dOgdigger

RE: The recent defeat of the 19.8 million dollar bond proposed by the Coventry Town Council

Dear Rep. Gorham,

As a voter I was fairly active against the bond. We spread the word via email, blogs, and across community. I have a 2 family mill house on a postage stamp of land and feel that my 3k a year should be enough to ensure my son learns the basics. Particularly in district 3 many home owners are facing significant expenses for the sewer project ($13,200 for my two family without connection expenses). I run a small business, my wife is a full time teacher, and we simply have no room left in the budget.

I voted no, and will continue to vote no. With a faltering economy, a failing town pension plan, and a school superintendent who is insults the intelligence of the constituents, taking on more town dept is sheer idiocy. Building maintenance and expansion needs to be built into the operating expenses, not piled on the back of the taxpayer.

Thank you for your service -

Math seems to be a difficult thing to come by. Now granted I haven’t actually gone to town hall, or even picked up the phone for that matter. But in an age of instant information delivered neatly to my fingertips, I genuinely believe I shouldn’t have to.

I’m finding more and more information about the bond referendum, and it’s increasingly annoying.

Our fine local police department is indeed in a shoebox. But the Kent County Times, again, is interviewing the recepients of the funds instead of the payees of the taxes. Unfortunately the article has quickly gone off line. When a news source is clearly not objective, it is still credible? Where’s the back side of the story - and who can build a municipal building for a police station with 4 million? A neighboring similarly sized community is planning to spend $8m on theirs. If new construction in Coventry is at a 50% discount I’m building the garage of my dreams!

I’ve been looking into this via the web and email. So far I’ve accounted for roughly $13 million for the school and police. That leaves 6.8 million left to move town hall across the street, fix up the high school field, move the senior center, and provide housing aid. Where’s my housing aid? I’m footing the bill.

Finally… found some more information on the Kent County Daily Times website. Appears that it’s one bond, with multiple items. Here’s the interesting part:
“On Jan. 23, Coventry residents will have the opportunity to vote for or against a municipal bond request of $19.8 million. If the bond is approved, $9 million will go to the schools.

Michael Hobin, principal of the high school, says the bond would give the schools the finances to meet state-mandated fire codes, and to improve the learning environment.”

So, just to make sure you’re paying attention, that’s 9 million for the schools roofing, fire code upgrades, and “to improve the learning environment”? What specifically is “improving the learning environment”? And how much of the 9 million will that take?

More importantly the article leaves out where a mere $10.8 million will be spent.

That’s the 10.8 million reasons why I’m voting no. Read the whole article at the Kent Count Daily Times website.

“Coventry Town Council has selected Wednesday, January 23, 2008 for a voter referendum on a bond not to exceed $19.8 million designed to improve facilities, equipment and services related to school safety and operation, Town Hall and municipal services, the senior citizens’ center, the public library, police headquarters, public works, and town recreation facilities and the athletic complex at Coventry High School.”

That my friends is a mouthful. What does it mean? IDK (that’s text message speak for “I don’t know - for all you non technical readers out there - see, you’re learning something).

What it does mean is that yet another bill is being passed under the carpet with no public interaction. It is however, your taxes they’ll be raising to pay for the bonds. I’m all for my son’s elementary school to be fire safe and leak free. But finding out about ONE referendum in a flyer sent home from our local elementary school.

I’m hoping to get a big fat juicy email from my local Coventry Republican party detailing a course of action to send this one packing and get the town council to put up a volley of referendums to let me (remember me, the taxpayer?) decide on which public work I can live with or without based on how much blood I’m already being drawn for in taxes.

Coventry Town Council - shame on you for packing another one so chock full of money and items that your hapless constituents will vote for anything. Coventry Citizens - shame on us if we’re dumb enough to pass it.

Demand items we can give a thumbs up or down to, and how much is allocated for what project - of it all gets tossed.