One voter’s view of the town’s financial situation

This year, our community benefits from a diverse slate of candidates for Town Council, with fifteen individuals—six incumbents and nine newcomers—competing for nine seats. Recent years have seen contentious issues, including town finances, budget override attempts, growth management, public safety infrastructure, and renovations to town-owned buildings, which have divided residents along political and ideological lines.

The current Town Council appears disconnected from voter priorities, as evidenced by the defeat of two budget override proposals. Voters have signaled concerns about excessive spending rather than insufficient revenue, indicating a need for the Council to address expenses before considering another override. These defeats reflect diminished public confidence in the Council’s fiscal management.

Additionally, the rapid expansion of multi-unit housing has raised questions about the Council’s approach to development. Despite exceeding the state’s low-income housing threshold, dozens of new multi-unit housing buildings have come online with many more being proposed. Yet, there are no plans for new roads or upgrades to existing infrastructure, which is already at capacity. Future Council members must clarify their rationale for continued development and present solutions for the resulting strain on town resources.

To many voters, proposing tax overrides or increasing taxes before suggesting ways the town might live within its current revenue structure does not reflect the voters’ wishes. Future Council members must do better.