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Barkhamsted Budgets Out of Control
By Al Krassner, Barkhamsted
Barkhamsted spending is out of control! According to the public hearing notice from the Board of Finance, there is a looming 9% budget increase resulting in an 11.3% tax increase (3.1 mills).
Hello! Anybody home in Town Hall? Don't the Board of Education and Board of Selectmen realize that we are in an economic downturn, where spouses have been laid off and most of us are on fixed incomes, either due to our age or because we can only dream of such things as a pay raise? Why would they propose spending increases of 12% in education and general government during a year when the economy is in recession?
During hard economic times, one does not generally go on a spending spree; rather, one tends to conserve what little money is available. Oh, I know, it's so easy to spend other people's money. But is it so out of the question or unfair to keep spending at last year's level (aside from any legal requirements to the contrary) in a difficult economic climate?
The budget hearing notice also says that the increase to Barkhamsted for the Regional #7 budget is 7.5% (4.9% overall), when inflation is running at 2%. The superintendent from Regional #7 was in Barkhamsted on March 23 and stated that this was a "bare-bones" budget, and told residents to "enjoy it while you can, because next year will be a different story." If the Regional #7 budget is "bare-bones," what on earth can he have in store for us next year?
The Barkhamsted Elementary School flaunts an 11.97% increase. How's that for tightening your belt during rough economic times? Fair? No. Reasonable? No. Since it was just reported that Connecticut's teachers are among the highest paid in the country (second only to New Jersey), there must be some room to make cuts in that budget, possibly in salaries or personnel.
Many of us are on fixed incomes, and even more of us have been asked to forgo pay raises for the last several years. Shouldn't the town budgets be held to similar standards? I urge my fellow Barkhamsted residents to attend the April 22 budget hearing, and voice your opinion against these out-of-control education and government budgets.
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