Allegiance To The Boogieman: Where is Lisbon Council's Allegiance‏

Last night (6/5/12) it became abundantly clear that The Lisbon Town Council works for someone other than the good people of Lisbon.

In the beginning of the Council meeting the Lisbon Budget Advisory Board Chairman gave the Council this years budget recommendations.  Their (Advisory Board) conclusion,  after many workshops and months of exhausting study, was to reject the proposed budget increase and in its place institute a 10% across the board budget cut.

Shorty after hearing the Budget Board’s recommendation  the Town Council voted to  pass the proposed bloated budget. This action was a blatant slap in the face to the dedicated members of the advisory board. Why have an Advisory Board if you have no intention of listening to their conclusions.

 This budget will increase our mil. rate to approx.  $18.84, when adjusted for 100% valuation. This is over a $200 dollar increase  for the average homeowner and one of the highest tax rates in the State.

At last months special budget meeting  there was  unanimous agreement not to increase salaries or the budget. The Councils own Advisory Board echoed the same sentiments by recommending a 10% across the board budget cut.   So why did our Council saddled us with this large tax increase?

To answer that question we need to ask ourselves who benefits from this increase?

I submit that there are at least two major winners in this budget battle. 

•     The Police Department gets to keeps their Duplicate Dispatch Center even though it reduces dispatch times that potentially places Lisbon residents at risk.
  
  If you sit down with the numbers and do a little simple addition you will find that our PD. costs us over one third of our non school budget, or more than  2 million dollars a year.

•     Municipal Department Heads get raises and perks (The School Department didn’t take raises this year)

After last nights vote I truly believe our Council is representing someone other that the Lisbon Taxpayers. The Council's actions speak volumes about their allegiance. 

Call or e-mail your Councilors and tell them you want them to represent you. Tell them you can't afford this large tax increase. 

 Don’t take their excuses as fact, ask for proof.
 

And above all remember this vote in November.

Respectfully
LisbonMaine.Net
Joe Hill

PS:
I would like to commend Councilor Mason for  voting NO on most of the budget votes.  Thank You for representing Lisbon taxpayers wishes.