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Residents urge Select Board to cut spending, citing steep municipal budget growth and housing unaffordability
Summary
Multiple residents told the Select Board the town's municipal budget growth and tax burden are driving out workers and families; one resident urged multi-year reductions and data-driven budgeting to preserve community character.
At the end of the Select Board budget review, several residents spoke about housing affordability and municipal spending.
Becca Gildred, who identified herself as a Rockport resident, urged the Select Board to prioritize residents and reduce municipal spending over the next several years. She told the board she had tracked local data and said the town's net municipal budget grew roughly 121% over five years and that nearly half of Rockport households earn under $75,000. "When the people who already live here can no longer afford to stay, something has gone terribly wrong," she said, and asked the board to commit to a plan to reduce the budget and consider trade-offs to preserve year-round residency.
Other residents echoed concerns about capital costs (including town building operating expenses and a proposed town garage) and urged the board to be transparent about large capital asks and to explore regional purchasing or contracts for items such as fuel to reduce costs.
Board members thanked the commenters and noted the concerns will be part of the broader budget conversation as the town finalizes proposals and returns the draft to the Budget Committee.
