Taxpayers don’t need to spend nearly $8m now

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Taxpayers don’t need to spend nearly $8m now

To the Editor:

Do we need to spend $7,849,849 right now?

I just refuse to believe that the taxpayers in Bedford need to spend nearly $8 million ($7,849,849) for renovations and upgrades. It’s poor negotiating practice to announce available funds ahead of the bidding process, and the dollar amount is excessive relative to the actual dollars required for necessary repairs. Did I hear correctly at the deliberative session that we were going to save money by doing multiple jobs at once? This is a horrible time in our economy to be engaging in economies of scale when, for example, reconstructing the parking lots can surely wait. Furthermore, if we’re expecting corresponding reductions in taxes next year to compensate for the increases this year, you know it isn’t going to happen in Bedford. The only direction they know is up until homeowners are driven out of town. Just look at your property tax bill and double it. That’s where it’s headed. Can you pay that? It’s a sorry situation when we forget about those who are less fortunate, out of work or those who have retired. It’s just plain wrong to do this to the very people who have helped build and support Bedford over the years.

RONALD J. NATALE

Bedford