Voters should look for realistic leaders
Nobody wants higher taxes. We can all agree on that. But the Town Administration has told us Fairhaven will likely face a $3.5 million budget shortfall next year.
Some people suggest we can close that gap without raising taxes and without major cuts to services. Don’t be sold a bill of goods, think about what those promises are based on.
First, there is the idea that economic development will quickly generate enough new revenue to solve the problem. Economic development is important, and everyone wants to see it succeed. But this is not a new strategy, and meaningful growth takes time. We still need key planning and development capacity in place, starting with a Town Planner. It is unrealistic to expect economic development to move the needle on a multi-million-dollar gap within a year.
Second, some propose appealing to the state for help from its Rainy Day, or stabilization, fund. But stabilization funds are not intended to support recurring operating expenses. Both the Governor and our State Representative have made that clear. We can advocate for additional aid, but relying on a state bailout to solve next year’s budget problem is not a responsible financial plan.
Third, there are calls to create a citizen committee to identify waste in town government. Fairhaven already underwent Financial Management Reviews by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue in 2012 and 2022. The DOR works with all 351 Massachusetts communities and specializes in municipal efficiency and best practices. Most obvious savings opportunities have already been identified. Residents may still uncover small inefficiencies, but let’s be realistic — this effort will not erase a $3.5 million deficit.
Most municipal spending is made up of wages and essential services, not administrative overhead. We’ll need to reach far beyond the smaller reductions that caused grave concern this year to close the gap. Blaming the School department is senseless when net school spending limits how deeply schools can be cut and smaller departments are too small to generate significant savings. Without an immediate revenue boost, substantial cuts will certainly need to come from some combination of Police, Fire, and Public Works next year.
Finally, some speak of “Free Cash” remaining at year end as wasteful, but the Town’s own financial policy recommends generating free cash at 5% of operating budget to ensure financial stability and allow for investment in our assets and infrastructure. This policy safeguards against the temptation to perpetually push off capital expenditure, avoiding higher future costs.
Voters should look for realistic leaders who will quell divisiveness. Given the size and legal requirements of the school budget (Net School Spending) it is critical that the Select Board set the tone for inter-department collaboration, especially with the School District, in order to face the challenges of the year ahead while working toward long-term solutions. Leadership must be honest and realistic about these issues, committed to collaboration, and focused on maintaining quality services in Fairhaven.
We will vote for Pam Keuchler and Miles Grant for Select Board.
Bob & Ann Espindola, Fairhaven
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