A letter from Gus
Gilford Neighbors,
As you may know, I am currently seeking a second term as your Selectman. As the March election draws closer, your support of my candidacy is critical in ensuring that a proven fiscal conservative is reelected. I am and have always been committed to keeping local government’s size and spending to a minimum and I am dedicated to continue my mission of an open and transparent government. It’s been my passion and pledge to make each and every Gilford family the central focus when every decision is made.
While everyone running for office states that they are fiscally conservative, my voting record and budgets are proof. I have been committed to reducing spending which reduced taxes while maintaining efficient and effective Town services.
As your Selectman, each year I have recommended an extremely lean Town Budget with very little growth in personnel and spending. Each year, the Town spending was less than anticipated and over $500,000 was returned to the Undesignated Fund Balance. In my second year, the Board of Selectmen required the Facilities Planning Commission who is responsible for recommending construction options for the Police Station, to create a detailed blue print of the project which resulted in a savings to the overall project of over $100,000. During a transitional process in our Finance Department, a full-time position was changed to part-time resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in reduced wages and benefits. In my third year, we proposed the use of the “Old Library” facility to the School District for the yearly lease price of only $1. The previous lease agreement with the School District cost taxpayers $3600 a year. This proposal will save tens of thousands of dollars in taxes in the years to come.
As a Selectman, I negotiated with the Town Department of Public Works Union and successfully reached an agreement where: 1. Cost of Living Adjustments were eliminated and replaced with merit raises 2. Merit increases were reduced from a maximum of 5% to 4% and 3. The Union agreed to give up Sick Pay bonuses which save the taxpayers over $23,000 a year.
By being respectful, honest and listening to their needs, I am happy and proud to say that the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 534 which represents the Gilford DPW Union employees and the Gilford Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3517 have decided to endorse my candidacy. Words can not express how I grateful I am to these Town employees for placing their confidence in me.
It has been my priority over the last three years to have an open and transparent local government. Listening to the voices of each and every citizen has been a major goal for me throughout these last three years. Too often, local government forgets that its mission and goal must be to meet the needs of its residents in the best and most efficient manner. To this end, we now have Selectmen’s meetings at night for your convenience, Selectmen’s meetings are recorded and televised on the Cable Public Access channel, the Town Check Register or Manifest is posted on line for viewing without any formal request required and public work sessions are conducted before policy changes are made.
In these critical economic troubling times that face every Gilford home, it is vital that the Town reelect a true proven fiscal conservative to represent you.
Thank you for your support and vote on March 9th.
Gus Benavides
As you may know, I am currently seeking a second term as your Selectman. As the March election draws closer, your support of my candidacy is critical in ensuring that a proven fiscal conservative is reelected. I am and have always been committed to keeping local government’s size and spending to a minimum and I am dedicated to continue my mission of an open and transparent government. It’s been my passion and pledge to make each and every Gilford family the central focus when every decision is made.
While everyone running for office states that they are fiscally conservative, my voting record and budgets are proof. I have been committed to reducing spending which reduced taxes while maintaining efficient and effective Town services.
As your Selectman, each year I have recommended an extremely lean Town Budget with very little growth in personnel and spending. Each year, the Town spending was less than anticipated and over $500,000 was returned to the Undesignated Fund Balance. In my second year, the Board of Selectmen required the Facilities Planning Commission who is responsible for recommending construction options for the Police Station, to create a detailed blue print of the project which resulted in a savings to the overall project of over $100,000. During a transitional process in our Finance Department, a full-time position was changed to part-time resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in reduced wages and benefits. In my third year, we proposed the use of the “Old Library” facility to the School District for the yearly lease price of only $1. The previous lease agreement with the School District cost taxpayers $3600 a year. This proposal will save tens of thousands of dollars in taxes in the years to come.
As a Selectman, I negotiated with the Town Department of Public Works Union and successfully reached an agreement where: 1. Cost of Living Adjustments were eliminated and replaced with merit raises 2. Merit increases were reduced from a maximum of 5% to 4% and 3. The Union agreed to give up Sick Pay bonuses which save the taxpayers over $23,000 a year.
By being respectful, honest and listening to their needs, I am happy and proud to say that the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 534 which represents the Gilford DPW Union employees and the Gilford Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3517 have decided to endorse my candidacy. Words can not express how I grateful I am to these Town employees for placing their confidence in me.
It has been my priority over the last three years to have an open and transparent local government. Listening to the voices of each and every citizen has been a major goal for me throughout these last three years. Too often, local government forgets that its mission and goal must be to meet the needs of its residents in the best and most efficient manner. To this end, we now have Selectmen’s meetings at night for your convenience, Selectmen’s meetings are recorded and televised on the Cable Public Access channel, the Town Check Register or Manifest is posted on line for viewing without any formal request required and public work sessions are conducted before policy changes are made.
In these critical economic troubling times that face every Gilford home, it is vital that the Town reelect a true proven fiscal conservative to represent you.
Thank you for your support and vote on March 9th.
Gus Benavides
