Westhampton officials’ request for a new “Safety Complex” costing $4.4 million (plus interest) is the largest expenditure ever for the town, so I felt it deserved my careful consideration.
I read through the feasibility study report, attended the public informational meeting, talked with longtime residents, neighbors, highway department, town accountant. I made use of the Freedom of Information Act to request call volume for the police and fire departments. This is true democracy, and our votes count, so we have the responsibility to seek out the facts.
Emotions are in play here. Who doesn’t want to give the fire and police departments everything they need? But what they need and what is being asked for may not be the same thing. At the informational meeting, those seated in the front were all “for” this project. This creates a sense of obligation. Still, it only passed by two votes.
Some information was incorrect or misleading, such as the inconsistencies noted by Dave Blakesley concerning the existing building (fuel tanks leaking! floors draining toxic waste! water lines always frozen!). Why do we need a lockup and evidence room when we had zero arrests last year? Or a 30-seat conference room and kitchen for a building used maybe five hours a week?
Taxes are going up this year $250 on average (latest assessments not in yet) to keep the tax rate high. Can’t have it go down! Add more to the rate by 2020 (guessed to be $.24 per thousand dollars, but bids, interest rates — yet unknown) for 25 years. All they are focusing on is this debt service — what if we need money for something else? That’s risky.
We’re a small town with part-time police and fire, wonderful volunteers and the highest taxes around. Other large projects — school, library, highway department building — all got revised down, and this one should, too. This is not the building that this town needs, it’s not going to make anyone safer, and it will be a tax burden for years to come (the rest of our lives for some of us!).
Barbara Cook
Westhampton