Gilford residents pan Budget Committee work, say cuts too drastic

By THOMAS P. CALDWELL, LACONIA DAILY SUN

GILFORD — The Gilford Budget Committee’s preliminary proposal trims $27,605 — less than 0.2 percent — from the selectmen’s request and an even smaller reduction — $6,203, or 0.02 percent — from the proposed school budget, yet those attending Tuesday night’s budget hearing considered those cuts too drastic, with one resident suggesting the committee members should all be replaced.

Of particular concern was the decision by both the selectmen and the budget committee to “not recommend” funding for the so-called outside agencies, the nonprofits that provide services to Belknap County residents.

Budget Committee Chairman Norman Silber said, “Nobody questions the good work they do, but they’re not the only charitable organizations providing services to Gilford. The Salvation Army and the Boy Scouts also provide services. Our thinking is, if the taxpayers want to support a particular agency, they can help with its fundraising.”

Dale Channing Eddy, chairman of the Gilford Board of Selectmen, said they would rather leave it up to the residents whether they want to use tax money to support the nonprofits, but the selectmen are required to state whether they recommend or not recommend each warrant article.

“It’s up to you to decide,” Eddy said. “We prefer to stay out of it.”

He noted that, historically, voters have always supported funding for the outside agencies.

Silber quoted statistics showing that top executives at Lakes Region Mental Health Center (formerly Genesis Behavioral Health) made in excess of $1 million in compensation and the agency had more than $3 million in assets as of 2015.

“That why we voted as we did,” he said.

Representatives of the agencies seeking funding argued that they provide much more in support and services than they receive from the towns. David Emberley, chief financial officer of Central New Hampshire VNA and Hospice, noted that his agency also provides bereavement support for anyone touched by grief. Deborah Pendergast, president of Lakes Region Mental Health Center, said her agency also provides emergency services for 48 clients, including children, the elderly, and “your neighbors.”

To counter arguments that the budget committee is not considering the people who need those services, Silber said the budget for welfare administration is $49,919. “We provide help with medical, food, housing, electricity, and other services,” he said.

When it came to the school budget, Joe Wernig chastised the budget committee for cutting money for dues and fees and membership in the New Hampshire School Boards Association. A coach and member of Parents of Performing Students, Wernig was last year’s Champion for Children in Gilford.

Silber said the subcommittee members working with the schools asked about the dues and fees, which were not broken out to show what they actually were, and that they were told those were expenses the staff could pay themselves.

He did not address the issue of the School Boards Association, but in talking about a town warrant article about the New Hampshire Municipal Association, which provides a similar service to towns, Silber said the organization serves as a lobbyist to the New Hampshire Legislature.

“The NHMA charges $9,305 in annual dues,” Silber said, “plus fees for seminars. They send people to lobby legislators, paid with tax dollars, but some of the things benefit certain towns at the expense of others. We should not be paying a lobbying organization.”

He said non-membership would not prevent town officials from attending the seminars, which have separate charges, anyway.

Fred Butler took the selectmen and budget committee to task for their statements about rising taxes, pointing out that Gilford’s tax rate is declining.

“You need to do a little more research to break down the facts,” Butler said.

Eddy explained that the tax rate is only part of the equation when it comes to taxes. The tax rate falls when the town’s assessed valuation increases, but it doesn’t mean the amount collected changes. The growth in budgets also comes into play, he said.

Budget Committee Vice Chairman David “Skip” Murphy pointed out that both town and school budgets come into play and he maintained, “The only important number is the one you see on that paper that comes in the mail. The number you pay is the only one that matters.”

Butler said he stands by his view that the only important number is the tax rate, and called officials disingenuous for suggesting that taxes are increasing.

Eddy responded that Butler is being disingenuous for not looking at all the factors involved.

The proposed municipal budget is $14,765,233, and the proposed school budget is $26,231,736. Now that the public hearing has taken place, the budget committee will reconvene on Jan. 25 to consider whether it wants to make changes based on the discussion, or forward the current budget proposals to voters at the Feb. 8 deliberative session of Town Meeting.