Do the people want savings, or convenience?

As much as people complain about high taxes, I am quickly learning, based on the daily comments I receive, that some people are not interested in cost-saving measures if it creates the slightest inconvenience for them.

I am surprised that people would rather keep convenience over savings. Let me offer an example. The town of Mechanic Falls has operated a transfer station for many, many years. Rules pertaining to the operation of that dumping site were created to ensure compliance with Maine Department of Environmental Protection regulations (which have hefty fines attached for noncompliance) and for consistent and proper disposal of citizens’ trash.

We have encouraged recycling of certain items such as newsprint, glass, plastics and cardboard mainly because when the market is right, it generates revenue for the town and reduces the cost of operating the transfer station. By fault of our own, previous management of the transfer station was lackadaisical, which lead to a rapid increase in expense to the taxpayers.

Sorting of recyclables was unenforced and dumping was unmonitored, leading to items being left in areas in which they didn’t belong. By not sorting the recyclables, it increased the weight of trash being hauled off-site, which in turn inflated the amount of taxpayer dollars needed to get rid of our trash. People from outside our community were also dumping their trash at the transfer station and the landfill was being unnecessarily filled faster than the anticipated lifespan.

Recently, I endorsed a stricter enforcement policy that was backed by the town council and was implemented as of Jan. 1. Staffing changes have been made, and attempts to adhere to the transfer station ordinance are now in effect. For some reason, taxpayers are unhappy about the stepped-up enforcement. I have to chuckle at a recent comment made by a citizen stating that I am “out of control.”

It is sad to think that efforts to reduce spending are considered as such, and that my attempts are considered radical. For those that feel this way, I apologize for creating the inconvenience. However, if it is believed that following simple guidelines for disposing of household waste is not worth the dollars it will save, please don’t impose a costly attitude upon those who are trying to make a difference. An option would be to hire one of a number of private haulers to come to your house and take your trash, for a fee.

Another example is the lack of public participation. Is taking a little time to attend the public meetings a nuisance to the degree that it’s not worth the effort to save tax dollars? I can remember attending the annual town meetings in the municipal gymnasium with my father and grandfather as a youngster. That gym was packed with townspeople voting on the individual budget items.

Thirty years later, less than 2 percent of the voting public was in attendance at the Mechanic Falls town meeting last spring. About 45 people gave up a couple of hours on a Saturday morning to decide how the collected tax dollars were going to be spent over the next year. Of those, only a few of them were vocal about their concern for the tax rate.

If others felt the same way, they said nothing.

Our monthly town council meeting attendance is just as scarce. You will find the five councilors, the town clerk, me, the two press representatives and occasionally a couple of people who might be interested in the process. For so many people to be so unhappy about what they pay in taxes, why aren’t there more turning out to express their concerns? The frustrations shared at the local coffee shop once a week aren’t beneficial because the messengers don’t make it to town hall. Believe it or not, there are people trying to make a difference.

I personally would like to see more people get involved, offer guidance and be supportive, even if it is a slight inconvenience.

John Hawley is the town manager of Mechanic Falls.