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Chief David T. Brooks
By Peter Reuter, Special to The Lisbon Reporter
Once again the time has
arrived when we find ourselves in undoubtedly the most reverent of seasons,
Budget Season. Every taxpayer already
has a license to pursue the prey of choice, ie. Municipal department. Taxes are levied on the people’s property,
personal & estate, which afford the community to carry on with normal
business as usual actions.
But what happens when no one
is ‘minding the fort’ and looking out for the best interests of the community, its
people? When the past management establishment
elected and hired to do so were inflicted with a very contagious social and
economical disease called GREED. You get
exactly what Lisbon
is experiencing right now.
Monies from
the Federal and State levels have all but disappeared that were flowing into
each municipality like spring thaw after a hearty winter of snow. Those dollars, in most cases, were desperately
counted on to balance the often over budgeted municipal balance sheets. Now towns are struggling to manage with the same services they were afforded in past years. Change must occur to correct the deficit created by not making sound economic choices.
Through lack of financial
fortitude Lisbon
has had to dip into the Undesignated Fund account to make up the difference for
a multiple of past years. Leaving it depleted to less than a favorable level. Lately
departments have had to make significant cuts to their operational budgets and
employee rosters in order to keep the financial responsibility in somewhat of
an order. For that, infrastructural suffrage
have occurred. Roads, bridges, equipment
and other items have not be improved or expanded as needed.
When you look hard into the
Municipal Budget of Lisbon at all the departments that have had to make cuts,
one department stands out like a black and blue eye where no cuts have been
made. In fact it has been increased each and
every year. But in order to ascertain
that fact you just about need to have a PHD in forensic auditing. All because the TRUE and ACCURATE accounting
of the POLICE DEPARTMENT has been spread out and hidden, on purpose to confuse
the people. This has permeated and
promulgated the budget each year with significant protection of your duly
elected officials.
It is REFRESHING to hear that
the new Town Manager has recognized this and is in the process of
correcting. Once the taxpayers learn of
the TRUE EXPENSE of the Police Department, then perhaps we all can hope for a
change. Maybe Lisbon could be a more affordable community
for the retired residents and appeal to people to move in to make it their
home.
Lisbon Town Manager, Mrs. Diane Barnes has made significant progress in the administration process and expenditures side of things. Namely digressing from one of the 'Good Ole Boys Club' members, the previous Town Attorney. With the challenges that she is facing we all need to lend her support at meetings or whenever we see her. Her intentions are honorable and admirable. Something Lisbon has been lacking in recent years.
The residents have spoken
loud and clear when presented with the opportunity to improve things. A couple of examples would be the vote on the
addition to the High School Gymnasium, Track, and not purchasing Worumbo Mill. And
let us not forget the opportunity to vote on the School Budget each year.
Isn’t it about time we have
more of say on the Municipal side of the Budget?
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