Laurie Lee Candidate for Framingham Selectman Position on Fiscal Policy

 

The Town of Framingham is not alone when faced with budgetary concerns. Daily, the news reports concerns of neighboring towns. We face some significant financial challenges over the next few years, and we will tackle them. We are also faced with opportunity - an opportunity to consider long term financial policy as well as short term solutions. We may be asking ourselves some difficult questions. For example, what are the essential services needed in our community and do we provide them effectively, efficiently and adequately? What is the financial impact to Framingham of unfunded Federal and State mandates, and how can we get these funded? This is also an opportunity to strengthen our connections with our neighboring communities by addressing some of these challenges together. Whether we are able to share services, resources or just ideas and solutions, the outcome of creating these relationships will be a positive for Framingham and our region.

 

My ability to listen, build relationships, seek consensus and work impartially and diligently have been demonstrated by my past accomplishments for Framingham. I will work full time as Selectman to help tackle these issues and to strengthen our ties with other communities.

 

As Selectman, I would support

-         Lobbying for funding of state and federal mandates

-         Town Meeting’s recommendation of resource sharing between Town and Schools

-         Communicate and Collaborate with other communities

-         Regionalization of services, where it benefits Framingham

-         Lobbying for more State and Federal aid to Framingham

-         Lobbying to eliminate the telecommunications property tax loophole

-         Finding alternative sources of revenue, long and short term.

-         Encourage economic development and re-development

 

I would focus my skills and energy on working with the experts to find such solutions

These would include not only our Town Manager and CFO, but Department Heads and the employees who provide the services directly to our town. Their input is invaluable in this process.

 

I will listen carefully to experts such as Moody’s, who sets our bond rating. When our bond rating is affected, the cost of borrowed money goes up, adding to our fiscal challenges.

 

The Town may be faced with difficult decisions regarding prioritization or cost cutting, which we all know from personal experience, is not be easy. I will look at these with an open mind and an eye on the best interests of our residents. It would be at this time especially that input from all of our town employees, as well as communication with Town Meeting, will be valuable and necessary.

 

Framingham needs to provide essential services that our residents deserve, and pay for, yet be vigilant about the impacts of high property taxation.


Services essential to Framingham include but are not limited to:

 

As Selectman I would consider it my duty to seek sources of revenue other than property taxes.  In this endeavor I will view all options from the perspective of Framingham’s best interest with the main objective being to reduce the burden on our property owners.

 

It is also my belief that we should promote sound fiscal policy, not only during financially difficult times, but during times of financial wealth. In the past we have aspired to this goal however I believe we can do better. It is my hope that the information we gather and actions we take to identify our essential services and to live within our means, will set a policy that will continue even when the urgency is not present.