Budget "drama"

The Eagle Tribune published an editorial in today's paper titled "Andover school budget needs analysis, not drama" (click here to view the editorial). The drama in question was played out last week at meetings of the School Committee (Tuesday) and the Long Range Financial Planning subcommittees (Thursday), where school leaders and parent advocates expressed considerable frustration at the apparent lack of support from other boards for a Proposition 2 1/2 override.

At issue here, I believe, is really a difference of opinion on how best to equip Andover voters with the information they need to make informed decisions about their choices for the FY2009 budget.

Some proponents of increased taxation (above the Proposition 2 1/2 limit) seem to feel that voters need to see unified advocacy from the full spectrum of town and school leadership, along with a town-wide fiscal plan that has an override "built in" as a fundamental assumption. Other proponents (and certainly some opponents) claim that voters need to have a detailed accounting of expense and revenue data, with different alternatives carefully modelled and analyzed in order to make wise choices.

Speaking for myself, I sense that a great many of the voters in Andover need both of these inputs to make their best decisions. As a voter in town, the judgements of elected officials and senior management are very important and valuable inputs to my decision process, but I also need the background information necessary to come to my own conclusions.

The town is facing quite serious choices this year, to decide how much to increase taxes and/or decrease services. The choices made will likely have long-term impacts on the operation and character of the town. Leaders should be actively communicating their views, and the detailed facts and projections that support them. Concerned residents should be asking their town and school leaders for this information, so that they can be responsible legislators for the future of their town.