THE SANDWICH TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION

Mission Statement:

"TO STOP THE RAPIDLY ESCALATING TAX BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE OF SANDWICH"

Just the Facts

“Whenever people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own Government.”

Thomas Jefferson

We are a non-partisan group of residents that share some common goals. We believe in a Government that:

• Is open, honest, and transparent;

• Responsive to the people;

• Provides efficient and effective safety and services to its people; and

• Maintains taxation levels that allow town officials to meet all residents’ needs, within the confines of their ability to pay.

We inform, enlighten, & empower voters, enabling them to make up their own minds on issues, ON THE BASIS OF FACT, regardless of their stance or affiliation.

We put forth our best efforts to serve you by exercising oversight of and participation in numerous boards, committees, and sub-elements of Sandwich government. We gather data and information from town, state, and other sources and make it available to YOU. We do this through our website, SACAT, public speaking, and now this monthly column.

Our Members have:

• Lobbied against the governor’s proposed “Gas Tax” & “Commuter Tax”

• Created & Presented a 10 Year Spending Analysis of Sandwich Town Government

• Joined ‘Fair Share for Sandwich’ in the aggressive lobby campaign for more state education aid,

• Promoted the energy savings plan for our Schools, culminating in Cape Light Compact’s $200,000 investment, upgrading our High School, and

• Supported selectmen efforts to eliminate the costly and less comprehensive Indemnity Health Plan.

• Supported the Covenant Committee collaboration between the Town & Schools.

We Participated in:

• Sandwich Planning Committee “Smart Growth” Community workshops

• Selectmen and School Committee meetings to increase efficiencies in town/school operations

• Economic Development Committee meetings to improve our commercial tax base;

• The School Public Forum and Strategic Planning Committee meetings; and

• The Sandwich Town Charter Committee

We Sponsored:

• A community “Symposium on Chapter 70” - The State Education Aid Formula and its impact on Sandwich

• Meet the Candidates nights to bring voters and politicians together; and

• A community seminar on town population and school enrollment trends.