I appreciated Al DiNardo’s letter regarding a “return to limited government “. I especially appreciated his willingness to use the Firefighter Safer Grant as an example of the way local governments collude with the state to circumvent the limits of Prop 2 1/2.
When I lived in Weymouth, the councilors laid off the whole crossing guard division in order to fund Quinn Bill benefits for police officers when the state decided to no longer pay their share.
Communities, like Plymouth, need to be willing to request data when a need such as continued education incentives for police officers or hiring new career firefighters (even grant funded) is proposed. Future opportunity costs should always be part of the debate.
– Linda MacDonald