two of his Democratic Town Council candidates lost to independent candidates. The only one who won, James Jahnz, ran unopposed. Republican Town Administrator Joe Almond won in a landslide. Senate President Joseph Montalbano was destroyed in Lincoln by independent Ed O'Neill. Even Bill McManus won the majority of votes in Lincoln and was defeated by a large margin in the two precincts in Pawtucket by a whopping 66 percent and 32 percent straight party ticket votes!
To date the public has heard nothing regarding these allegations from our newly elected State Representative Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith. These involve the Hatch Act, IRS tax law and state election law.
Contrary to your belief, Mr. Crowley, calling someone out on violation the law during or after a political campaign is not a smear tactic or even a personal attack: It is called accountability by ones elected officials and candidates.
If our elected officials had the foresight to create these state and federal laws shouldn't our candidates follow them?
Felix Lima Fernandes Lincoln
You have to admire the business savviness of Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith in running for state representative. She has worked hard to get to the top of her child care empire. However, she had little regard for ethics and rules.
It all began with a residence issue. Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith and her husband own a house in Little Compton valued at almost a million dollars. Her husband was registered to vote in Little Compton, (until my party called attention to this fact). She is registered to vote in Lincoln at a home owned by her parents in Lincoln. There certainly was enough evidence to question where she was really living. But given the weak Rhode Island laws that pretty much say you can just produce a "few" documents that have a name and address on them, this issue was quickly resolved. Of course, the fact that she and her husband file state and federal tax returns with a Little Compton address didn't really matter to the local Board of Canvassers. What mattered: the cable bill and the credit card bill with a Lincoln address. Ms. Shallcross-Smith in fact testified that she and her family are only at the million-dollar Little Compton house 12 days a year. So are we expected to believe that someone this business savvy keeps a million dollar house that is not used 97 percent of the time?
In the 2007 legislative session, a decision was made to lower the amount for subsidized daycare from 225 percent of federal poverty to 180 percent of poverty. Ms. Shallcross-Smith lobbied hard behind the scenes to try to prevent this from happening. She even lobbied her own state Rep. Bill McManus. After all, these new guidelines meant that a family of four making approximately $51,000 would no longer qualify for subsidized daycare. It would be lowered to approximately $40,000. Think of all that money her business lost.
Ms. Shallcross-Smith ran an aggressive campaign. She had staff from her childcare business on the phones calling voters from within Kids Klub headquarters. She had an election sign on the property for herself and Mayor Doyle. She went out campaigning with her Toyota Rav 4, registered to her business and proudly displaying "DACARE" on the Rhode Island license plate. Sounds like a great strategy for a private business owner, to use everything at her disposal to run for state office.
There is only one major problem: KIDS KLUB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity. Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. This also includes using one's facilities or assets to support a candidate. This gave her an unlawful advantage over Bill McManus. I guess the rules don't apply to Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith.
In addition, Kids Klub takes in hundreds of thousands in grant money and government money, which she would otherwise not get if her business were not a 501(c)(3). This is why the state Republican Party filed a Hatch Act violation. Kids Klub gets federal grant money in addition to state money. This can be verified by looking at their tax returns on Guidestar.org.
To continue, the IRS tax law also says that a 501(c)(3) can't be utilized for a member's private benefit or inurement and this is extrapolated to one's family members as well. Upon examination of the tax returns, it becomes obvious that this area needs to be questioned as well. Salary and benefits for board and family members is a large percentage of overall income. She owns six private corporations in Rhode Island and there is a business relationship between these corporations and the 501(c)( 3), which also may mean additional income is being made off of the 501(c)(3). These can be viewed on the Secretary of State's Web site under her name. The IRS also requires 51 percent of a nonprofit board to be comprised of "disinterested" parties; this is also not the case for Kids Klub, as she and her husband make up 66 percent of the board. We don't need another politician with an agenda and major conflicts at our Statehouse.
Under Rhode Island election rules, a candidate campaigning on site must be 50 feet or more from the entrance. On Election Day, Ms. Shallcross was 10 to 15 feet from the entrance to Lonsdale School aggressively campaigning. In fact, Lincoln Police came down and asked her to move to the 50 foot boundary. When they left, she moved back. I guess the rules don't apply to Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith.
She will fit in well at the Statehouse and we will be watching.
Michael Napolitano
Lincoln
Chairman of the Lincoln Town Republican Party
We the people have let a clear pattern of corruption that burdens this great state of ours go on for far too long. It is no secret that the citizens of Rhode Island have entrusted the Democratic leadership with the welfare of our state, which is a dismal one. Our founding fathers created what was to be the greatest government in the world, intended for there to be checks and balances throughout to prevent corruption. Unfortunately for us, the idea of checks and balances is null and void in the state of Rhode Island.
The Democratic control has continued to bring us down for decades and we rank near the bottom in nearly every category. This lopsided leadership in Rhode Island continues its pattern of personal enrichment at the expense of the taxpayers.
As a lifelong resident of Rhode Island I am calling upon my fellow citizens to send a message that enough is enough! It is important to support candidates who are open and honest. One such man is state representative Bill McManus. Bill has served my district well for 6 years because he has represented the people and not his own special interest. This is truly a rare commodity in the state of Rhode Island.
As a Republican, not only is Bill McManus approachable as a person, but he truly cares about his constituents. In fact, Rep. McManus, was the first to initiate the 10 percent medical co-pay for all legislators back in 2004. That says it all to me.
Felix Lima Fer
For the past couple of months I have sat on the sidelines respecting Joe Almond's decision to take the high road in the Lincoln town administrator race. But given the fiction that continually is written on a weekly basis by Mr. Barr, I can no longer remain silent. For those of you who know me, I have spent many years working in the media and am currently a college professor of communications. First and foremost, I don't make statements without facts that can be documented. This is called being responsible.
The value of Twin River from a property tax standpoint is not based on the sum of what BLB paid for the business plus what it cost to tear down the old building and build a new one. It is based on the value of the assets. Channel 10 was recently sold by NBC for approximately $200 million dollars to Media General. Mr. Barr, do you think the city of Cranston taxes them on this amount? No, Cranston has assessed them at a value of $3.2 million. Anyone with any knowledge of taxes and real estate, or common sense for that matter, knows the truth. But don't take my word for it; call a real estate company or tax assessor in any town and inquire. That is called doing your homework before you put your foot in your mouth.
The wall built on the property of Joe Almond's brother by the town of Lincoln was a decision made by the Lincoln Town Council. This can be verified by calling your Town Council person. Joe Almond had nothing to do with this decision. The reason why it was done was all about safety, which can be verified by the Lincoln Town Council.
The recent letters written to this paper regarding Mr. Barr were not all written by members of my party as alleged in last week's statements by Mr. Barr. In fact Ken Pichette is the only member of the Republican Party who wrote a letter. The fact that he is a Republican is widely known as he was recently elected as a water commissioner here in Lincoln as a write-in candidate.
As taxpayers, if you want to know the real truth, pick up the telephone and make some inquiries. Mr. Barr, you remind me of a teenager who only tells part of a story to an inquiring parent and leaves out the real details to avoid punishment. Although you are not telling an outright lie, you are leaving out all of the key details to garner points with voters at Joe Almond's expense. Even your comments regarding your actions at the Financial Town Meeting, which is on videotape for all to see, were full of half-truths and misinformation. You pulled the strings that tacked on an additional $517,000 to the school budget and raised our taxes.
I have chosen at this time to expose your unethical tactics rather than focus on your employment record as a janitor in the Lincoln School system and your involvement with the John Celona trial. I am sure if the shoe were on the other foot, names, dates and accusations would have already been released to the media. Your campaign has been nothing short of espionage and fiction. This is the real high road which I believe you have never taken and wouldn't know if it bit you on the behind.
Michael Napolitano
Lincoln Republican Town Committee Chairman
5/22/08 Reprinted with permission from the Valley Breeze
Town Administrator Almond: 'Set aside' the $500,000 to cover next year's shortfalls
Unfortunately, at this year's Financial Town Meeting (FTM) we witnessed a concerted effort by union leaders, political candidates, and some elected officials, to impose a needless half-million dollar tax increase onto our property taxes. Prior to the FTM, false and inflammatory information was purposely circulated to incite both parents and teachers to support this needless increase. More shameful was the immature behavior that took place among those individuals celebrating the imposition of this unnecessary burden on the Lincoln taxpayers.
As a parent of two young children and two older children that attended our public schools, I can say without hesitation that our teachers do an outstanding job! As your town administrator I can say unequivocally that I support the Lincoln School Department. I also have a duty to all Lincoln taxpayers to advocate for responsible, effective, and efficient services, and limit spending to what taxpayers can afford.
Likewise, our elected School Committee members are also committed to public service, outstanding members of our community, and friends to many of us. I understand that the Committee has a primary duty to advocate for a quality education for our children. However, that duty does not end there. They also have a duty to efficiently manage school spending, negotiate contracts with the employee unions, and advocate for the taxpayers that elect them.
Our Budget Board members are also dedicated to public service. They are an elected, non-political group that volunteer endless unpaid hours of their time to recommend a responsible budget for the town and schools. The board is made up of Lincoln residents just like you and me; they are parents, financial professionals, community planners, friends, taxpayers, and teachers.
To exemplify the town of Lincoln's support for our schools; over the last decade taxpayers have provided annual increases averaging in double digits to support our schools. This support has continued despite a decade of reduced state aid to education from approximately 30 percent of our school budget to the current meager 15 percent, a decade of declining student enrollment, a decade of increased staffing, a decade of spiraling health insurance cost, and a 62 percent increase in the pension cost just since 2005.
To illustrate the continued support of town government for schools, we have provided additional local revenue of $345,500 over the past two years to replace cuts in state school aid. In the 2007 fiscal year, we added an additional $799,000 to school capital accounts for continued renovations at Lonsdale School and fire code upgrades. In this fiscal year we are proposing adding $450,000 of restricted capital to fund a building for the Literacy Center, renovate the ELC at Northern Elementary, and resurface tennis courts at the high school.
Beginning three years ago the Rhode Island General Assembly instituted State Law S3050 as a mandate to reduce local municipal and school spending. Then, as the state's fiscal deficit intensified over the past two years Lincoln experienced additional state school aid cuts of $345,500, with further state cuts anticipated this coming fiscal year. If that were not enough, the region is experiencing a significant economic recession which has reduced Lincoln's local revenue growth to almost zero.
The Budget Board's recommended budget at this year's FTM provided conservative, but adequate, funding for all current school programs, activities, and teacher's compensation. Only administrative functions were identified in the coming year for reductions by the board. It must be noted that during the budget process of the past two years few solutions have been put forth by the School Committee to evaluate programs, reduce administrative cost, or control personnel spending. Instead the Budget Board has only received proposals to add staff and increase spending.
While state law allows the School Committee to determine how to spend this half-million dollar increase, I hope you will join me in publicly challenging that this added revenue not be used to negotiate personnel contracts, but be set aside to protect local taxpayers from again having to make up additional cuts in state school aid, or additional shortfalls in local revenue, both of which will most likely occur in the coming school year.
Proponents of this unnecessary property tax increase have claimed that our schools make the community strong, while adding to the value of our homes. While this statement is partially true, it is often cited in a misleading self-interested context. Correctly stated, it is the community that created our good schools, and in reality, it is because of taxpayer support, good planning, zoning, responsible business growth, and stable property taxes that we enjoy good schools in our community.
I believe we have a very competent school superintendent in Georgia Fortunato and will continue supporting her leadership of our schools. We must all work together to demand the State enact a fair and equitable school funding formula for the town of Lincoln. We must provide straightforward information to parents, teachers, and taxpayers if we are to implement responsible solutions. I would be happy to meet with any concerned group to share available information.
There are still many difficult challenges ahead. We must become more innovative if we are to preserve our excellent schools. If we fail, the only people to lose will be the taxpayers, teachers, and most importantly our children. If we can not take responsible steps to maintain stable property taxes and address the unsustainable cost of education at the local level, our children that we educate today, will not be able to afford our community tomorrow.
T. Joseph Almond
Town Administrator
Lincoln
I have 2 children in the
Former PTO President Mr. David Cartier, who was clearly
receiving his instruction from Mr. Scott Barr who was seated next to him, went
up to the microphone and made his proposal for and additional $517,000. All the
while he continued looking back at Mr. Barr for instruction. Mr. Barr’s brother John was also seated
adjacent to him, and is a candidate for Town Administrator. The proposal was quickly seconded. The President of the teachers union, Mary Ann
McComisky briskly approached the microphone to support this motion on the
floor. She talked of being a parent and
having children in
One taxpayer got up and asked how one could support such a large amount of money without knowing what it is for. I made comments supporting our Budget Board, its process and the fact that the numbers proposed needed to be supported. After all, this process took months and already had the blessing of the School Committee. Coupled with the fact that energy and food prices are sky high the taxpayers can’t afford tax increases. Even School Committee Chairwoman Mary Ann Roll spoke and stated that the School Committee had accepted the proposed budget and could work with it. No mention was ever made of cuts by her as well.
When the vote came it was accepted by a wide margin. What was disturbing is that every member of
the School Committee voted for the increase!
The same School Committee that had already agreed to the numbers proposed
by the Budget Board and stated the same fact to the media. It was as if everything was orchestrated and
fell into place. After the fact in media
reports, Mary Ann Roll claimed it would be irresponsible for the committee to
oppose the increase if voters wanted to give more money to the school
department. What she failed to tell the
media is that a large percentage of the voters who approved the increase were
What a brilliant move by the powers that be. This was a well planned and orchestrated effort by someone or some group to get more money out of an already overwhelmed taxpayer. One has to ask if any member of our School Committee knew this was coming. After all, this is a contract year and an additional $517,000 that has no restriction on what it can be spent on, can only help sweeten the pot for the contract negotiations with the teachers that were put on hold until after the FTM. What a way to circumvent the budget process in our town, and slam the Budget Board in the process. What a way to demean the entire budget process.
At the Budget Board meeting on May 15th, there were further explanations from their members about how seriously they have taken these events and I am in agreement. The Budget Board made it clear that they were extremely displeased with the School Committee and the events of the FTM. They explained how during the budgeting process they were given budget information from the school department that was not in accordance with RI State Law, was of extremely poor quality, contained no reconciliations and was very late in coming. The Board members also let it be known that they had previously received letters from the School Committee’s attorney. These letters informed them that they did not have to come up with the figures for the Board until after the FTM! As a taxpayer that attended this meeting some of the discussions from the Budget Board regarding what was done by our School Committee were extremely disturbing and very eye-opening. Our own School Committee had no idea they also had a $500,000 surplus in the school budget until after an audit was conducted!
I can’t help but feel some of the pain the Budget Board feels
right now after all of their hard work on the school budget and the betrayal
they feel from our School Committee. In the end the taxpayers once again get
stiffed in the state of RI. If you are a
If we are going to teach our students ethics, we must also practice them. I encourage members of the School Committee to not spend the extra $517,248 and stand by the agreed upon figures presented by our Budget Board. There is a financial dark cloud on the horizon, let us see if you are truly preparing for it. Taxpayers, when you get your tax bill write yourself a note to attend next years Financial Town Meeting in May. Members of our Budget Board, thank you for all you do! Your extremely hard work does not go unnoticed. Those who doubt my comments the entire FTM was videotaped, please feel free to watch it.
Michael Napolitano
Democrats have overtaxed and overspent for far too long
By now most people living in our state are aware of the
financial crisis involving a more than $500 million dollar deficit within the
state budget. One of the important
things about history is that one can learn from it. What is the lesson here? British Historian Lord Acton stated in 1887,
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This lesson has not been learned in
For far too long the Democrats have run this state. What have they done with that power? They have injected their liberal agenda to give our tax money to everyone. In a perfect world with unlimited resources, one can provide for all but this is not a utopian society. The current illegal alien issue is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. The state can’t even pay its own bills let alone provide for this group. For far too long our Democratic legislature has held all of the power and embarked on a continual pattern of taxing and spending. Last year Governor Carcieri warned of this impending fiscal crisis, and our legislature passed the budget anyway. Every time he attempts to cut anything, a special interest group shows up at the statehouse to thwart his efforts.
Most all local government in our state is also run by Democrats. Here too, the problems have ballooned. Overspending is a problem in most communities and it is getting worse. It is not the time to increase the deficit; it is time to decrease spending. Business prides itself in efficiencies and doing more with less. It is clear that this is not true of government.
I find the agenda put forth by the 3 Democrats on our Lincoln Town Council also to be part of an overall absolute power issue. By voting together as a majority of 3 they have command of all legislation. Although I respect these men as individuals I don’t agree with their politics. If one attends their meetings it is interesting to watch how most of the issues before them have been orchestrated ahead of time, with little regard for anything the few taxpayers who show up have to say, let alone any independent thought. I don’t think it is proper to approve something when the money is not there to do so. This has been done more than once. I also think the resolution they passed supporting a group of janitors who worked for a company, employed by Amica Insurance was not appropriate. They also blocked any discussion about enforcing illegal immigration laws in our town. Some of the appointments they have made were also not in the best interest of the taxpayers. Many will dismiss this as just politics. However, I believe it is a much bigger issue, one associated with power and control.
In our country we have a 2-party system. For far too long in our state it has been
anything but that. It is important to
have one party keep the other party in check.
I want everyone to know that there is a thriving Republican Party in
If one turns on talk radio it is abuzz with angry
taxpayers. Dan Yorke has no shortage of
material on a daily basis. Most
taxpayers are so busy working more than one job to make ends meet, spare time
is a rare commodity. I believe our
predominately one-party government has taken advantage of this. It is time to do more than just talk about our
problems. Now is the time to become
involved. I am calling upon all
independent individuals as well as unidentified Republicans to come forward and
be recognized. We need your support more
than ever. If you are fed up with the
same politics as usual mentality in this state please come and join us. I have seen first hand in the Albion Fire
District, what a group of fed-up taxpayers can do when they act in unison. Remember, your elected officials work to
represent you, not their own personal agendas! If you are a
Michael Napolitano
Chairman
