As we approach the Nov. 6 election here in Tiverton, voters should begin thinking about the town’s current financial status and where the town should be headed.

The town’s electorate approved the elector petitioner’s (Katz) budget over the past few years, including a Tiverton Taxpayers Association majority 2017 Budget Committee approved budget where there was no second option. These budgets reduced the tax rate as the TTA promised, but at what cost?

Examples of these severely underfunded budgets include downtrodden recreational facilities such as the Town Farm playground which was condemned due to poor conditions; a reserve rescue wagon that fails when put into service that previously broke down on the highway during a patient transport to the hospital; two new plows approved from fiscal year 2019 aside the town still has numerous broken plows that are so old that our DPW cannot keep up during snowstorms; crumbling roads because there isn’t enough money budgeted to fix them; and schools without adequate cooling, not to mention the bathrooms at the middle and high schools, which are deplorable. Fogland Beach restrooms are deplorable, too. The fire, police and teachers don’t currently have contracts settled while ranking amongst the lowest paid in Rhode Island.

One would think the TTA’s mantra stating “Control Your Taxes” is doing a good job of maintaining Tiverton’s services. Conversely, their recent budgets have led us into this potential catastrophe. These conditions are embarrassing to many residents, and with our future casino revenue at stake it would be absurd and irresponsible to use it to lower taxes by restricting casino revenue solely to the General Fund for just tax relief. Some council candidates have a better idea: Use these millions to pay off our interest debt, improve infrastructure (roads), and purchase capital equipment instead of leasing, which wastes money on interest payments. Paying off our financed debt alone will ultimately lower taxes.

Don’t fall for the glossy postcards in the mail or the robo-calls you’ll be inundated with soon. Ignore the TTA political action committee-endorsed signs on vacant properties around town. These candidates have a personal agenda that does not include the best interests for Tiverton.

The candidates for Town Council that have Tiverton’s best interests are David Paull, Joseph Perry Jr., Denise deMedeiros and Tricia Hilton.

For Budget Committee make the responsible choices by electing Deborah Janick, Jennifer Joslyn, Michael DeCotis and Stuart Gilfillen. Let’s continue the momentum that started with the overwhelming passage of the town’s Budget No. 1 and move Tiverton forward together.

Please vote approve on all charter revisions, including Question No. 10.

Michael DeCotis

Candidate for Re- election

Tiverton Budget Committee