Selectboard Member J. Kevin Hayes: Adding expenses to each Gilford article doesn't tell whole story

To The Daily Sun,

I take issue with Doug Lambert’s assertions in his recent letter to the editor. Yes, many voters including the two selectboard members present voted against the amendments to each of the Capital Reserve articles. Why? Because adding the current balance in each fund to the article only tells half the story. The other half that was not part of the amendment is what the money is to be used for and how much each is projected to cost. Note that these articles are developed from Capital Improvements Committee recommendations so that expenses are scheduled into the future and there is not a spike in the tax rate. Article 15 is an example. The article requests $125,000 to be put in a Capital Reserve fund for the future purchase (projected in 2028) of a fire truck. The amendment at the deliberative session would have added that the balance in the fund as of Dec. 31, 2023 is $474,330. What the amendment doesn’t say is that a fire truck in 2028 is projected to cost $1 million.

The selectboard listened to the discussion and directed town administration to develop a voter guide that explains the town’s position regarding each article and shows the balance in each fund as of Dec. 31, 2023. It is available in the library, the Town Clerk’s Office, and on the town website. Please pick up or download a copy. It is aimed to remove any confusion. The voters of Gilford are not too stupid (Doug’s assertion, not ours) to process information and vote intelligently; they just need all the pertinent information to make an informed decision. Please vote on March 12.

Selectboard Member J. Kevin Hayes

Gilford