Vernon officials insensitive to taxpayers

At our recent meeting, the Vernon Taxpayers Association identified several major areas of concern regarding the proposed 2017 municipal budget. This is the second budget coming from Mayor Shortway raising our taxes a total of nearly 10 percent in two years, 5.21 percent and 4.29 percent respectively. He has used over $1,000,000 in surplus funds to balance these two budgets, putting our surplus at a dangerously low level. Certainly there are line items in the budget that cannot be adjusted, but there are others that do have flexibility, such as; legal fees, additional employees, and capitol purchases.
In 2010, as mayor, I negotiated a contract for legal services for $126,000 for the year. The 2017 budget shows the appropriation for legal services is $311,610. The need for such a sum total for legal fees is generally a red flag for the “mode of operation” of an administration. When a government is transparent and handling matters in a professional and competent manner, it generally keeps the need for legal services, to a bare minimum. This gives rise to the question- how many lawsuits have been filed against the township?
Some important offsets to the need for raising taxes are increasing revenue, a hiring freeze, limiting spending, and competent management. As spokesperson for the VTA, I asked the council to return the budget to the mayor. Thanks to councilmembers Ooms, Wetzel, and Rizzuto for standing “rock solid” with the taxpayers and voting no on this budget.
Sally Rinker
President
Vernon Taxpayers Association