Washington may be dysfunctional.
Westport is not.
As we chug through the budget season, we’ve seen lots of things:
- Clear, honest presentations
- Tight finances, with logical — but hardly alarming — increases
- Insightful questions, and fact-filled answers
Here is what we have not seen:
- Partisanship
- Gamesmanship
- Rancor
There is still a ways to go. The Board of Finance must hold formal hearings on the town and education budgets, before a final vote. Then the RTM weighs in.
But so far, so good. Initial presentations by First Selectman Jim Marpe and Board of Ed chair Michael Gordon were met with praise from Finance members.
“Thank you for the countless hours you put into this,” said Michael Rea. “You both put in fine budgets.”
“I feel so good about the budget numbers before us,” added Jennifer Tooker.
Westport’s budget process has not always been smooth. Past springs — though none recently — were filled with venom, personal attacks, and referendums.
Reasonable people can have reasonable differences, of course. But it seems that in Westport — if not in Washington — reason reigns.