As a former elected official, I challenge the councilors and selectmen of Maine’s towns and cities to make public – indeed, proactively publicize – their public works overtime savings and the dollar figure of salt and sand reserves resulting from the very light winter of 2015-16.

I would then request that they use those savings to actually reduce next year’s annual municipal budgets by the appropriate amount.

Simply letting those savings quietly lapse into this year’s general fund or fund balance, or worse, spending the money elsewhere by June 30, is not in the best interest of those of us who pay ever-increasing real estate taxes.

John W. James IV

former chair, Bath City Council

Bath