The town of Harvard had a tax override last year. We will vote on another override at our Town Meeting tomorrow, March 29. The Finance Committee reports they are concerned with the long-term sustainability of our current method of operating and funding town government and schools. Harvard’s spending, they say, is growing faster than our revenues without an override.
There is another course of action, one that I am surprised and disappointed that the Finance Committee did not mention in its report to the town: Devens. It would be a great source of revenue for the town if governance is returned to Harvard. Revenue from commercial, industrial, and residential taxation, plus charges for water, utilities, and other services, would greatly exceed any operational expense involved. Currently, Devens serves as Mass Development’s (MADEV) cash cow, whereas it should be Harvard’s answer to its financial situation. Our course of action, without question, should be a return of Devens jurisdiction as soon as practicable.
The Devens Committee (DC), which says it represents people living on Devens, has submitted two petitions to be voted on at Town Meeting. They are Warrant Articles 30 and 31. The DC is an advocate of, and follows the direction of, MADEV. The DC has limited knowledge and understanding of Devens issues, and considerable naïveté regarding town governance. What they know, what they do, is, in my judgment, dictated by MADEV. In various settings, they are quite critical of Harvard and its people. This, despite the fact that Harvard volunteers have been responsible for much of the good happenings at Devens: open space protection, wetland protection, sound zoning, contamination cleanup, protection of water resources, and more.
Articles 30 and 31 are the DC’s back-door attempt to undo Harvard’s vote on scenario 2B a year ago. Don’t be hoodwinked. Protect our town’s interest and future. Vote “no” on these two articles.
Bill Ashe
Myrick Lane
