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Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager -
"After three consecutive years of cuts, I have serious doubts
about our ability to continue to operate a Town Government
without these additional funds. State Aid has been
drastically cut leaving Reading on our own to fund essential
services."
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Beth Klepeis, Town Finance Director -
"The Town
can no longer make budget cuts seamless to the taxpayer. Our
financial reserves have been depleted. Our credit rating has
been lowered. I am very concerned about Reading's financial
health."
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Greg Burns, Reading Fire Chief - "The last 3 years of
cuts have already forced reductions in firefighters;
additional cuts will drastically reduce our capability to
respond to medical calls, fires and other emergencies. Loss
of personnel will mean taking the ladder truck out of service
resulting in loss of mutual aid; other towns will not answer
Reading's call in emergencies."
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Karen Callan and Joseph Finigan, Reading School Principals -
"The loss of classroom teachers will be
huge. Cuts to curriculum, materials and essential specialists
will be devastating to every child in the Reading School
System. Both the K-12 remedial reading program and middle
school foreign language will be eliminated. Sixth grade
social studies and science instruction will be reduced to
half year programs. The cumulative cuts will wipe out the
progress our schools have made over the last ten years."
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Robert Silva, Police Chief -
"Reductions in police
officers, dispatchers, and crossing guards compromises public
safety and increases the liability to the town. Our ability
to implement Homeland Security measures is also compromised."
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Kimberly Lynn, Reading Public Library Director -
The
"Library is open fewer hours now than it has been in its
entire history. If the override doesn't pass, the Library
will lose State certification and you can forget business as
usual at the Reading Public Library."
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Ted McIntire, Department of Public Works Director -
"Our roads are in terrible shape. After this winter they
will be even worse. The override provides funds to give us a
start in fixing them."
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