Vote YES

'We spend too much of our time worrying about the mosquitoes and not enough time concerning ourselves about the health of the pond.'  Understanding that a tax increase is the "mosquito" that we must get past to improve our overall health,  it seems to me that now is the time for residents of Shrewsbury to worry about the health of the pond, and to step forward and VOTE YES to save our town.   This investment in our police and fire personnel, in our public buildings, and in our schools is NECESSARY. * our town's population has grown 47%, yet we have less police staff than 2008, 30% less employees to care for public buildings, and 17% less highway staff than 1998* our per pupil expenditure is in the bottom 11% in the state* Our classrooms teacher/pupil ratio ranks 390th out of 403 school districts* we rank in the bottom 2% in state spending on curriculum materials and technologyThese are facts!The town of Shrewsbury is at a crossroads. We must decide what kind of town Shrewsbury will be going forward. On Tuesday, June 3rd we have a choice, either invest $5.5 million in our schools and in our public buildings, highways, police and fire personnel, or let unfunded mandates, limited revenue from our commercial base and maxed out fees continue to cut into our ability to provide quality schools and municipal services to our residents. I do not want to see further deterioration change the town that I call home.  Do not do this for altruism, do this for economics.  Our home values WILL suffer, if we do not invest in our community.  Please join me in voting YES on June 3rd. 
Paul F. Cunniffe
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