Tax and Spend Reigns!

On May 18, 2014 Paul Choinier wrote “Government by the people, as long as they bother”

http://www.theday.com/article/20140518/OP04/305189961/0/SEARCH

This article describes low voter turnout in recent budget referendums in the area. While I appreciate and share his concern regarding voter apathy in the region, I am envious that in Preston, Griswold, Chester, Deep River and Essex the voters have the opportunity, to have a say, as to how their hard earned tax dollars are spent in their towns.

In Groton the taxpayers have no say regarding how their tax dollars are spent. The Board of Education, Town Council and RTM increase spending ever year. In fact this year there was an "unexpected windfall" and instead of reducing spending and taxes, spending is increasing and taxes will be raised.

Preston has the right idea. Three separate votes. One for Board of Education, one for Town Operations and one for Capital Improvement Projects. That way there is no uncertainty as to what the voters want.

The entrenched Groton Democratic and Republican status quo, ensure that they will never be challenged, as both parties seem to work for the same Town Manager. Unfortunately the status quo spendaholics in Groton will never allow individuals with a "fresh perspective" to be a part of the conversation and have an impact.

Both political parties resist any effort to move toward a budget referendum. The hypocrisy is staggering on both sides in Groton. On the one hand, they fiercely fight against a budget referendum, and in the next breath, they insist that they must "let the voters decide" on specific spending projects in referendums.

Needed is a budget referendum, as in Preston, with the opportunity for Groton voters to decide the Town Operations, Board of Education and Capital Improvement Project budgets individually.

The current budget process is not effective, in fact it is dysfunctional. The Town Manager and Board of Education direct the budget process with spending increases year after year. Both parties rubber stamp the Town Manager’s and the Board of Education budgets thereby protecting the tax and spend status quo.

A Charter Revision is in order and seems like a good idea, but we all know that the status quo will never allow anyone with a "fresh perspective" on the committee.

Also desperately needed in Groton are term limits for all elected and appointed positions. Term limits are necessary in order for 20 and even 30 year politicians and political appointees to step aside.

The fact that there are people who have been on the Board of Education, Town Council, RTM and some commissions for two and three decades makes the case that there is not “fresh perspective” in the Town of Groton.

There is some encouragement, when Groton voters have an opportunity to vote on spending items. In the 2013 referendum Groton voters voted 3 to 1 against spending and raising taxes. Also, the Phase II School Project was easily defeated with one district opposed 5 to 1.

Unfortunately this year the taxpayers lost out to the Groton culture of tax and spend. Perhaps in the future there will be an opportunity for Groton voters to have a say as to how their hard earned tax dollars are spent. But for now the status quo tax and spend reigns in Groton.