(Editor’s note: The writer here discusses a street referendum to pay for street repairs. The city has only had informal discussions about a referendum and has not taken action toward proposing one.)

Dear editor,

Regarding the article “City could consider referendum for street repairs,” this is unbelievable.

Is anyone in city government doing the job that they were elected to do: looking out for the taxpayer’s interests? The city has apparently taken a page out of the school district’s playbook, “Spend as many tax dollars as possible when you come up short through mismanagement and wasteful spending. Just ask for more through a referendum.” It was not all that long ago that this seemed to be a yearly happening. Like the rites of spring, “The referendum will come.”

Speaking of which, in a previous edition you touted the “Second Street project.” Businesses expressed their disapproval of the project, which apparently fell on deaf ears. How many taxpayer dollars is the city planning to waste on the “Second Street project” boondoggle while planning a referendum for street repairs? There is nothing on Second Street that would benefit anyone with the possible exception of the new library.

The new library under construction on one end of the project, the only “public friendly” place on Second Street, has had a benevolent sponsor. Your article quoted an individual saying that “he is in town often” and concluded that this is a great idea, etc. Were you aware that the individual interviewed is employed by the library sponsor’s company, the same parent company which also has interest in an upscale hotel and restaurant establishment on the south side of town? What benefits could anyone hope to derive with a one-way thoroughfare on Second Street built with taxpayer dollars?

There are “need to have” and “want to have” budget priorities. Marshfield has always had a problem distinguishing between the two. Here is a novel idea: Fix the streets first with the budget that you have, and then ask for a referendum to pay for the Second Street project and see where that goes.

Ed Slany

Marshfield