Support for Higgins' 'steady hand' on budgets
To the editor:
Long before the current global recession hit, Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins was developing valuable experience in dealing with the type of budget crunch the city faces. Dramatic cuts to local aid and statutory limitations on property tax increases have led to shrinking city budgets, yet Mayor Higgins has found creative ways time and again to meet the needs of the residents of our city and maintain the special character of our community.
During the budget crisis that led to talk of closing one of our elementary schools, Mayor Higgins held a number of public meetings to discuss the city budget and explore potential sources of funding for city services. I attended one of those meetings and was impressed with the calm, practical approach she brought to a complicated, emotionally charged situation. Since then, my confidence in her leadership has grown.
I urge voters to make an effort to hear the mayor's views on the issues facing the city. I think you will be impressed with her knowledge of the processes of government and with the even-tempered manner in which she approaches her job. She has the steady hand we need in these difficult economic times.
Tom O'Connor
Florence
Comments
We deserve Better
Managing budgets by simply requiring that every department cut 5% across the board is no management at all. It presupposes that every service is as much a priority as the next which is simply not the case. Time to focus on what is important to our community. Traditionally,community priorities rank as Education, Public Safety and Infrastructure. Prudent managers would check down the priority list, allocate resources so that each is met to the fullest and only then moving on to lower priority items.
The fiscal environment in which we reside simply does not give us the luxury of taking our current pie with the same slicing and shrink it down. I suggest that it is time to blow up the old pie and reallocate according to our priorities. In better times lower priority items that get cut can be brought back on line.