That old saying should read: The more things change, the more they don’t stay the same.
When I first moved to Bedford on August 1, 1968, the year’s taxes on my home were less than $300.00. Now, some Bedford residents probably pay that to register one of their cars. My taxes are now twenty times what they were then and they show no sign of going down.
We all need to recognize that the town is only responsible for 17% to 18% of the tax rate. The state and county are responsible for 22% to 25% of the tax rate while the overwhelming percentage goes to the school budget. It should also be pointed out that the state portion funds state aid to education.
So when people get concerned that the proposed Town budget reflects a 28% increase, we need to remember first of all that it is 28% of the smallest piece of the tax pie. Is it possible to find savings in the proposed budget? Probably. I’ve yet to see a budget that can’t be cut to some extent.
The major part of the increase is a result of the payments that are now due on the road bond. The voters recognized that the roads needed major expenditures and supported the bond issue. I think it was a smart decision. Can I point out where some money can be saved in the proposed budget? Not at this point. But, if I am elected, I want to look at the detailed budget book and see if there are savings to be realized. There is a vast difference between value and cost and that is how I intend to look at the budget. More on this next week.
We have what is called a bottom line budget. Money can be moved from one account to another as long as we respect the bottom line. And there is no law that says the Town has to spend every penny that has been appropriated by the voters. It is permissible to use any unused balance to lower next year’s tax bill.
