a paving loan rumor

[jon]

I heard, just this morning, a rumor that may be going around.  I do not care whether the road paving bond vote passes or not, but I do want all of you to vote based on facts, not on rumors.

The rumor states that if the bond vote is approved, then the Select Board will be forced to have a $300K paving budget for the next seven years.  This is based on the $300,000 that is found in the informational sheet that appeared in the Town Report and again in the Newsletter.

When you vote tomorrow, you vote solely on the following statement:

Shall general obligation bonds or notes of the Town of Fletcher in an amount not to exceed One Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,300,000) subject to reduction from the receipt of available state and federal grants-in-aid, and other financial assistance, be issued for the purpose of financing the repair and reconstruction of Town highways, at an estimated cost of One Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,600,000)?

Please note that there  is nothing in the above statement about road budgets.

The informational sheet was created to try to help the voters understand the situation, but you are not voting to approve the informational sheet.  You are only voting to approve the loan.

As in the past, the Select Board will assess what is needed for paving each year and create a budget that is appropriate to the situation.  We expect that number to be somewhere near $300,000, but if we need to increase or decrease that amount, we will do so, and offer the budget for approval by the voters at Town Meeting.

Please feel free to forward this to your friends and/or social media, so that everyone understands the situation before tomorrows vote.

Jon Bondy

Chairman, Select Board