Some of the things going on:
1. We have a very extensive and expensive infrastructure (buildings, treatment and wastewater plants, streets and sidewalks, schools etc.) that is deteriorating. Some years ago the Selectboard decided that it did not make sense to put money aside in anticipation of rebuilding. At the same time the national accounting standards board came to recognize that the fiscal health of a municipality could not be determined without taking into account the value of infrastructure. Additional rules were included in auditing and were in fact used by the auditing firm hired by Brattleboro. Since we had not done this assessment of our infrastructure our auditors told us that our finances might be way off. But alarm bells never rang in the municipal building. Since our community budget hawks were focussed on the cost of the new patio set they failed to notice that the foundation was crumbling.
2. The United States has enjoyed extraordinary wealth. Much of it from our huge natural resource base and more than a little extracted nefariously from other countries (who are no longer letting them go without a fight). We developed an economic culture that refused to accept that our wealth could ever run out. "We'll fix it when the time comes." Sheer greed has further propelled our economic and business leaders to insist that there would always be everything we needed. This culture is no less true in Brattleboro than everywhere else.
3. At the same time that resources have been dwindling wealth has been consolidating. The one hundred wealthiest citizens of Brattleboro could have probably rebuilt the High School out of their own pockets without disturbing their lifestyle. Instead working class people are forced to sell their homes because they cannot pay the taxes. This scenario plays out all across the country.
4. Few people in Brattleboro understand the difference between economics and finances. Brattleboro's economy has been deteriorating for many years as higher paying jobs have disappeared. In short, we have not been producing anything of value. We have nothing to trade. We have no economic base. Finance is basically accounting. Finance merely accounts for how money moves, or flows. It doesn't produce anything. Of course one does have to keep an accurate accounting but it is little consolation to know that a zero balance in one's checking account is perfectly accurate. It is not yet understood that the soundness of an economy is based upon its ability to sustain itself. Yes...Sustainability. Our last Town Plan was the first document to suggest that we should begin measuring our economy. The succession of Selectboards have rejected the taking of those measurements.
5. When Town Manager Remillard was hired there was an understanding that he would pursue a continuing education in Municipal management. It was recognized at the time that, among other things, he did not have the financial and fiscal background that was deemed necessary for the job. However that condition was permitted to fall by the wayside. Mr Remillard never got the education he needed to effectively oversee the Finance Director working under him. To a large extent tho it wouldn't have mattered since they were all focussed on balancing the budget rather than whether or not we had a sustainable economy.
6. The town has historically been run by businessmen who instinctively protect their own interests first.
7. The leadership in this town has been entrenched for a long time. They've always done things certain ways and (because there was lots of money) everything worked. On the surface. "This is the way we've always done it." Or, "there's precedent for this" as if to say that if it was done before it must be right.
8. Through bad luck we have not yet had a Selectboard that has understood economics. Or even enough about accounting. The warning signs in the auditing reports did not register.
9. One positive part of all of this is that at least all the errors and failures were honestly achieved. There is no evidence or even a suggestion of foul play. And everyone in the Municipal building is genuinely and deeply concerned. But there is quite a ways to go before we learn which road will be paved with our good intentions.