Letter: Town Officials Not Listening on Police Budget
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To the Editor:
On May 5, at the annual town meeting, Dalton residents voted 162-117 to reject the police budget which has risen by 59 percent, or $600,000, since Chief Strout's appointment ($1.049M FY21 versus $1.665M 2026 projection).
The vote against the police budget is not a targeted attack or an attempt to defund the department. The police budget is the third highest for the town. The [Central Berkshire Regional School District] is No. 1, and is voted on by the seven towns it covers, not just Dalton. The second highest is sewer treatment, and its costs are dictated by the [city] of Pittsfield. Coming in behind the Police Department is health insurance, which was discussed at length during the meeting and Bill Drosehn suggested looking into other providers to save costs. Unfortunately, the police budget is where voters can make the greatest impact on their tax bill.
The Finance Committee didn't approve the police budget during their March 26, 2025, meeting and received criticism. They approved the budget after a $14,564 decrease during the April 16, 2025, meeting. However, the residents of Dalton did not vote in favor of the revised budget, and we, the voters, are at the top of the town's organization chart.
To further support this, during the Select Board candidate forum, when candidates were asked, "What is the role of a Select Board member?" Marc Strout repeated many times, "I work for you; I'm the employee you're the employer. I report to you." (16:46). Former Select Board Chair Joe Diver commented on his May 4, 2025, post in the "Marc Strout, Town of Dalton Selectman Facebook" group, "Welcome to New England town government. In my opinion, it is the best form of government because the final say is in the hands of the voters who show up, make motions to adjust budgets and final decisions and vote on on key items for the town."
Since the annual town meeting the Select Board, town manager, chief, and Finance Committee should be working together to find places to cut the budget. Instead, it keeps getting pointed out that the Finance Committee unanimously approved the revised budget on 4/16. At this point in time, none of that matters because the residents voted against the $1.665M police budget, and the voters have the final say. Not a single Select Board member mentioned this during their discussion on 5/19.
I guess the votes don't matter or at least when they don't align with their views. The chief and the Select Board are digging in their heels and are presenting the same budget at the special town meeting on June 9, ignoring the voters. This is another example of the Select Board operating under their own agenda that benefits themselves and select department heads.
This is why voters approved the new recall bylaw at the meeting, not because of personal vendetta as Bob Bishop claimed, but because the Select Board continues to not listen to its residents, their "employer." The Finance Committee is listening, and reviewed the budget on Tuesday, June 3.
The Select Board should be embarrassed because some research would reveal that the budget has outgrown our town's declining population and police activity. Chief Strout did go through a detailed review of the budget, but that does not mean it is not an excessive budget or excessive budget or 100 percent transparent.
If you believe the police budget is outsized, then another no vote on the budget is necessary or it will continue to balloon. When the town surpasses the levy limit then drastic cuts to services and layoffs will need to occur across town departments and nobody wants that. Whether you support the $1.665 police budget or not, the best way to let your opinion be known is to vote at the special town meeting on June 9.
Diane Lowe
Dalton, Mass.
