Gilford voters will learn a lot Feb. 6, 8 at deliberative sessions

To The Daily Sun,

Gilford’s Budget Committee Chairman and I don’t agree on a lot when it comes to the Budget Committee. For instance, I like to present data to support my arguments as part of a civil discourse, whereas he prefers empty rhetoric and threats of litigation. As an example, I recently wrote a letter to this paper pointing to the (now) eight-year (2011-18) track record of the Budget Committee's shaving a mere 0.16 percent ($465,000 of $295 million) off of the Selectmen’s/School Board’s recommended budgets — despite scrutinizing those budgets for 2,000-plus hours of meeting time alone — as Exhibit A, that there’s got to be a better way to serve the taxpayers. (No business person would hire a consultant that ineffective, even for “free.”) His rebuttal contained not one fact, as he again chose to assail my character instead.

One thing we likely both agree on, though: If there are two nights of the year Gilford’s taxpayers should get involved with, it’s the School and Town Deliberative Sessions on Feb. 6 and Feb 8, respectively, starting at 7 p.m. You learn a lot about how the town and school operate, and have the power to significantly alter the budget with a single vote. Mark your calendars.

Fred Butler

Gilford