Posts

Showing posts from July, 2022

The 7% Budget Referendum: A Political Weapon, Not Reform

Image
This was the budget data the Charter Revision Commission examined. It shows the percentage of budget increase by year. The budget increase does not translate to a tax increase. In 2023, the Democrats for instance, lowered spending but taxes still increased. The party and COLA columns were added by author.  The Charter Revision Commission’s 7% budget referendum proposal isn’t reform — it’s a political weapon. It's disguised as fiscal responsibility, but it’s engineered to shift blame, confuse voters, and lock Enfield into bad policy. There are some good ideas in the commission’s package. But this one? It shouldn’t go to the ballot. Here’s what the proposal says: If town expenditures increase by more than 7% over the current fiscal year, it would trigger a referendum. That sounds reasonable — until you understand the facts. The 7% Fiction First, Enfield hasn’t approved a 7% budget hike in at least 15 years — likely far longer. No council, Republican or Democrat, proposes a 7% hike u...

A case for the Felician Sisters' affordable housing project

Image
An op-ed I wrote for the Journal Inquirer in support of Felician Sisters' housing plan. It appeared Wednesday. But the op-ed also makes a case that our town government lacks authentic leadership. The Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission hearing on this project was continued to July 28.