Politics & Government

Letter: 'Democratic slate for BET Has The Better Vision'


To the Editor, Greenwich Patch:

Some myths die hard. Including that Republicans are better stewards of fiscal policy than Democrats. It’s time todispel the myth. Over the past 50 years, the only presidents to have balanced the federal budget were Democrats. Now, across the board, economists are telling us that Republican obsession with spending cuts is harming job growth, economic recovery and long-term prosperity.

The same story has played out in Greenwich, where Republican control of the Board of Estimate and Taxation is harming the town’s economic well-being, albeit in different ways. That’s why the upcoming municipal election onNovember 5 is so important. Whichever party's BET slate garners the most votes will control the BET and influence the town’s fiscal strategies. I believe the Democratic slate for BET has the better vision for keeping taxes low while investing in infrastructure and public education.

Democratic BET members have advocated, against Republican opposition, for a prudent debt policy that would letthe town lock in near record-low long-term bond rates to fund infrastructure investment. Republican’s unfounded fear of long-term debt actually raises taxes by forcing us to pay now the full cost of investments that will deliver benefits for decades. Greenwich has a debt burden of 0.3%, about one-seventh the national average for AAA-rated municipalities.

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Democratic BET member Sean Goldrick has put a spotlight on the abysmal performance of the town’s pension fund. According to the Retirement Board’s financial adviser, Greenwich lagged 81 percent of all public pension funds over the past seven years, costing taxpayers millions in higher contributions. A bipartisan proposal put forward by Mr. Goldrick to hire outside counsel to recommend ways to improve financial returns was rejected bythe Republican BET chairman.

Beyond being fiscally prudent, the Democratic slate understands the value of investment in infrastructure that improves quality of life and the long-term attractiveness of our community. For example, it provided unwavering support for MISA, whereas all six Republicans voted against it. It’s time to put Greenwich on a better path forward by voting for all six Democratic BET candidates.

Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jonathan Perloe

Cos Cob

*Editor's note: More letters to the editor regarding Greenwich elections may be found in our elections and government categories.

 


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