To the Bulletin:
When I first heard about a multi-year override, I dismissed it. So I sympathize with the skeptics. But as I began to understand what the Finance Committee was talking about, I changed my mind.
This is not just another override, as in 1991 and 2004, to fix the next year's problem. It's a three-year plan, which is funded by the override. On May 1, as we vote on the override, we vote on the plan.
Yes, we need to make cuts and control spending; that's one of three crucial parts of the plan. We can differ on whether or not we've been spending too much, or on what. In fact, both the Town and the schools have been forced to make cuts year after year. That's because state aid - our major revenue source to supplement property taxes - has been radically reduced at the same time as costs we don't control, especially for health insurance and utility costs, have skyrocketed.
But we must do more to regain control of our financial situation. We need to vigorously pursue economic growth and new revenues, the second part of the plan. Passing the override would provide both the funds and the time to make that possible.
The proposed $2.5 million override, combined with a modest 3 percent budget increase for FY08 and budget caps of about 5.5 percent for the next two years to maintain FY08-level services, will not require another override for three years. Any success in our efforts to secure new, long-term revenue extends that plan, beyond three years.
The 3 percent budget increase allowed by the override still leaves long lists of services reduced or eliminated. But it's a lot better than the 1 percent, without the override. Not many of us would want to live with that reality for very long.
Town Manager Larry Shaffer, who has strongly endorsed the three-year plan, points out that, if the $2.5 million override should fail on May 1, a smaller one could be scheduled and a few things voted back in. Quite true - for this year. To be followed almost certainly by another, bigger, override next year.
A smaller override is yet another one-year fix. We've had those. What we need is a plan, this plan.
Let's, please, vote Yes on May 1.
Eva Schiffer
Amherst
Source: Letters, The Amherst Bulletin, April 20, 2007
