Little Feedback on Municipal Budget at Public Hearing

In the first of two scheduled public hearings on the proposed 2013 Municipal Operating Budget, Bedford Town Councilors spent more time reviewing the allocations for each department than listening to residential feedback.

That reality was not by design.

Of more than 20,000 residents in town, in fact, two spoke at the meeting, a fact that did not escape Councilor Ken Peterson, who made reference to the lack of residential involvement and feedback later in the meeting.

The first resident to speak, Bedford Taxpayers Association President Roy Stewart, made a couple suggestions requesting more detail on some line items and increases.

Then, Kent Messamorood approached the microphone and pleaded with councilors to limit administrative positions in town.

"I'm a retired person and every year the tax rate goes up," he said. "I moved here in 2004 and my taxes have doubled since then and I'd like to say to the board to do everything you can because I don't get a raise this year.

"I certainly appreciate the addition of a new policeman here in Bedford and a new fireman here in Bedford, but I hate the word administrator," added Messamore. "Administrators are, in my opinion, paperwork and paperwork doesn't really help the town."

Prior to the public comment, chairman Bill Dermody explained that he and fellow councilors did everything in their power to trim what they could from the budget to reduce the anticipated tax increase from 40 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation to a 30 cents.

He elaborated, noting the remaining bump is due entirely to bonded infrastructure payments and a rise in state obligations.

The total requested operating budget appropriation is $25,929,418 and the anticipated 2013 tax rate is $4.65 per $1,000 assessed valuation, or $1,395 on a $300,000 home.

At the conclusion of their regularly scheduled meeting, several councilors, including Dermody and Peterson, urged residents to participate in the Jan. 23 public hearing and the Budgetary Town Meeting in March. Peterson, in particular, noted that a minute fraction of the Bedford population is essentially making the fiscal decisions for the entire town, and he said he strongly encourages others to get more involved.