Boucher Vows to Cut Sewer Tax in Half

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Boucher Vows to Cut Sewer Tax in Half

Boucher Campaign On: 05:43PM / Friday November 04, 2011

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — This is the fourth installment of mayoral candidate Ron Boucher sharing his views and ideas on important issues facing the city of North Adams. The below discussion focuses on the reduction of the sewer fee implemented by the current administration by over 50 percent.

"When the City Council originally voted to institute this fee, I was in favor of this because the mayor promised part of the fee would be placed in an enterprise fund for infrastructure improvements. This has not occurred, and instead the money has been used for pay raises, which is completely unacceptable. With the lack of an enterprise fund being set up as per the original plan, why should the people pay for something they are not getting."

"I am proposing an immediate reduction in the sewer fee, from 42 percent to 21 percent, a reduction by half. This would help immediately alleviate the financial burden on property owners. Now people will ask how can we do this and still balance the budget? The truth of the matter is that this fee is already built into our tax base, like the city of Pittsfield, and is not being correctly backed out by the current administration. Residents are being double hit and in these trying economic times that is neither ethical nor acceptable."

"Please remember, Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. I would like to ask one final time for your vote for to lead the city of North Adams."

The campaign to elect Ron Boucher Mayor of North Adams would like to extend an invitation to the public to stop by his campaign headquarters at 107 Main St. You can also learn more about Ron Boucher, his campaign and views by visiting his website at www.VoteBoucher2011.com or emailing him at VoteBoucher2011@yahoo.com.

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Thanks for the leadership Ron! Don't expect Dick will have an answer for this. This could do it! Nobody trusts Dick its that simple
from: LowerTaxes	on: 11-04-2011
I Agree (14) - I Disagree (22)

Ok with this Ron has closed the deal with me. He has earned my vote. I can almost imagine the mayor wondering why Ron would do this "wait a minute you can't want to lower taxes??????". Head must be spinning like in the exorcist This should close the deal with many folks
from: DealClosed	on: 11-04-2011
I Agree (12) - I Disagree (20)

What is he going to cut if he removes that from the budget? Or if he is bitching about it not going into the never actually proposed enterprise fund, why doesn't he start it? Oh, that's right. It's a stupid gimmick.
from: Gimmick	on: 11-04-2011
I Agree (15) - I Disagree (8)

how will ron make up for the lost revenue, hire volunteer firefighters.lets get real.
from: north adams voter	on: 11-04-2011
I Agree (19) - I Disagree (9)

The concept of hitting people twice for taxes appeals to someone like dick. He can hide it by saying it was needed revenue. You would think he would realize NO ONE TRUSTS the MAYOR after his scare tactics. Great proposal Ron !!
from: FormerAlcombrightVoter	on: 11-04-2011
I Agree (13) - I Disagree (19)

Don't you get it it was a sham by tax and spender dick to get more money. Oh wait maybe we will have to pay for the foot all team now. Another lie. Don't understand why you people like giving your money to dick
from: LowerTaxes	on: 11-04-2011
I Agree (9) - I Disagree (16)

I know, Ron will pay for it by forgoing his salary during his term.
from: hmmm	on: 11-04-2011
I Agree (9) - I Disagree (2)

Hopefully, at this point in the campaign the voters have come to realize at this point of time Mayor Alcombright has no real plan for the City, and has lost all credibility with the voters and taxpayers of North Adams. The lack of starting a much need enterprise fund paid into by the taxpayers, and not created by the Mayor was a major scam by a wasteful money managing Mayor who has no fiscal responsiblity. The Mayor needs to be voted out
from:	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (10) - I Disagree (20)

Excellent idea. Between this bold move, out drwaing dick at the latest spaghetti supper,winning the last debate, and the obvious campaign surge from all of this I can see an upset in the making. Best part is dick can have no answer in the paper, since the deadline was yesterday......oh that is funny
from: FairAndBalanced	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (10) - I Disagree (20)

This latest installment could be a summary for the entire Boucher campaign. What an idea!!!! Ron, if you think that is believable, then you must think the voters are plain stupid. No matter what you say about Pittsfied, if you remove 1/2 of the funds raised by the sewer fee you LOSE that money from the budget. If you were in favor of the money being raised for infrastructure repair then propose to assign it that way. However, that still means you'll have to cut something else or find another way to fund it. This idea is worse than the Conte/churches development plan. Your making promises that can't be achieved. It's like running for class president by saying "vote for me, and I'll cut the school day in half".
from: From Here	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (22) - I Disagree (8)

Gimmick Perhaps he will not have to cut anything. The money could be in the parking meters . Or how about hiring people that can be trusted ?? Or stop having oferride votes that you know that will not pass. Just common sense. Anyone that does not like the idea of cutting back the rate I am sure you would be allowed to pay more just like the people that voted FOR THE OVERRIDE DID , or not .
from: RealWayne	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (3) - I Disagree (15)

This proposal effectively DOUBLES the budget deficit. Not only is this terrible politics (empty promises of free money days before an election), should he be elected, it would be terrible fiscal governance. Note that Ron didn't discuss at all where he would get the $200,000+ to make up this cut, nor did he say what city services would need to be cut to attain it. It's just the empty promise of a desperate candidate. Awful.
from: Na_resident	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (21) - I Disagree (6)

Okay, so Ronald Boucher supported the sewer fee increase because he thought it was going into an "enterprise fund" to cover infrastructure upgrades. So if elected, instead of upgrading the infrastructure, he's going to cut the sewer fee in half. Guess that's what he means by "Back to Basics". OMG
from: Brilliant	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (23) - I Disagree (6)

NA Resident by his own admission is the moutpiece for Dick's campaign. If this response YET ANOTHER SCARE TACTIC is asll they can come up with then Ron will definitely be the next mayor Oh and since the deficit doubling is a ridiculous accusation, when elected Dick just announced he will triple property taxes. Two can play at this game. Sdimple fact is I am better than you
from: LowerTaxes	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (5) - I Disagree (17)

It's not an accusation, 'lowerTaxes", it's simple math. The sewer fee raises somewhere near $500,000/yr. If you cut that in half, it will instead raise $200,000+. Our current budget deficit is arou d $200,000. If we deduct $200,000 from revenues (by cutting the sewer tax in half), our deficit will be $400,000+. That is double what it is now. Really, it's simple, simple math.
from: NA_resident	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (21) - I Disagree (5)

NAresident Why don't you call Ron and discuss it with him instead of putting out lies. I am sure that Dicks supporters will not want the 21 percent back. Just like they had money for the override and just have not gotton to make out a check yet. VOTE RON
from: RealWayne	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (6) - I Disagree (13)

NA Resident just want your money because they think they can spend it better then you. Believe me if it was taken away they would simply "find" more like after the override defeat. Classic tax and spenders......of your money Also look for dick to raise property taxes higher
from: LowerTaxes	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (6) - I Disagree (15)

I loved that response "LowerTaxes", they can just find more. If it was really that easy to just find more free cash in the budget why doesn't Ron point out where it is? Sounds to me like that would be a perfect way to get elected if I were running for mayor. Just tell everyone that you'll lower taxes because there's all kinds of extra free cash in the _______________ account. I don't really expect anyone here to tell me where it is. But Ron, being the City Council President running for Mayor ought to have the second best idea of every expense in the City. Yet, when asked where the fat in the City is, he said he didn't know of any, but was sure there was some.
from: From Here	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (18) - I Disagree (3)

How about the precedent dick set this summer Fromhere. Let's see....oh yea...the was no more to cutm. No more. Then the people spoke and dick had to find more to cut. And more was cut. And thrn mysteriously more money became available that he didn't know about.....sure. There is always more to cut you just have to look deep enough. Stay out of my pockets I pay enough. Vote Boucher. No more scare tactics
from: LowerTaxes	on: 11-05-2011
I Agree (8) - I Disagree (18)

The Mayor claims he operates a transparent form of government? Hardly! The council is told an enterprise fund would be start and approves a sewer fee, but it the fund never happens Maybe some of the lost revenue will come back from the money stolen from the skating rink. Another transparent moment by the Mayor who tried to brush it under the rug, until the public found out in July. Why would he brush it under the rug? To save himself the embarrasement as he worked with the young lady's mother at the Hoosac Bank, and he didn't need the bad publicity as his re election was already in jeopardy by his poor money management skills. Maybe there is more lost money out there to be found. I am sure there is plenty of waste Time to vote for Ron.
from: Tired of bad politicians	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (5) - I Disagree (12)

@lowertaxes - Anybody who thinks that the cuts that resulted after 2 1/2 failed were ok, is absolutely clueless and as dumb as Ron. Just because the cuts did not affect you, does not mean they did not effect many of the most vulnerable residents of the city. You will whine and complain about a pothole that is left unfilled for a day, but you couldn't give a rat's ass about the kid who fell through the cracks at school because of larger class sizes, or a lack of support or supervision. When that kid breaks into your car at age 17 rather than going to school, I hope you remember this post. Since most of the residents of this town can't seem to see past the end of their noses, it's not surprising to hear "nothing happened." But in a few years, when dropout and low-graduation rates are back where they were in 2001, you will see the results of when a city craps on its kids.
from: Dishonest	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (14) - I Disagree (3)

after ron loses the election on tuesday, i will expect to see him proposes this fee cut on the agenda for the next city council meeting, (not the 9th).
from: action	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (11) - I Disagree (2)

Dishonest that is quiye sad. I see you "sniff" are one of the "sniff" its all about "sniff" the children "sniff". You were prevelent as well during the Summer Scare Tactics tour. Except the people of NA have had enough of you and your kind's whining. Be silent
from: LowerTaxes	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (3) - I Disagree (8)

@lowertaxes - I hope your medicare gets cut to shreds because it won't affect me. "sniff." Love you, too.
from: dishonest	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (5) - I Disagree (1)

Nice flip flop from Dick...this is why people dont trust him. From 2 years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k40AhEtyjq8 2:14 in: "I am neither for nor against a sewer fee"
from: LowerTaxes	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (4) - I Disagree (7)

Chief Marketer? I say no http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHmSIQR5OIk&feature=related 4:50 in: I will be market North Adams and be chief salesman and cheerleader Really.....so saying our situation is horrible to the Boston Globe helps?
from: LowerTaxes	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (2) - I Disagree (6)

Dishonest I don't retire for 25 years so your comment shows your ignorance. And I dony live off society like you
from: LowerTaxes	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (1) - I Disagree (3)

Dishonest Have you been living under a rock ? Dury is 298 th out of 350 schools in the state asnd the mayor wants to spend 60 million on bricks and cement. That will bring up the test scores. If Dury is in a race to bottom the teachers are doing a wonderful job.
from: RealWayne	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (2) - I Disagree (5)

dishonest that was a very well thought out post and we are all dummer now from reading it
from: rick	on: 11-06-2011
I Agree (1) - I Disagree (2)

So Dick might be dishonest? And Ron is not? Do you really think Ron is the man for the job? He has no clue just telling everyone what they want to hear and he has always been very good at that. Has plenty to say what dick has or has not done but has no answer to any of his own questions.
from: Intheknow	on: 11-07-2011
I Agree (11) - I Disagree (4)

Intheknow Let me see . What you would like to do is to keep someone in office that we know will lie to the voters rather than give someone an opportunity to show that he can do a better job without the lies. Have you ever talked to someone about you insecurities ??
from: RealWayne	on: 11-07-2011
I Agree (1) - I Disagree (10)

RealWayne no insecurities here? Well maybe in bed? But if they are both bullsh@ters I will stick with Dick. Maybe you should ask Ron but his insecurities. I have know Ron a long time and I know how he operates. I expected nothing less from his campaign dirty tactics and that's exactly what we got.
from: Intheknow	on: 11-07-2011
I Agree (10) - I Disagree (3)

Dirty tricks? How about the Transcript setting a deadline for press releases and allowing dickie to break it.......they are so far in the tank it is shameful. But I think that will backfire.
from: OnTheFence	on: 11-07-2011
I Agree (6) - I Disagree (4)

Intheknow OK I will bite. What dirty tricks ?? We know how the mayor operates and people are sick of the lies. To bulls... is one thing but to lie and try to use scare tactice to get what you want is not what the taxpayers want.
from: RealWayne	on: 11-07-2011
I Agree (2) - I Disagree (9)

Dirty tactics, tricks call it what you like. Making statements and promises having nothing to back them up. Always on the attack. The way I see it JB gave Ron all the right questions to ask Dick and to me it seemed Ron really had no idea how to answer when Dick had a come back, deer in the head lights look. My opinion be it right or wrong. Jobs jobs jobs well know sh@t! Here's the tough part how do you get them here? Again Ron has always been the king of telling you what you want to hear.
from: Intheknow	on: 11-07-2011
I Agree (9) - I Disagree (2)

I've had a heck of a time trying to get my dogs to pee in the toilet.Figure they might as well use it seeing as i'm paying for the water they drink.
from: Gene413	on: 11-08-2011
I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

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