Letter: We Need Efficient Government Operations

Originally posted on our Opinion Board by Joe Paul

When the current mayor took office, our town’s annual budget was $176,829,579. It has increased every year since and is now 9 percent higher.

When our current mayor took office, the mill rate was 30.36. It’s increased every year since and is now 14 percent higher.

The year where the mayor increased our mill rate the most, he justified it by saying that property values had dropped in the latest revaluation. His way of helping residents who found that they owned less than they thought was to take a higher percentage of their property’s values.

The budget for the mayor’s office has increased every year and is now 27 percent larger than when he took office. By law, the mayor’s salary can’t be increased during a term. But thanks to a so-called “un-vouchered expense account," this mayor got an extra $7,500 a year in income. That’s an 8 percent pay hike in one year. Wouldn’t you like an extra $7,500? Has your paycheck or your social security check gone up by 8, 9 or 14 percent?

This is one of the reasons we pay more every year, while our services decline. Less for more is not good for anyone. Efficient operations can change this course and I have a history of improving operational efficiency.

We can fix this on Nov. 5 by voting me in as your next mayor. I’ll put a stop to these trends and practices by bringing fiscal discipline into town government. Let’s work together to bring meaningful change to our town.

-Joe Paul, Democratic candidate for mayor of Stratford