Editor:

I am writing this letter in defense of our current board of selectmen who at meetings and in papers recently have been unduly criticized. I attend and/or watch selectmen meetings, budget board meetings and charter commission meetings, and I consider myself well aware of the important issues in our town. I believe the selectmen do their best to represent all residents of Kennebunk during these difficult economic times. To my knowledge they have never discriminated against any resident or group of residents based on gender or age.  

If they were not mindful of every dollar spent during budget time, they would not be fulfilling their duty to the taxpayers. That is why the selectmen, along with the budget board, ask every department for a thorough breakdown of expenditures, revenues, and requests. It is not an easier or more difficult process for any one department than for another.

Unfortunately, unnecessary and incendiary false accusations and name-calling take our town government off focus. The focus should be on the losses in revenue Kennebunk is experiencing from such sources as excise taxes and building permits along with over-budget items such as snowplowing, fuel costs and other issues beyond our control. The taxpayers are called upon time and again to dig deeper into their limited family budgets and cannot continue to support all the “wishes.” The “wishes” can wait for more stable economic times, the “needs” must be met now. 

With the federal, state and local economy in such peril, it is time for all entities in Kennebunk to reduce spending across the board. I realize how hard it is to take away a service once the residents have received it, but self- denial is nothing new for many taxpayers who are slipping between the cracks. They are the ones who have been cutting back on personal spending for years and are now wondering how they can afford to remain in their hometown of Kennebunk. Now sacrifices must come from the municipal employees, from the school employees, and from the school budget, which accounts for three quarters of our tax bills in spite of dwindling numbers of children in our schools. I suggest we regain our focus on fairness for all taxpayers of Kennebunk and work with the selectmen to reduce departmental budgets wherever possible and to work with the school board to either close a school or significantly reduce the school budget for next year. 

Closing a school should not be based upon emotion but rather should be a business/financial decision. No one segment of Kennebunk’s population should be considered more important than any other.

Sue Walker

Kennebunk