What are your priorities?

Last night at the special town meeting, the Town Manager, Finance Director, Select Board, and Finance Committee all insisted that having a tax increase was the best way to finance school roof repairs at Haynes and Nixon. Despite having $9 Million in Free Cash, over $2 Million in other funds, and space in the levy, they are pushing for overriding Prop 2 1/2 and increasing our taxes to pay for these roofs.

They also referenced their new 15 year capital plan which lays out their capital wishes for the coming years.

Here's a snippet of what they are proposing for this coming fiscal year (FY27). This chart shows the projects and the funding mechanisms (I've only included projects over $300,000). Only the school roofs (including the LSRHS roof - was that even mentioned before?) are slated for tax increases. All other projects will be handled with cash on hand or in-levy debt.

It's also interesting to note that there was no reference to the Capital Stabilization Fund which has over $1.25 Million in it (a fund we set up years ago to pay for things like roofs) and no reference to the Excess Overlay Fund (a fund that a few years ago contributed over $2 Million to free cash). Why aren't these funds being tapped?

Do you agree with these priorities? Do you agree that the Nixon, Haynes, and LSRHS roofs should require a tax increase, but other projects shouldn't? Other projects like the library roof, DPW roof, DPW generator, $1.7 Million in trucks, etc.?