Is Bristol really getting a bang for it increasing tax bucks?

To The Daily Sun,

Does Bristol have a spending problem? Recently there was an article about the excessive spending and a suggestion that the Bristol Selectboard and Budget Committee take action.

In November, Bristol's new tax rate was going to $21.05 from $20.13, up 92 cents per $1,000. To keep the rate down, the Selectboard took $200,000 out of the unreserved fund balance, dropping the rate so we would only be taxed 48 cents (more) per $1,000. Good idea? Sure, but the real questions are why was there so much money in the unreserved fund balance and why did the tax rate go up? Yes, your taxes did go up even though many of you saw a reduced tax bill because of a townwide reappraisal (except for those who live by Newfound Lake, who saw their taxes go up big time).

Here is one answer to both questions. When you approved $250,000 for paving, the Selecboard may only use $150,000 leaving the rest to go into the unreserved fund balance while some streets did not get paved.

There are two things going on here. One, you funded and directed the Selectboard to pave our roads and they did not; and two, this is your money, not a slush fund for other projects. This is one example out of many that drive up taxes.

Here is a comparison of Bristol to Hopkinton, two totally different towns yet they both spend just over $6 million. Hopkinton's budget is $6,406,140, Bristol's budget is $6,031,650, Hopkinton's per capita spending is $1,146, Bristol's per capita spending $1,975. Hopkinton's population at 5,590 is almost twice Bristol's 3,054. Bristol is spending $829 per person more than Hopkinton. Why? Hopkinton has the seventh-highest tax rate in New Hampshire. Is this where we want to end up? Hopkinton's median household income is $87,585 while Bristol's according to the recent Space Need Study is about $36,000. Clearly, Hopkinton can afford their spending, can we?

Bristol's taxes have been going up 50 cents here, 80 cents there for the past several years. One hiccup in the economy and we are doomed. Ask yourself, can we really afford this type of spending? Are we really getting the bang for the buck, or is there just too much spending and taxing?

John Sellers

Bristol