City spending, high sewer rates, "business as usual"

Last Sunday, June 30, The Sun Chronicle had an unusual-for-them editorial.   They actually found fault with City governing in that the Council routinely approves whatever the mayor proposes.   This newspaper is right for once; but I have to wonder about the degree of sincerity within this editorial.   I am, however, obligated to take it "at face value", and so I will.

This editorial did indeed rightly question why the small spending cuts, recommended by the City auditor, James Castro, CPA, were rejected en toto by the City Council.   While the dollar total of Mr. Castro's recommendations was $124,000 and one-tenth of one percent of the entire City budget, it would have allowed a smaller increase to the sewer rate.   Stan Nacewicz, the City's Chief Assessor and very knowledgeable man, claims that Attleboro already has one of the highest sewer rates around.   And, yes, both the sewer and the water budgets have about 14% set aside for the infamous "Indirect Costs", which we know are "padded" so that the regular City budget stays under the Prop. 2 1/2 spending limits.   The ol' "monkey & shell game".

The main reason, however, why many councilors vote to approve something that they at least have doubts about is that they do not want to experience the mayor's displeasure and his resulting efforts against them for re-election.   The mayor WANTS "rubber-stamps", plainly and bluntly.   Since councilors usually want to be re-elected, it's "play along to get along" . . OR accept an 'electioneering' ballot box loss.