Fixing the roads

To the editor:
    Once again the Houlton Town Council is trying to tell us that if we do not take out the $1 million bond to fund our roads this year, that the mill rate will probably go up. This is an attempt to scare you, the taxpayers.
    The council should take out all the extra things that someone put into the budget this year. In my opinion we can do without them, and have no effect on the overall operation of our town.
    I am not a person to spend the taxpayers’ money at will. I have always helped keep the mill rate low for lots of reasons.
     By doing this the town would be better prepared to deal with the shortfalls that could be coming from the federal and state governments.
    As members of the Road’s 2000 Committee, we look at all the roads and sidewalks to determine which are in need of repair. I believe fixing our roads in steps would better serve and save the taxpayers’ money. To do this, it needs to be budgeted each year, starting with this year.
    Last year the Roads 2000 was budgeted at $260,000 and this year $0. The mill rate stayed the same last year, so what changed?
    I believe this council is not spending our money wisely. Say we do vote and pass this $1 million bond (with a payback interest of about $500,000 over 20 years) to fund our roads, what do we need next year, where is the money going to come from?
    They say we didn’t have it this year.
    As a past member of the Board of Budget Review for four years, chairperson for two of those years, and a councilor for three years, I believe my seven years of being involved in the town’s budget process, we should not be spending money we do not have and asking our future generations of taxpayers to help pay for it. The lack of responsibility from this council, once again is unacceptable to me as a taxpayer.
    There are things the council could do to fund the roads without the bond. Tough times require tough decisions. We can do better.
Carl W. Lord Jr.
Houlton