Joan Coe
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Platinum Board Member
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Budget Hearing - April 1, 2008 - 2008/04/01 21:51
Budget Hearing – April 1, 2008
Board of Selectmen
This year we the people are feeling the financial crunch of higher costs of energy, food, clothing, medical, prescription drugs, gas etc on our daily budget. The interest on bank savings is not keeping up with inflation. The stock markets and the bond markets are imploding on a daily basis. Our 401k is now less than 101k. Our homes have depreciated in value. If people have jobs they are concerned that they might have their jobs eliminated and many have lived on fixed incomes for years. We the people do not have control of these many outside forces but we the people did not increase our income the 2.71% that we are being asked to pay for town and educational services. When budgets are tight at home most people start cutting costs. However, town budgets never reflect the economic reality that we have to do with less, not more. We have town employees given town cars to cruise around town and drive back and forth to their homes many miles from town hall. The cars use town gas, depreciate with high mileage and require costly repairs. The taxpayers pay the bill. How many working people in our town receive cars to use for work and commuting and receive gas at no cost to them? These costs should be eliminated. The economic development commission is an advisory board with a budget of $50,000. They are supporting the visitor’s bureau and the main street partnership with salaries and office rentals. Although their services are well documented as a benefit to the town, these organizations should be subsidized by the Chamber of Commerce, not the taxpayers of our town. Last year the taxpayers paid for an $800 breakfast meeting at Hop Meadow Country Club sponsored by the economic development commission with a questionable benefit to the taxpayers. The town budget reflects a minimum amount for maintenance and over the years we have built more buildings that require maintenance and the old buildings should be maintained on a yearly schedule. The town has roads that require resurfacing that have been neglected. The Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund has had a deficit year after year. This year the taxpayers are subsidizing the fund with $65,000 from the General Fund and forgiving a Capital Non-Recurring Fund expenditure of $75,000 for Architectural Services. Why are the taxpayers enabling deficit financing for the Simsbury Farms budget? How many managers in the private sector would be allowed to continually lose money without losing their job? Why does the Recreation Department need three full time recreation administrators when the budget is in the red? Why does the Director of Recreation have an office at the Apple Barn when the focus of most recreational activities is at Simsbury Farms? It is time that all groups using the fields pay to play. The taxpayers should not subsidize private sports activities. It is time that the Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund reflects all expenditures and revenues including capital expenditures. The Simsbury Farms Budget does not reflect actual costs. Why? It is time to stop a tax and spend mentality.
Board of Education
The Board of Education is a bottom line budget. The cuts that are reflected in the budget are not written in stone. I would like to focus your attention on all the trips that our Superintendent and others have taken to other countries at taxpayers expense to evaluate other educational systems. Presently the Superintendent is in Finland to study schools. Is this a boondoggle or legitimate educational opportunity? How many countries have been visited, what are the costs and what are the benefits? January 20, 2008 there was an article in the Miami Herald, The Headline, Commissioners end China exchange program stating, “ Miami Beach commissioners have decided to end sponsorship of a cultural and business exchange program with China because of concerns over the communist country’s dismal human rights record.” I concur with this evaluation. We have recently seen the Chinese government’s total disregard of human rights in Tibet. I would ask that the Board of Education cut all ties with China. I am concerned that the BOE is spending tax dollars on sending a few children to Magnet and Charter schools at the expense of the majority. These expenses should be eliminated. The magnet and charter schools have drained the education system in much needed dollars. Building costs, administration costs and services at these schools are not providing any direct benefit to the majority of Simsbury students. The members of the elected board of education should be lobbyists for the town to eliminate unfunded mandates. The elected board of education should be actively pursuing activities that raise revenues. We have a performing arts center at Iron Horse Boulevard that should be utilized by the high school for student bands and plays. Now that Septemberfest has been eliminated, why can’t the high school have an activity in its place for fundraising? At a time when costs are rising everyone must think outside the box. Why hasn’t the Board of Education utilized the Seniors in this town as greeters and support staff for the school system? When will the school system distribute DVD’s instead of heavy books to each student? This would eliminate the backpacks, back injuries and would lower costs. It is time to deliver services at a lower cost, the same old ways just won’t work.
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Specter (1116)