Orange voters, at least those who took the time to attend this year’s Annual Town Meeting, made some difficult but practical choices over finances and a plastic bag ban.
The voters passed a $20.1 million budget at Monday’s meeting, a 2 percent increase over this year’s $19,671,069 budget. Unfortunately, the budget is neither a level services plan nor a level funded one.
But the town’s fiscal leaders did manage to avert a call for a tax cap override, although there was some serious consideration of such a move in the days leading up to the meeting, and at the meeting itself.
The new budget, which takes effect July 1, includes many cuts to services, despite the best efforts of the Finance Committee and school officials, who did manage to keep the spending increase below the ceiling established by Proposition 2½.
Ultimately, voters chose not to consider an override to restore late buses at Mahar Regional School, which would have cost another $25,000, and departments saw 5 percent cuts to their expenses across the board, with the exception of the police, fire and public works operations, where expenses were cut by roughly 6 percent. The good news seems to be that the town got by without cutting municipal staff.
The elementary schools have seen cuts, and class sizes are increasing to about 25 children per class at Fisher Hill Elementary School. At the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School, two instructors and one administrative position were cut, as well as those late buses. The School Committee has cited increasing costs for special education and health care, as well as contractual raises as drivers of spending increases.
Let’s hope that in coming years, the town will find ways to grow its tax base by attracting new industries or business growth, which can absorb the inexorable growing cost of providing town services.
A proposal to ban thin, single-use plastic bags was defeated 49-43, but not, it seems, because people didn’t see the problems plastic bags pose to the environment.
Instead, it seems the idea of trying a recycling system at the town trash station appealed to enough voters interested in preserving the convenience of the ubiquitous bags.
The article called for banning the sale, distribution or use of plastic bags at checkout at any Orange grocery store or retail store, with some exceptions.
Those in favor said reusable bags are available for free throughout town, like at the Quabbin Harvest, and are a good way to reduce pollution.
Victor and Laurie MacDonald, who recently set up a plastic bag recycling program at the transfer station, opposed the ban and were commended by others in opposition.
“Rather than passing prohibitions on plastic bags, I think we should be passing out awards tonight,” said Ann Reed, who mentioned the MacDonalds as well as businesses in town that have voluntarily adopted eco-friendly bagging practices — like Trail Head Outfitters & General Store, which uses paper bags.
“Please give recycling a chance,” said Victor MacDonald, adding that the program he and his wife have set up is on pace to recycle over 30,000 plastic bags a year.
Recycling is a practical ways to preserve the convenience of plastic, and keep those bags out of the environment where they cause subtle, but cumulative harm. But it may not be as effective as a ban. We will have to see. Yet, we were encouraged that the vote was close and that those who voted against did so with an environmentally friendly alternative in mind. It may not be the best solution ultimately, but it shows a healthy measure of common sense, and not indifference to the need to keep our environment clean and healthy.