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Citizen petition to rebuild Bedford skatepark sparks lengthy debate over fund balance and tax impact
Summary
A citizen petition seeks $800,000 to rebuild the Earl Legacy Park skatepark as poured-in-place concrete; petitioners say the plan uses prior private donations, capital reserves and unassigned fund balance for zero tax impact, while opponents raised concerns about using reserve funds and alternatives. Multiple amendment motions failed; the article goes to the ballot as petitioned.
David Gilbert, lead petitioner, presented Article 11 seeking $800,000 to reconstruct the Earl Legacy Park skatepark, proposing $88,000 in existing private donations, $234,000 from the Recreation Field Improvement capital reserve, and $478,000 from unassigned fund balance. Gilbert framed the rebuild as a safety and longevity project (poured-in-place concrete with ~25-year expected life) and emphasized a zero-tax-impact approach by using on-hand funds and prior approvals.
Residents and councilors debated the mechanics and trade-offs at length. Opponents and some residents argued the $478,000 from unassigned fund balance and the $234,000 from a field-improvement reserve are not 'free' and could otherwise offset tax impacts or future capital needs; several speakers warned that drawing down these balances reduces Town flexibility. Attorney Nathan Midolo and Town Manager Rick Sawyer explained timing constraints and Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) considerations for amendments to petitioned warrant articles. Multiple amendment motions sought to change funding sources or total appropriation (including a proposal to shift more to taxation or to lower the total to $700,000); those motions were debated and several failed. At the end of the session the moderator read that, without further successful amendment, Article 11 will go on the March 10 ballot as originally petitioned.
Proponents argued the park has safety issues and that modern rebuilding will increase usage and be cost-effective long term; opponents raised opportunity-cost and prioritization concerns for other field and facility projects. The Town Council had recommended Article 11 5–1; the petitioners asked voters to decide.
