BRATTLEBORO — The economy of the town of Brattleboro is fragile, to say the least. We are, however, continuing to make ends meet even if those ends are, year by year, drawing closer together - that is, we manage to pay our bills but, each year, our services are slightly reduced.
Representative Town Meeting has approved a $14.1 million bond for the police/fire facilities project. The bond was subsequently split, and if interest rates don't rise in the next eight months, there will be some savings from this strategy. However, repayment will ultimately still be close to $1 million annually for the next 20 years.
I have spoken about this project with a small number (a dozen or two) of Town Meeting representatives. Although some still supported the decision, others expressed sentiments ranging from increasing uncertainty to outright regret.
Since the largest part of the loan, or bonding, has yet to be taken out, it is appropriate - if not due diligence - to reconsider what we are about to do.
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The project will add significantly to a tax rate that is already the highest in the state and, by tying up so much money in the repayment of debt, we undermine our ability to support economic development. I liken this spending priority to a farmer choosing to remodel the house rather than replace the old and unreliable tractor.
I work from the premise that a majority of Brattleboro citizens want a town where they can live even if they are not affluent or heavily subsidized. I believe, continuing the above analogy, it is more important to buy the tractor and fertilize the fields than remodel the house.
The house (Brattleboro) isn't in such bad shape, and a few repairs will keep it going until the crop (successful economic development) is in.
Here is an alternative plan. Short form. (Just one of thousands of ideas.)
1. Build the fire station annex as planned but with two additional floors, and relocate Town Hall to this space, ideally designed for municipal operations.
2. Remodel the current municipal building enough to remove all police functions from the basement. Do not build an external addition. (By the way, the design firm currently engaged has already suggested that a standalone police station might be a better choice, casting further doubt on an addition to a 129-year-old building.)
3. Postpone work on the West Brattleboro fire station.
4. Use the millions saved to create a Department of Economic Development, develop ideas for new sources of municipal revenue, and actually fund them! This department could also work with existing economic development groups to build the regional economy and create jobs.
Strengthening our economy should be the foremost priority for any money we can afford to spend. Good jobs are, and always have been, the only bulwark against community decline. When people have decent jobs, there is little crime. If our neighbors had good work, public safety would be maintained with an even-smaller police force.
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A major concern with this proposal is that work has already begun, and a change of course now would be costly. In fact, the only work done to date is some design work. Compared to the overall cost of the project as passed - $20 million dollars, including interest - the loss of some design work is a pittance compared to the savings from not proceeding as planned.
Add to those savings the gains from potential economic development, and we find that redirecting the project provides huge benefits that far exceed what we can gain as it stands.
It is not comprehensible that the leadership in town cannot control its momentum after only a few steps of an enormous journey has been taken.
If you would like to re-open or further discuss the Police/Fire facilities project, please contact me by email, telephone (802-257-0533), or the old-fashioned post: 145 Green St., Brattleboro.