Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Weymouth's Budget Crisis
I know, I know, I've been slowing down on the blog. Hey, I'm busy with other stuff and that's a good thing, trust me. We have a full house again for the first time in a few months after another marathon drive to Washington D.C. and back to get my little princess and bring her home to cash strapped Weymouth.
It's times like these when elected (and appointed) town officials earn their keep. I wouldn't want to trade places with Mayor Sue Kay, the new Weymouth Police Chief Grimes, Fire Chief Leary, and especially not Superintendent Of Schools Livingstone. All Weymouth departments must come up with inventive ways to raise revenue and trim the town budget for fiscal year 2011 to unprecedented levels. The Mayor has stated that she hopes it will not pit one department against another, but that may be unavoidable. Already, the police department budget has cut the entire traffic division, most notably the school crossing guards and not a single cut was made that will effect the patrolman themselves. They still won't get that raise they've been hoping for, but they will not lose any money or their jobs. That can't be said for the School Department, who will be forced to cut teaching jobs, re-align some schools and increase class size. So, in the early stages of this battle, we see Weymouth's children, who aren't represented by any unions, take direct hits to their education and safety.
Mayor Kay had also stated that Weymouth sure could use a major revenue booster in the business sector to help out. Using Braintree's tax help coming mainly from the South Shore Plaza as an example, the Mayor said that Weymouth needs more businesses, and even mentioned that Southfield, if developed, could have helped. As we here in Weymouth continue to struggle through this economy, the ineptitude over at the old air base continues. Closed since 1997, the air station property should have began producing some revenue for the town by now and yet they continue to play with their Monopoly money over there and do nothing to support the towns that are the reason for their existence.
So, before pointing fingers at each other over where to spend and where to cut and whose fault it is, Weymouth citizens should remember that Southfield, if up and running could have helped, but hasn't, and won't, in the near future leastways. Remembering that won't help with the budget, but it might be good to know when they finally do turn a dollar.
This article was posted by Stanley Ramon on May 11, 2010
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