State and towns need to add funding sources

To the Editor:

Balance- to achieve or maintain a position of steadiness. This is the mantra of any successful enterprise. Create a business plan, determine the requirements of funding the operations, project the revenue and expenses, determine organizational goals and contingencies, execute the plan and monitor its performance. This or course requires strong leadership, clear objectives and milestones so that all within the organization understand the final results that are to be achieved.

As I have been a resident of Ashburnham for roughly a decade, and of Massachusetts for over 40 years, and tried to understand the inner workings of politics both at the local and state level. I am always amazed by the lack of any of the items that create a successful enterprise exist when dealing with any level of Massachusetts government.

I will use the current override as a clear example; the commentary of this papers editorial pages are focused of the results of the failed override not the causes that created the need. I would like to suggest we look at these causes.

Funding: Proposition 2 1/2 has been an issue since the early eighties, how does any organization project revenue grow less than annual inflation and operate at net loss every year then be expected to run a successful operation. I understand that this is a state issue but if the teacher's organization and the 351 communities in the Commonwealth stood together and requested and level of 3 percent annually the increase of 1/2 percent would probably reduce the need of year to year overrides requests.

State Mandates: Special Education Mandates are probably the largest item to cause financial restraints for the communities of the Commonwealth. I am a firm believer it is the responsibility of any community to provide for its most challenged residents and provide the support, education and level of care required for these individuals to live productive lives. I also believe that if the state requires these services and has promised a level of funding than it should be forced to meet those funding requirements.

Town Government: Most communities I have encountered in the Commonwealth refuse to look at zoning, planning, economic development, and regional planning objectives in unison. These community requirements are some of the only items that most communities have to grow revenue outside of user fees, local property and excise taxes. Quarterly tax revenues are available for review and historic data exists to provide milestone projections to help any community look at the level of growth it needs to achieve on an annual basis both residentially and/or commercially so that it does not encounter fiscal short falls. It is the responsibility of these communities to achieve progressive zoning, planning and economic incentives to meet those goals. Having used this process in the towns of Ashburnham and Westminster, I can state that this is far from progressive or a revenue growth opportunity for either community.

In conclusion, we need to focus on the causes of our current funding situation not short term but long term. Both communities need to work together to try to achieve a balance, create common goals and objectives to meet the funding requirements that are needed to properly meet all of our communities needs. I understand this may not mean a need for an override never having to be requested but the request will not such a frequent event.

Geoffrey Evancic

Ashburnham