Bill Whalen

To the editor,

I just finished reading a copy of the 2010 Sanbornton Town Budget and was shocked by the proposed salary increase of 27-percent ( that's a raise of $7,562.00) for the town recreation coordinator, and a proposed Recreation Department budget of over $106,000.00. What's unbelievable is that this increase was recommended and agreed upon by both the selectmen and the Budget Committee — the excuse/logic being that they want to increase the working hours of the recreation coordinator. The question is why? That kind of salary increase would place the recreation coordinators job on an equal pay level with the town finance officer and the assessing assistant to the selectmen.

Everyone else is implementing staff reductions or cutting back on employee work hours and some are furloughing employees for a period of time in order to save the taxpayers money; why aren't we?

I believe our elected officials have made a poor decision in approving the proposed recreation budget, and the 27-percent salary increase.

I think it's time to replace one of our selectmen and three members on the Budget Committee on election day. What do you think? Please don't forget to vote on May 12th.

Bill Whalen

Sanbornton