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Buyer Beware

In response to the fiscally irresponsible ploy of no tax increases to the Branford residents, I say buyer beware. It took fiscal discipline over the last eight years to build our rainy-day fund. This all the while getting projects done in town, paying down our debt, and keeping a AAA rating with a nominal increase in the mill rate each year. Any homeowner with projects on the horizon plans for them within their budget. What Representative Town Meeting member Tracy Everson (“Help Taxpayers Recover,” Feb.1) fails to tell the constituents is that in addition to the town’s obligations are the added expenses we know are coming.

Whereas we will bond for the new firehouse on the east end of town, which will require a $2 million firetruck, a $600,000 ambulance, and 10 salaried firefighters/EMTs with benefits and OT, we are also losing $1.5 million from the state on school mandates. Then there is the open space fund to keep healthy when parcels become available that many residents would prefer not to go to developers. The same as it pertains to strengthening our coastal resiliency fund. Branford will need to bond the new police department, and a fiscally sound town will receive a better rate, keeping our costs down in the future than one with a weaker balance sheet.

Each year, the Board of Finance already takes from the general fund to ease the increase in the mill rate. I’m thankful that our strong town is currently being steered by First Selectmen Jamie Cosgrove, the very intelligent finance director Jim Finch, and the disciplined Board of Finance. If not for them, politics would see no tax increase today but a much larger and more hurtful one tomorrow.

Kevin Healy

Branford

Kevin Healy is a member of the Representative Town Meeting for the 7th District.