Dear Editor:

I’m running for Wiscasset’s Board of Selectmen for three simple reasons:

1. The tax increases we’ve seen in recent years are not sustainable.

2. Issues brought before the board should be resolved in a timely fashion.

3. Town committees and boards will benefit from improved cooperation and transparency.

Property owners have felt a 20% pinch in taxes over the past four years, but in reality, taxes have risen 48%. In three of the last four years, the board voted to pull money from various accounts to keep taxes artificially low. I’m all for lower taxes, but as someone who balances my checkbook every month, I know that robbing Peter to pay Paul is not sustainable. There are difficult conversations that must be had – now, not during budget season – to develop plans for increasing revenue, decreasing spending and finding economies of scale that will allow us to provide essential services and live within our means. If I'm fortunate enough to earn a seat on the board I’ll push for these discussions so we can avoid the inevitable hand-wringing over the decision to plunder our capital reserve accounts to avoid yet another tax increase, rather than using those accounts for their intended purpose - to maintain our crumbling infrastructure.

As a regular attendee of board meetings I'm often frustrated by the number of agenda items that are pushed off to a later date, never to be raised again. When an issue requires further review, the board should be accountable for its resolution within a reasonable time-frame.

Improved cooperation and transparency between town committees and boards will encourage all parties to work toward common goals rather than at cross purposes and will promote more informed decision-making from both town officials and the voting public.

Kim Dolce

Wiscasset