Guest Editorial: Tony Guinta

Originally published in the Weirs Times, September 10, 2009

I’m sure many of you have already heard the news about Franklin’s City Council breaking New Hampshire’s first taxpayer mandated taxpayer endorsed tax cap. But the big news is this councils’ continuing contempt towards its citizens. Before we get into their most recent inexcusable actions, let me first dispel the “excuse” this council asserts in support of their momentous cap over-ride.

Excluding Mayor Merrifield and councilor Glen Feener who both fought valiantly for taxpayers, those who broke the cap deny they did anything of the sort. They claim they were merely recapturing last year’s lost revenue (due to an “accounting error”) and are only raising this year’s tax rate by the amount allowed under the charter. Barring the fact that this is no year to be “reaching back” to take past due monies from recession weary unemployed taxpayers, this year’s budget should end all debate about the debilitating affects of tax caps! By regaining their due from last year and taxing us to the rate of inflation this year, our politically tone-deaf council yielded enough cold hard cash to send them on a spending spree. While our state and other municipalities are imposing hiring freezes, furloughs, and lay-offs, Franklin is preserving all current staff and filling four vacant positions. While private industry has had to dramatically reduce expenditures to the point of (gasp) having to clean their own offices, Franklin renewed an $80,000 private cleaning contract. Oh, and my personal favorite… our “frugal” council has requested $850,000 for a new “mandatory” recycling program of which many in our City are completely unaware. As we struggle through the worst economy in 75 years, Franklin has shiny new recycling trucks on their way and has destined our recyclables to a receiving facility that has yet to be built. Yup, the first broken cap in 20 years (out of absolute necessity they’ll remind you) and they’re spending money like it’s going out of style!

How did taxpayers react to this council’s “spend-thrift” ways? They packed City Hall and for nearly two hours barraged the council with overwhelming opposition to the proposed budget. You’d think they would have listened! But even with all this outrage, it took them only minutes to completely dismiss weeping taxpayers, over-ride a mayoral veto, and pass the first budget in 20 years to break the cap. If that weren’t enough, the greatest snub was yet to come. During their August public comment period, a nearly 300 signature citizen’s petition was presented to the council demanding this learned body reconsider the budget. Not only did the council remain mute on a vote to reconsider, they deadlocked 4-4 to even accept the petition from the taxpayers of Franklin. Imagine the arrogance of “our” public servants to not even acknowledge their own citizen’s petition? They say “voters’ have short memories”. But being snubbed, especially during a time when constituents are really hurting, has a way of sticking with you. Unless this council reverses its actions, my bet is there will be hell to pay when the people get their chance to speak where they cannot be ignored… at the polls!

Tony Giunta served as Mayor of the City of Franklin from 2000-2004 and during his tenure worked to strengthen the city’s tax cap charter provision.