BERLIN — Residents jammed the city hall auditorium Wednesday night to advocate for retaining city services the proposed fiscal 2020 budget would cut because of what city officials charge is the state’s failure to adequately fund education.
Many speakers said they were willing to incur a small property tax increase to avoid laying off teachers, firefighters, police and public works employees. Others noted the city already has the third highest equalized tax rate in the state.
kAmr:EJ 2?5 D49@@= @77:4:2=D =2:5 E96 3=2>6 7@C q6C=:?’D 4FCC6?E 7:D42= H@6D @? E96 {68:D=2EFC6’D a_`d 564:D:@? E@ A92D6 @FE 65F42E:@? DE23:=:K2E:@? 8C2?ED] |2J@C !2F= vC6?:6C D2:5 E96 4:EJ 92D =@DE Sa]` >:==:@? :? DE2E6 65F42E:@? 7F?5:?8 @G6C E96 A2DE 7@FC J62CD] }@CE9 r@F?ECJ DE2E6 $6?] s2G:5 $E2CC E@=5 E96 4C@H5 96 :D 4@?7:56?E E96 {68:D=2EFC6 H:== A2DD 2 3:== E@ C6DE@C6 `__ A6C46?E @7 E96 DE23:=:K2E:@? 7F?5D 7@C E96 ?6IE EH@ J62CD]k^Am
kAm$FA6C:?E6?56?E @7 $49@@=D r@C:??6 r2D42556? C6>:?565 E96 2F5:6?46 E92E E96 DE2E6 92D 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= C6BF:C6>6?E E@ AC@G:56 2 BF2=:EJ AF3=:4 65F42E:@? 7@C 2== DEF56?ED C682C5=6DD @7 H96C6 E96J =:G6] $96 D2:5 q6C=:? 92D E96 =@H6DE 6BF2=:K65 AC@A6CEJ G2=F2E:@? :? E96 DE2E6[ :? A2CE 3642FD6 e_ A6C46?E @7 E96 E2I 32D6 :D ?@?\AC@7:E @C @H?65 3J E96 DE2E6 @C 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 E96 D49@@= 92D 8C62E=J C65F465 DE277 :? C646?E J62CD E9C@F89 2EEC:E:@? 2?5 C:89E ?@H :D 4=@D:?8 qC@H? t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@=] $E:==[ D96 D2:5 E96 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E 4@F=5 ?@E 7F==J >66E E96 e A6C46?E 4FE 5:C64E65 3J E96 4@F?4:=] $96 D2:5 E96 56A2CE>6?E H:== ?665 :ED a_`h DFCA=FD E@ >66E E96 8@2= — >@?6J E96 4@F?4:= FDF2==J 2==@HD E96 5:DEC:4E E@ FD6 @? 42A:E2= ?665D]k^Am
kAm“!F3=:4 65F42E:@? :D 2 C:89E 277@C565 2== 49:=5C6?[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr2D42556? FC865 E96 4C@H5 E@ 42== v@G] r9C:D $F?F?F 2?5 2D< 9:> E@ C6E2:? 65F42E:@? DE23:=:K2E:@? 8C2?ED 2E E96 a_`e =6G6= 2?5 E@ 4C62E6 2 7F?5:?8 7@C>F=2 E92E :D 72:C 7@C 2== 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 5@6D ?@E 72G@C E96 AC@A6CEJ\C:49 E@H?D 2?5 4:E:6D]k^Am
kAm“r2== af`\a`a`”[ D96 D2:5[ C6A62E:?8 E96 A9@?6 ?F>36C 7@C $F?F?F’D @77:46 D6G6C2= E:>6D 5FC:?8 96C C6>2C<D]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D @G6CG:6H @7 E96 3F586E[ r:EJ |2?286C y2>6D (966=6C D2:5 6G6CJ 56A2CE>6?E H2D 2D<65 E@ 4FE :ED 3F586E 3J e A6C46?E E@ 2G@:5 2 AC@;64E65 Sc]ge E2I :?4C62D6] w6 DEC6DD65 E96 4FED H6C6 5:DEC:3FE65 24C@DD E96 3@2C5 2?5 E96C6 H2D ?@ 2EE6>AE E@ A:E 56A2CE>6?ED 282:?DE @?6 2?@E96C] %96 C6DF=E :D 2 AC@A@D65 Sba]d >:==:@? 86?6C2= 7F?5 3F586E[ 2 C65F4E:@? @7 Sa >:==:@? 7C@> E96 3F586E 96 :?:E:2==J AC6D6?E65 E@ E96 4:EJ 4@F?4:= :? |2C49 2?5 2=>@DE Se >:==:@? =6DD E92? C6BF6DE65 3J 56A2CE>6?E 9625D]k^Am
kAm!@=:46 r9:67 !6E6C |@C6?4J D2:5 9:D 56A2CE>6?E 92D =62C?65 E@ 5@ >@C6 H:E9 =6DD 7@C J62CD 3FE D2:5 E96 =@DD @7 EH@ A@=:46 A@D:E:@?D H@F=5 5:>:?:D9 AF3=:4 D276EJ 2?5 C6DEC:4E E96 2G2:=23:=:EJ @7 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E] xE H@F=5 2=D@ :>A24E E96 56A2CE>6?E’D 23:=:EJ E@ 2EEC24E 8C2?E 7F?5:?8 E@ 4@G6C DA64:2= 6?7@C46>6?E 56E2:=D]k^Am
kAmu:C6 r9:67 y@9? {242DD6 D2:5 E96 =@DD @7 EH@ 7:C67:89E6C A@D:E:@?D H@F=5 >62? >@DE @7 E96 E:>6 E96C6 H@F=5 36 @?=J 7@FC 7:C67:89E6CD @? 5FEJ :?DE625 @7 7:G6] w6 D2:5 E96 4FE ;6@A2C5:K6D E96 D276EJ @7 7:C67:89E6CD C6DA@?5:?8 E@ 2 DECF4EFC2= 7:C6 2D H6== 2D E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAm“%96 7:7E9 >2? >2<6D 2 H@C=5 @7 5:776C6?46[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 @G6CG:6H 7C@> (966=6C 2?5 56A2CE>6?E 9625D[ vC6?:6C @A6?65 E96 962C:?8 E@ AF3=:4 4@>>6?ED]k^Am
kAmyFDE:? w2=6 D2:5 E96 4:EJ ?665D E@ 86E 4C62E:G6 2?5 7:?5 H2JD E@ =:G6 H:E9:? :ED >62?D 3642FD6 E96 E2I C2E6 :D 6I4665:?8 E2IA2J6CD’ 23:=:EJ E@ A2J] w6 D2:5 6G6CJ 5@==2C DA6?E @? E2I6D :D 2 5@==2C E92E 42?’E 36 DA6?E :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ] w2=6 D2:5 96 E9:?<D E96 4:EJ ?665D E@ 6?4@FC286 D49@@= 49@:46]k^Am
kAmq6C=:? w:89 pE9=6E:4 s:C64E@C rC2:8 |6=2?D@? D2:5 96 H2?ED 9:D <:5D E@ 92G6 E96 D2>6 BF2=:EJ 65F42E:@? 96 C646:G65 :? q6C=:?]k^Am
kAm“x H2?E E96 36DE 7@C >J <:5D] xE’D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6? :7 J@F <66A >2<:?8 E96D6 4FED[” 96 D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E 96 H:== 36 7@C465 E@ =@@< 2E >@G:?8]k^Am
kAm|6=2?D@? 2D<65 E96 >2J@C 2?5 4@F?4:= :7 E96C6 :D 2 324<\FA A=2? :7 E96 DE2E6 65F42E:@? 7F?5:?8 :D C6DE@C65]k^Am
kAm%:772?J w2=6 D2:5 3F586ED 2C6 2=H2JD E@F89 2?5 FC865 E96 4@F?4:= E@ 7:?5 5:776C6?E @AE:@?D C2E96C E92? =62G6 A6@A=6 :? 2 =FC49 H96C6 E96J 42?’E 277@C5 E96:C 9@>6D]k^Am
kAm$E2E6 #6A] {2CCJ {27=2>>6 @7 q6C=:? D2:5 96 :D 4@?7:56?E E96 65F42E:@? 7F?5:?8 H:== 36 C6DE@C65] w6 D2:5 :7 E92E 92AA6?D :E H:== 36 :? ?@ D>2== H2J 5F6 E@ E96 677@CED @7 r2D42556?[ vC6?:6C[ 2?5 @E96C q6C=:? A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 EC2G6=65 E@ r@?4@C5 E@ E6DE:7J @? E96 4:EJ’D 3692=7]k^Am
kAmpD 2 7@C>6C 7:C67:89E6C[ {27=2>>6 2=D@ DA@<6 :? DFAA@CE @7 E96 7:C6 56A2CE>6?E] w6 D2:5 7@FC\A6CD@? 4C6HD >2<6 :E >@C6 5:77:4F=E 2?5 =6DD D276 7@C 7:C67:89E6CD C6DA@?5:?8 E@ 2 >2;@C 7:C6]k^Am
kAm$EF2CE {:89E DF886DE65 E96 4:EJ D6== E96 q6C=:? 2:CA@CE 2D 2 H2J E@ 86?6C2E6 C6G6?F6 2?5 C65F46 6IA6?D6D]k^Am
kAm$49@@= q@2C5 r92:C }:4@=6 !=@FC56 D2:5 >@C2=6 92D ?6G6C 366? =@H6C :? E96 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E] $E:==[ D96 D2:5 DE277 92D 366? ?@E9:?8 D9@CE @7 96C@:4 :? 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ AC@G:56 2 9:89\BF2=:EJ 65F42E:@? F?56C DF49 5:77:4F=E 4:C4F>DE2?46D]k^Am
kAm!=@FC56 2=D@ FC865 q6C=:? C6D:56?ED E@ 42== E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46 2?5 25G@42E6 7@C >@C6 65F42E:@? 7F?5:?8]k^Am
kAm“x? 2 DE2E6 E92E 3@2DED :ED 8C62E 64@?@>J[ E@ 4@>>F?:E:6D =:<6 @FCD[ :E’D 2 D=2A :? E96 7246[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%62496C %65 |4r@C>24<[ ?@E:?8 96 92D E2F89E >2?J :? E96 2F5:E@C:F> 5FC:?8 9:D J62CD 2E q6C=:? w:89[ D2:5 E96 4@>>F?:EJ :D :? E9:D 7:D42= 4C:D:D E@86E96C] w6 DF886DE65 C2:D:?8 E2I6D D=:89E=J H9:=6 >2<:?8 D@>6 D=:89E 4FED]k^Am
kAm%62496C y2>:6 (6=49[ 2 D64@?5\86?6C2E:@? E62496C[ D2:5 96 C6EFC?65 E@ q6C=:? E@ E6249 2?5 C2:D6 9:D 49:=5C6?] w6 D2:5 96 H@F=5 DFAA@CE C2:D:?8 E2I6D E@ AC6D6CG6 D6CG:46D DF49 2 7:C6[ A@=:46 2?5 65F42E:@?] (6=49 D2:5 9:D E6249:?8 3F586E 92D 366? 4FE :? 92=7 2?5 2== E62496CD ?@H D92C6 4=2DDC@@>D]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 DEF56?ED E@52J 56D6CG6 E96 D2>6 65F42E:@?2= @AA@CEF?:E:6D A2DE 86?6C2E:@?D C646:G65 2?5 D2:5 96 :D H:==:?8 E@ A2J 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 >@?6J E@ 6?DFC6 E92E]k^Am
kAm“z66A @FC D6CG:46D[ C2:D6 E2I6D[” %@?J '2==:6C6 E@=5 E96 4@F?4:=]k^Am
kAm$49@@= 3@2C5 >6>36C s6?:D6 '2=6C:?@ D2:5 E96 AC@3=6>D D96 D66D 2D 2 4@FCE 6>A=@J66 2== C@== @G6C E@ E96 D49@@= DJDE6>] $96 D2:5 D96 DFAA@CED C2:D:?8 E2I6D D=:89E=J E@ C6E2:? 4:EJ D6CG:46D] '2=6C:?@ D2:5 D96 92D 2 52F89E6C :? E96 q6C=:? D49@@=D]k^Am
kAm“x H2?E 96C E@ 92G6 6G6? >@C6 E92? x 5:5[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr2C= v28?@? D2:5 E96 =6256CD9:A @7 E96 4:EJ 72:=65 5FC:?8 E96 `hg_D H96? :E 2==@H65 FC32? C6?6H2= E@ C6>@G6 >2?J @7 E96 3F:=5:?8D @? !=62D2?E $EC66E] w6 D2:5 E96 =6256CD9:A D:?46 E96? 92D ?@E C6A=2465 E96 E2I23=6 AC@A6CEJ E92E H2D =@DE]k^Am
kAmw6 DA@<6 282:?DE E96 4FED E@ A@=:46[ 7:C6 2?5 65F42E:@?[ 2?5 42==65 7@C E96 4:EJ E@ E2<6 2FDE6C:EJ >62DFC6D] v28?@? D2:5 96 28C665 H:E9 2? 62C=:6C DF886DE:@? E@ D6== E96 q6C=:? 2:CA@CE]k^Am
kAmvC6?:6C E92?<65 E96 4C@H5 2?5 AC@>:D65 E92E E96 4@F?4:= G2=F65 2== E96:C @A:?:@?D] w6 D2:5 E96 3F586E :D ?@E 42DE :? DE@?6 2?5 D2:5 96 F?56CDE2?5D E96 :>A24E @7 E96 4FED AC@A@D65] %96 >2J@C D2:5 96 92D 2 8C2?5D@? 23@FE E@ DE2CE D49@@= 2D H6== 2D 6=56C=J 72>:=J >6>36CD]k^Am
kAm“x 86E :E] x C62==J 5@ 86E :E[” 96 D2:5] “(6’C6 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 E9:D H@C<]”k^Am
kAm%96 4@F?4:= :D D4965F=65 E@ 7:?2=:K6 E96 a_a_ 3F586E 2E :ED yF?6 `f >66E:?8]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.