First, I want to wish all the dads, a Happy Father’s Day. Congratulations to Connie Smith, this year’s honoree at the Westfield Woman’s Club Garden Tea. Best wishes to Kensi Riley who will be competing for Miss Massachusetts later this month.
• PUBLIC HEARING ON COMMON CORE
Tuesday, July 7, STCC, Top of Our City Conference Center, 4 – 7 pm
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will hold a public forum, on the upcoming decision on whether PARCC should replace current MCAS tests in English language arts and Math. Members of the public are invited to offer their perspective on the PARCC assessments. Individuals will be given 3 minutes. This is a great opportunity to learn more about this important issue.
Members of the public who are unable to testify at one of the forums are encouraged to submit written comments to [email protected].
When I ran for city council I started by listening to residents concerns. Many seniors, small business owners, working families and those nearing retirement were very concerned about increasing property taxes; and how decisions were being made. People, who had worked hard, lived within their means, many which have lived in Westfield their entire life ask, “Why can’t the city live within its means? I believe it is a matter of will.
I have worked to bring attention to some of the causes of the fiscal strains plaguing our city, and work respectfully with everyone to find solutions, both locally and at the state level. Thank you to everyone who voted for the local questions I put on last November’s ballot supporting restoring Local Aid, as well as funding for road maintenance. Together we are making a difference, but there is more work to do.
There are teachers, administrators and school employees in Westfield who are still unaware that the state took over 700 million dollars out of the lottery fund, including in 2013 when the state had a 900 million dollar surplus. Westfield has lost over a million dollars a year in Local Aid education funding, for five years in a row.
Where was the public outcry by the affected cities, educators and the media? I know how hard, volunteers and I had to work to inform our fellow citizens about Automatic Gas Tax increases, cuts in local aid, and road maintenance funding.
To his credit, Governor Baker is addressing this situation by releasing road funds and has proposed increasing local aid by the largest amount in a decade.
Here in western Mass, we pay many taxes and fees and receive little or nothing. Nearly 20 percent of the state sales tax, and much of the gas tax increase is being diverted to the MBTA.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles only uses 10 percent of the money it collects each year for operations. Service has never been worse and it recently raised inspections fees. We continue to pay for a Turnpike that has been paid for several times over.
We are being bled dry. Is it any wonder that our local economy can’t get on its feet? The economy works best when people keep more of their money to spend and invest. We are taxed enough already.
People elected us to work together to get things done, and be fiscally responsible. That is what should define good government and public service.
Fixing the state budget and restoring funding to cities will not solve all of Westfield’s fiscal issues. New growth is important but takes time in a slow economy. The entire community of Westfield, from the Mayor, Council, to city employees and residents need to work together to do what needs to be done. It needs to be part of a larger conversation, than just the mayor talking with department heads.
Earlier this year, I followed up on what I thought was a great idea by Mayor Knapik. I introduced, and the city council passed a resolution to form a working group to meet with the Mayor to discuss the budget, suggest meaningful cuts and cost saving ideas. I submitted a list of suggested topics to our city council president and would have been happy with any meaningful dialogue between the council and the mayor. I realize in politics that things are more complicated than they ought to be. Unfortunately, no action was taken.
The mayor just submitted his budget with more tax increases; including a meals and hotel tax the council recently voted down. Issues that the city has been aware of for some time, and cannot afford to ignore are not being addressed. People are asking, “Where do they think the money is going to come from?”
Most reasonable people do not support spending or tax increases that will result in our parents, grandparents and neighbors having to sell their homes or move out of Westfield because they can no longer afford to live here and pay the taxes, while the city has not addressed certain cost drivers and issues that are expensive and unsustainable?
Dan Allie
At-large City Councilor
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
