Issues

Answers that show up in budgets, not speeches.

Everyone here is dealing with the same math: taxes going up, paychecks not keeping pace, and a state government that too often treats these four towns as an afterthought. Here's where I stand, town by town, dollar by dollar.

Roads and infrastructure

Potholed roads cost families money and time every day.

What changes

Put Chapter 90 funding on a multi-year schedule so towns can plan real road work instead of another year of patchwork.
Tie state road aid to the actual miles and bridges each town maintains, not a formula built for bigger cities.
Stop pushing deferred road costs onto local property taxes when the state can plan and pay for it directly.

Rural school funding

Kids in small towns shouldn't get less because the bus ride is longer.

What changes

Fix the Chapter 70 formula so regional districts stop losing money for serving spread-out towns.
Count transportation and true regional costs honestly, instead of letting the gap land on local tax bills.
Protect the programs families count on — sports, arts, counselors — before they're the first thing cut.

Unfunded mandates

Beacon Hill shouldn't hand towns a bill and call it a policy win.

What changes

No new state mandate moves forward without the funding or staff to carry it out.
Require a real local cost review before any new requirement becomes law.
Give towns flexibility to meet a mandate's goal without copying a one-size-fits-all script.

Fiscal accountability

You pay the taxes — you deserve to see exactly where they go.

What changes

Publish budgets in plain language, not spreadsheets built to bury the trade-offs.
Require clear reporting on how state aid is actually spent in each town.
Ask hard questions about existing spending before asking taxpayers for more.

Public safety support

Police, fire, and EMS shouldn't run short-staffed because a small town can't compete for state dollars.

What changes

Fund the staffing and equipment rural departments need to keep response times safe.
Support regional partnerships that add coverage without taking away local control.
Back recruitment and retention pay so departments can actually fill open shifts.

Housing people can afford

Families and seniors are being priced out of towns they grew up in.

What changes

Support housing that fits the district — starter homes and options for seniors to downsize, not high-density mandates from Boston.
Match new housing with the water, sewer, and school capacity to support it, so growth doesn't break what's already stretched thin.
Protect local zoning control so towns decide what growth looks like, not a state formula.

Jobs and local business

A paycheck should stretch further and a job shouldn't require a long commute.

What changes

Cut the permitting delays and red tape that keep local employers from hiring and expanding.
Keep energy and utility costs from crowding out small business payrolls.
Invest in workforce training tied to the jobs actually open in the district, not somewhere else.

Constituent service

A State Representative should answer the phone, not just show up in the news.

What changes

Return calls and emails directly instead of routing people through six different offices.
Hold regular office hours in all four towns — not just the biggest one.
Treat every constituent problem as a job to finish, not a form letter to send.

Mental health support

No family should drive an hour or wait months for basic help.

What changes

Expand local access to mental health care and recovery support close to home.
Support school counselors and first responders who see the crisis first.
Push for state reimbursement rates that keep local providers open instead of closing.

Reliable public service

Government should be easy to reach, not a maze of portals and hold music.

What changes

Make state agencies easier to reach by phone and online, with a real person at the other end.
Protect public records and due process as agencies modernize their systems.
Use technology to close the distance between residents and decisions, not add another log-in screen.

Want to talk about an issue not listed here? Reach out directly at nate@boudreauforrep.org.

Get involved across all four towns.

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