I have lived here since 1968, graduated from WHS, and raised my family here for good reason. The people are hard-working, amazing humans with a great sense of community spirit. There is a small minority, however, that will do everything they can to make things worse. They present as individuals who want to “protect” the “taxpayers” from wasteful spending, out there for the “little guy” who struggles against the tyranny of government.

I assure you that my nine years on the Select Board, and a lifetime of volunteering, that there is little to no “wasteful spending.” I have seen the budgets, and been forced, every year, to make extensive cuts to our town services. Eliminating positions and funding for everything from school buses to elder services.

Why? Because this small minority whips up anti-government rhetoric every time we attempt to override Proposition-2 ½. Truth be told, those screaming the loudest own the most valuable properties in town. They claim to want to help the “little guys” who have to send their children to the public schools, when in fact a $100 to $300 increase in their taxes would help properly fund public schools and also provide services to our elders, keep the transfer station open, provide veterans' services, and maintain our roads, etc...

All of these services are invaluable to people with limited income who cannot afford them otherwise. I know first-hand because I was one of them. I qualified for free lunch all 13 years of public school.

Forty years of neglecting our buildings and budgets have produced a structural deficit that cannot be overcome by cutting services. Please support this override — you will be investing in your town and will benefit directly from the services it provides.

Of 351 municipalities in Massachusetts, we rank in the bottom eight percent for tax rates, and with this override we would still be in the bottom 10 percent. Short-sighted budgeting is what got us here; please don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.

Brian Valcourt

Westport

Valcourt is a former member of the Westport Select Board.