In a previous letter, I highlighted the limitations of the Joint Consolidation Agreement’s (JCA) fiscal model. Here are some further thoughts.

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The JCA offers taxpayers zero accountability. As page 14 of the JCA explicitly states, the fiscal impact analysis is merely a “point-in-time model” that cannot predict future pressures or policy changes. Crucially, it notes that “actual decisions on spending and tax rates will be determined by future elected town boards.”

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Because the JCA contains no provision to track or report the ongoing financial effects of consolidation, taxpayers will never know if these estimates match reality or were just empty promises. Page 14 essentially tells taxpayers, we won’t be giving you a scorecard, not for year one, not for year two, not for years five or ten.

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Consider this scenario: Should consolidation pass, the merger process will involve unforeseen ongoing costs and significant upfront costs, which I suspect are seriously underestimated. Should taxes rise -- which is especially likely for town residents -- the officials who championed this merger will likely wave their hands, claiming that taxes would have jumped even higher without it. 

 

The ensuing public pressure to contain those hikes might well result in cost-cutting of services and personnel, despite current promises to retain them. Alternatively, the board may try to save face by offsetting costs with hard-earned fund balances that should instead be reserved for capital improvements. 

 

Furthermore, the JCA’s “point-in-time” is years ago, since it relies on two-year-old budgets that largely drew on 2024 actuals. Imagine two savvy business owners deciding to merge their companies based on outdated budgets rather than current actual figures and solid projections. It would never happen.

 

Taxpayers deserve five-year forecasts and built-in accountability. The current agreement provides neither. Vote NO to consolidation.