BRATTLEBORO — This past week, Brattleboro Town Meeting representatives approved a $14 million bond for renovations to the police and fire stations. That's just a construction estimate.
With interest, the bond will cost close to $20 million. This will cost the typical property owner $2,000 to $4,000, and this cost will probably be transferred to tenants.
Some of the repairs are warranted, but these are hard times. We all have to make do. This is a lot of money to spend without voter approval, and there isn't much time to prevent it.
A survey of 117 Brattleboro residents sponsored by Cents and Sensibility (us) shows the people oppose this excessive expansion. We have started a referendum so the people can decide for themselves. We have just until Thursday to collect the necessary signatures.