Reduce Spending, What A Great Idea!

Reduce Spending


What a great idea! Now if the public/taxpayers will submit cost savings to the Lisbon Reporter for Mr. Fillmore to bring up as taxpayers suggestions at Council meetings and Budget hearings.

I agree with Gina Masons suggestion that overnight camping for a fee be allowed at Beaver Park. Town Manager Eldridge keeps saying that Beaver Park is a little-known asset. How better to get the word out than to allow overnight camping?  

At the Saturday January 7 Council and Advisory Board tour of town facilities this was brought up while we were at Beaver Park. Some said it would be too expensive to add bathroom and shower
facilities. Why would that be needed? People go camping to "rough it".  As in everything, there would have to be rules; as Verla said, no campfires, charcoal grills only. There would have to be designated campsites with out-houses nearby.

I have been trying for several years to "educate" the taxpayers on a little known fact. Every year one third of our teachers receive a "step increase"in their salary. This began many years ago as a way to bring our teachers pay up to acceptable levels. Look at the teacher's pay in the annual Town Report.

Our teachers are no longer underpaid. THIS HAS TO STOP-THIS YEAR ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Now, I am NOT against teachers and education. I am not against sports in school. Teaching may be one of the most difficult jobs today. I'm sure no teacher will agree, but teachers today are well paid.

The step-increases are not based on teaching performance or student scores, good or not-so-good. The step-increases have out-lived the reason they were instituted. We need to cut spending. It is time to end them.

I also agree with Mr. Fillmore that the Police and Fire Departments be coordinated and under the heading of Public Safety, with one "qualified" Department Head.

Dot Fitzgerald
A Very Concerned Lisbon Citizen