In CT Examiner
To the Editor:
My family and I have lived in Greenwich for 30 years. I served on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and sat on the RTM Finance Committee from 2014-2017. I had the privilege of working with Jill Oberlander during her tenure on the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET).
My experience across these local governing bodies has taught me what responsible fiscal governance looks like. Sound municipal budgeting and financing demand planning for the short and long term at the same time. True financial stewardship isn’t just about spending less today. It’s about making smart decisions that keep costs predictable tomorrow.
Jill understands that as well. During the recent prolonged era of zero and near-zero interest rates, she actively advocated for a sensible debt strategy to take advantage of the historically cheap financing.
But while neighboring communities locked in historically low long-term rates to fund critical school and infrastructure projects, Greenwich stuck to its short-term debt policy. In Jill’s view and mine, Greenwich missed an unusually favorable opportunity to finance long-term investments at historically low rates.
Jill understands that delivering top-tier services at the lowest possible cost requires planning, setting priorities and making smart long-term investments. And the record shows her ability to do so. During her successful tenure as BET chair, Greenwich saw tax increases lower than those of the preceding decade.
Jill has worked to keep our taxes low and the quality of our lives high. She is committed to fiscal responsibility and to preserving our exceptional communities’ unique character, natural beauty and unmatched services.
Greenwich and the 36th District need a senator in Hartford ready and able to do the hard work required of an effective state senator. Jill Oberlander has demonstrated the capacity and dedication to meet the challenge. I wholeheartedly urge my neighbors to support Jill Oberlander for State Senate.
Jeffrey Bardos
Greenwich, CT