This May is the 10-year anniversary of the infamous “stolen” financial town meeting, where the government and their special interest allies used all their powers and tricks to redo a vote and force through a double-digit tax increase. Like using the school emergency notification network to scare parents.  

That dark moment marked a turning point which led to a grassroots voter movement in Tiverton which eventually replaced financial town meetings (total free-for-all) with the financial town referendum (secret ballot and no surprises).

Sadly, 10 years later, some things remain the same. Resolutions can’t get a vote. Speakers get shouted down at hearings. The town council’s lawyer calls the shots. The council tries to control the money and now the charter process. Threats and intimidation against some who dare put out lawn signs supporting a lower budget. And, as always, misinformation and scare tactics are rolled out to try and convince busy people to give the government all the benefit of the doubt. 

But what we still have, at least for now, is a secret-ballot vote. Budget #1 uses most of the casino money to cover huge spending increases on the municipal budget. Budget #2 still budgets over $51 million for the town. If government officials can’t make $51 million work in our town of 16,000 people, then they should just resign from office rather than lie to all of us.

I strongly support Budget #2, but even more importantly I encourage all Tiverton voters to vote in the FTR. The Town Council is trying to control the casino money and then take away your chance to say otherwise at the FTR. Vote on the casino money while you still can.  

Robert Coulter

Tiverton