Fairhaven Needs to Prioritize Spending
Local municipalities across the Commonwealth are facing significant shortfalls in revenue at the same time federal COVID and stimulus funds are ending. This is creating immense fiscal pressure on local budgets, forcing tough decisions between cutting essential services or raising taxes on already stretched citizens.
At a time when municipal budgets are stretched thin, economic pressures are growing, and federal support is dwindling, the urgency to prioritize municipal spending on critical needs has never been greater, and the consequences of misplaced priorities can be dire.
As an organization created to urge wise stewardship of taxpayer dollars in Commonwealth communities, Mass Priorities is gravely concerned about Article 11 of the Fairhaven Annual Town Meeting Warrant, which would authorize borrowing over $20 million to implement a municipal broadband network owned by the Town of Fairhaven. This proposed project raises significant concerns that merit critical examination, not the least of which is the lack of detail included in the proposal as submitted.
Fairhaven is currently facing significant financial challenges, including a budget deficit that has prompted the introduction of a $100 trash fee to generate additional revenue. Given Fairhaven’s current fiscal challenges, it’s crucial to prioritize spending on essential services such as education and public safety. Services fundamental to the well-being of the town’s residents should always take precedence over pet projects, particularly in times of budget constraints.
Government-owned broadband networks have proven to be high-risk ventures where the risk lies solely with taxpayers rather than network operators. The failures of government-owned networks have already put taxpayers in Massachusetts on the hook for tens of millions of dollars. The experience of Braintree serves as a cautionary tale. The town’s foray into municipal broadband ended in a financial quagmire, with the network sold off for a fraction of its value.
The risk of financial overruns from building and maintaining a municipal broadband project, and the consequent strain on Fairhaven’s budget, could compromise vital services like much-needed support for schools. It is disconcerting that an unnecessary government-owned broadband network could suddenly leapfrog fundamental community priorities.
In deliberating the path forward, it is crucial to engage in a comprehensive and transparent evaluation of the project’s costs, benefits, and risks, and to ensure that every tax dollar spent reflects a clear and present priority with a tangible return on investment for the community at large.
The fiscal challenges confronting Fairhaven and municipalities across the Commonwealth are profound and well known. Instead of drafting articles mandating millions of dollars of taxpayer funds to be wasted on unnecessary projects, we should exercise fiscal prudence and a focus on safeguarding and enhancing the community.
I applaud the Select Board for voting to pass over this ill-advised warrant article and urge Fairhaven’s leaders and fellow citizens to approach any future deliberations with a mindset of cautious stewardship. It is essential that Fairhaven prioritize the pillars of any thriving community — education, public safety, and critical infrastructure — over unneeded, unwanted pet projects with uncertain costs and unintended consequences.
Christopher Thrasher, Westport, MA; Policy Director, Mass Priorities
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