archenemy blog

In the Herald, we read (though with difficulty, as the Herald writers, they are apparently not so good with the Ingleesh):

“We’ve asked the town manager and the superintendent of schools to prepare two budgets, one will be based on our existing projected funding and the other based on a successful override,” Arlington Selectman John Hurd said. If his town’s $6 million override fails, 70 to 80 employees will be cut.

“It would basically change the town as we know it,” Hurd said.

And in the Globe:

On June 11, Arlington will ask homeowners to vote to raise property taxes an average of $420 a year. The override would raise $6 million a year to pay for basic services and shore up cash reserves, said Jeff Thielman, School Committee chairman. Others are waiting to see what lawmakers will do. If aid is not increased, Medford schools might increase students’ fees for joining clubs or playing sports. Three years ago, the school budget was $42.2 million. Now it’s $40.65 million, said Superintendent Roy Belson.”You clearly can’t do it with less and less and less,” he said. ”People say it isn’t money. Well, you should try to run something once in a while. People should try and run something without money.”

You tell ‘em, Belson! Joe Sixpack should stop taking for granted his ability to print money and levy taxes — if he had to actually go out and earn the money he spent, I bet he’d have a lot more sympathy for you government guys.

Dick.