We, the four most recent former Hallowell mayors, write to express our dismay with the budget process which has resulted in record property tax increases and broken promises to Hallowell taxpayers.
Hallowell citizens deserve better than this and we’re hoping to see a change. We are looking for an improved process, increased oversight, and finally, outcomes that treat Hallowell residents fairly.
When over 120 citizens attended the Aug. 12 City Council meeting in reaction to their property tax bills, Mayor LaPointe stated he was as surprised as everyone else that the approved budget translated into such a large increase to taxpayers. He and the City Council didn’t know the result because they didn’t have all the information. It is the job of the city manager to “manage” the timing and data needs for the budget process. On all accounts he failed.
But the blame does not rest with the city manager alone. The mayor and city councilors should not have taken the third and final budget vote without all the information. Certainly we understand the desire to rush. They were late. The final budget vote should have happened before the July 1 fiscal year started. Still, the mayor and council should have resisted that urge to rush, insisting that they would not pass a budget without knowing its effect.
Additionally, before the mayor promised citizens a reduced budget, the city manager should have consulted the city attorney about the legality of recommitting the taxes. That did not happen; recommittal is not legal.
The entire budget process was mishandled and Hallowell citizens are paying the price. As stated above, there is a lot of blame to go around, but it is the responsibility of the city manager to ensure the council passes a budget before the July 1 fiscal year begins.
The budget snafu isn’t the only issue facing Hallowell. We are calling on the Hallowell mayor and city councilors to do better by restoring successful management of our city.
Tony Masciadri, Andy McPherson, Mark Walker, and Charlotte Warren all served as mayor of Hallowell.
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