Charlestown Democrats blast proposed town budget as a “$3 million taxpayer rip-off”
On June 3, Charlestown voters will be asked to turn out for the Town’s Budget Referendum.
Included
in the town’s budget is a $3 million “blank check” for construction,
supposedly for a “community center” in Ninigret Park, even though
Charlestown already has a community center in the park.
The
Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (CDTC) voted unanimously to
oppose this budget because the Town Council, dominated by the
Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA), chose to use a rare $3 million
dollar surplus to fund an unnecessary project with no plan or detail.
The CDTC noted the existing community center is in fine condition but is underused.
“Why
commit $3 million to a new community center when we could use those
funds to give working families in Charlestown some well-deserved tax
relief? That $3 million dollars is OUR money, not toy money to be used
for some CCA slush fund,” said CDTC chair Cathy Collette. “The CCA
proposal is devoid of detail – we don’t know if they are even aware of
the existing community center.”
“Returning
the $3 million to the taxpayers by lowering taxes is just one of many
ways that money could be better used,” Collette continued. “Our police
department needs more support. We could help recruit and retain more
volunteer fire-fighters by offering them a property tax credit like
several other Rhode Island towns such as Jamestown and Bristol. Instead,
the CCA is asking voters to put their hard-earned money into a vague
and unneeded pipedream.”
If
Charlestown voters reject the proposed town budget on June 3, the town
will operate on its existing budget until the budget is re-written and
approved.
Cathy
Collette said, “The smart thing to do is vote to reject the budget on
June 3. Make them re-write it to either lower taxes by $3 million or
come up with a more sensible plan that will benefit the taxpayers.”