September Special Town Meeting - The Background

If it was as simple as putting my votes online, these posts would've been done days ago. Votes aren't much good without an explanation; most folks appreciate (if not expect) knowing why I cast that vote.

This time there are also my notes. Most town meetings are regularly scheduled affairs in April and November, but this one was specifically scheduled to balance our books. We began with presentations by the town manager and chair of the Finance Committee (and Precinct 7 representative) Gary Anderson; the latter's statements in particular were worth repeating.

The Finance Committee, he said, is, "frustrated and distressed" over the current situation, noting that the current recommendations to cut expenses are "at best, a short-term solution." He went on to say that, "this town has a systemic financial problem which we've been warning about for three years."

The systemic problem?

We spend too much. Between FY'07 and FY'10 Falmouth experienced a budget increase of $14 million. 34 percent of this was the debt service (i.e., interest payments on projects like the library and high school), 39 percent of this is attributed to salaries, and 27 percent to benefits (i.e., health care, retirement). To resolve this, the FinComm chair noted that "we must either pass a substantial Proposition 2-1/2 override, or cut costs."

Mr. Anderson outlined a four-step process:

1) Closely monitor hiring
2) Fix budgeting and forecasting
3) Fix salary and benefits problems
4) Implement a performance management program

The last step was particularly appealing to me, as the chair's explanation of performance management included a) holding department heads accountable and b) making them justify their costs. As you all know, those words are music to my ears.

He concluded, "the only other alternative is to increase taxes and proceed with the status quo."

That's not my cup of tea.