NEWS

Educate yourself on city budget

Ron Cole
news@fosters.com
Ron Cole

Budgetary concerns are a natural part of governing, whether it is in a small community or a national government. Dover is no different. Concerns have been evident through our community for the past several years about the City Council actions in overriding the city’s tax cap; regarding that, numerous in the community wish to have an opportunity to speak with the city’s leaders and share their concerns.

In our everlasting desire to help locals become more aware, we at Doins are advising those with concerns about the upcoming city budget (specifically concerns about the tax cap issue). Here are opportunities to learn about the budget and make their feelings known.

In an excellent recent Foster’s article of Jan. 8, several Dover voters expressed concern about over riding the tax cap over the city’s annual budget.

Their reasoning covers concerns that the budget/tax cap has been overridden for several years, and in concert with that, property values have increased substantially placing a heavier tax burden on the citizenry. Numerous residents have expressed concern about the best way to communicate in a real dialogue with city leaders.

The School Board will be holding a couple of workshops on Jan. 21 and 27 related to the forthcoming city of Dover budget, they will be very factual and informational, but will not have a spot for questions by the public. Citizens forum is a part of the regular school board meetings and is a place for comments from the public but not for discussion. I highly recommend going to dover.k12.nh.us and work your way through it. There is an absolute treasure trove of info on all the schools and the system. Good stuff!

Amanda Russell, chair of the Dover School Board, contacted me and advised that there is a great opportunity coming up for questions. On Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Gourmet Table at Dover High School, there will be a coffee with the superintendent of schools, the mayor, and members of the School Board. Hopefully some City Council members might be there as well. It will take place beginning at 9 a.m. “That’s the perfect time for questions” said Russell.

We have talked a lot about the challenges and desires of many to help local homeless (or houseless as they are also being called), much of it having to do with the early lack of preparation for our winter. Well, it is winter, it is cold and there is substantial preparation and action being done right now!

We are in the cold time and it is so, so nice to see local people and organizations involved and helping. Just last week a new player, Dover Housing Authority qualified to host at the Niles Community Center. That is good stuff.

Speaking of good stuff, last week we talked about some local people and organizations doing exactly that: Good. Here are some more folks doing the right thing for the Dover area.

Recently, Noreen Biehl of The Rotary Club of Dover advised of the club’s joined in assisting bringing warmth to the homeless. They purchased $1,000 worth of warm hats, socks, gloves, plus tarps, headlamps, protein bars, Dunkin' gift cards to be distributed through Community Action Partnerships and local Dover groups. Rotarian Jim Munro, the Rotary event organizer referred to “most of us as being warm and safe. Sadly we know that too many people are not.” Thanks to a generous discount from Ocean State Job Lots Rotary filled three shopping carts of gloves, hats, socks, hand, body and toe warmers, balaclavas and more.

Here is still more that the Rotary does to better the community in the course of the year. The Rotary Garden and Rotary Pavilion at Henry Law Park, an after school program for youngsters at Seymour Osman Community Center & Woodman Park Elementary, a shoe and boot program for children in need coordinated with Dover schools, a dictionary distribution project with local elementary students, the Interact community service/leadership development with Dover High School students and annual distribution of multiple scholarships. They also visit seniors and join Pease Greeters. On an international level, Rotarians work on efforts to promote peace, provide clean water and medical training/support including efforts to create a polio-free world. If you would like more info, or perhaps to join them, go to doverrotary.com.

The above is an organization doing good things. Please send me names and I will continue my mentions of what makes Dover good.

Today we recognize the works of Martin Luther King, please take a minute and think of the man and his impact on our country.

As always, please practice empathy.

Ron Cole can be reached at mrdoverdoins@gmail.com.