To the editor: Westport pays for Diman with or without the debt exclusion

Posted 3/30/23

Westport has already agreed to pay its share of the costs of Diman in an overwhelming approval at Town Meeting last year. Some are advising us to vote 'No' on the Diman debt exclusion question so …

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To the editor: Westport pays for Diman with or without the debt exclusion

Posted

Westport has already agreed to pay its share of the costs of Diman in an overwhelming approval at Town Meeting last year. Some are advising us to vote 'No' on the Diman debt exclusion question so that their taxes will not be raised. These same people are accusing the authorities of telling lies and promoting misconceptions.

These people are promoting misconception. They say that by voting "no" you will personally save money. That is not the truth.

The vote on April 11th is actually whether we take the money out of the operating budget (for example, by cutting fire and police protection and/or firing teachers in Westport)  OR we vote for a debt exclusion.

A debt exclusion gives the town the finances to pay for our portion of the Diman new school costs.  It won't be necessary to fire several teachers or firemen or policemen to finance that debt.

We have already agreed to pay our share of the cost. The vote on April 11 considers whether we take it out of already stretched operating funds or agree to an exclusion. We cannot go back on our approval of Diman now.

 Vote yes on the Diman question.  It just makes sense!!!

Steve Medeiros

Betty Slade

 Westport

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