From my vantage point as a retiring four-year School Committee member, I have had a front-row seat to many of the fiscal events of our town during that time. As town boards have worked together admirably to pass budgets in a difficult economic climate, it has taken some real political courage to avoid overrides and tax increases over that period. Viewing last week’s papers, however, you may be surprised to learn where that political courage has been coming from.
First, I give credit to the town administrator and all of the school and town employees who have been flexible, hardworking and willing to come to the table with ideas and sacrifices.
Second, two of our Board of Selectmen candidates stand out as having directly and meaningfully contributed to the town’s avoidance of overrides.
Marie Sobalvarro took the (often unpopular) leadership role of researching and proposing changes to the town’s health insurance plan and came to the table to negotiate with the unions, resulting in a recurring savings of approximately $200,000 per year.
Stu Sklar, then the chairman of the School Committee, was the leading advocate for pursuing the pre-K to 5 Devens educational contract that, together with the grades 6-12 contract, generates more than $800,000 annually. I remember clearly that there were many who did not want to pursue the Devens contract for various political reasons. Today, virtually everyone in town government acknowledges how fortunate we are to have these contracts in place.
These efforts, led by Stu and Marie, are the kind of explicit actions that are needed to avoid overrides without excessive cuts to jobs and services.
Yet this work is not done: the schools’ five-year plan now projects a $264,000 deficit in fiscal year 2014. I assume there are similar projections on the town side. Instead of officials who talk about “tightening our belts,” we need leaders like Stu and Marie whose political courage, visionary outlook, and passion for preserving Harvard will go beyond talk and result in meaningful actions that benefit us all. I urge residents to join me in voting for Stu and Marie on April 4.
Virginia Justicz
Woodside Road
