I have enjoyed representing the interests of Precinct 1 and Winchester residents as a Town Meeting member for 23 years. I would appreciate your vote to continue. 

Winchester’s core business is education.  Education accounts for over 1/2 of our operating costs, capital costs and personnel. The actual management of our schools is the duty of the School Committee, but Town Meeting appropriates the bulk of education funding as well as the funding for Police, Fire, Public Works, General Government, and smaller departments.

Most of Winchester’s revenue comes from YOU in real estate taxes (indirectly if you are renting), excise taxes, water and sewer fees, transfer station fees, etc. Your say in how much you pay and where your money goes is through periodic override and debt exclusion votes allowing the total tax levy to increase faster than 2.5% and through your Town Meeting representatives.

Every department, especially Police, Fire, and Public Works, is important and each has particular issues, - rebuilding a bridge, repairing a dam, acquiring a new type or replacement piece of hardware - and personnel issues; personnel being the bulk of costs.

Your capacity and desire to pay increased taxes and fees is obviously limited. We recognize that some of our fellow resident households are more financially constrained than our own. Thus our issues are not about wishes but what we are willing to pay for.

Town Meeting must deliberate to make sure our budget provides for quality education and funds our other departments within a limited capacity for budget growth. We have $828 million in obligations including our $142 million budget, debt and other liabilities.

Effective Town Meeting members rely on networks of expertise and information. We rely, on the Finance Committee (FinCom) which recommends the budget to Town Meeting but we prepare for our regular meetings and our special meetings by consulting with fellow members, town staff, and others whom we trust.

Town Meeting members have to trust but verify the information they receive. We have little time to test the information we get. People “in the know” are essential. I support he formation of a Town Meeting Association and improvements to the town website which were key recommendations of the Town Meeting Communications Study Committee.

“Deliberations” accelerate to $1 million dollars a minute by the time the budget reaches the floor of Town Meeting. A Town Meeting member with a question, concern, or proposal to actually modify the allocations recommended by FinCom has to be willing to jump in. I have demonstrated that will.

Symbolic or regulatory issues without tend to enthrall Town Meeting. They include zoning, and general bylaw issues such leaf blowers. I approach these issues with the same caution and search for consensus that I apply to financial issues. 

Productivity improvements are key to continued improvement in Winchester. Productivity gains mean we get more done for our dollar. While there are major gains available in streamlining and procedural disciplines, productivity improvements also require investments in training and labor saving capital equipment.