Suffield Democratic Town Committee

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Chris Childs – Board of Finance

I have served on the Board of Finance (BOF) for the past twelve years, and bring to the board over 40 years of financial experience. I will continue to work diligently to ensure that our voters needs for town services are heard, and that we balance these needs with fiscal responsibility.  I manage investments for individuals and non-profits, and use that knowledge to help improve the management of town funds to enhance investment income and help keep tax increases in check.  I introduced the use of the Capital Non-Requiring Fund to invest surplus cash for future capital projects.  I have also helped guide the investment of our OPEB and pension assets of over $50 million by serving on the Retirement Commission as the Board of Finance representative.

I have successfully promoted the active use of low-cost, tax-exempt financing for our road repairs, town hall reconstruction and fire trucks.  This has allowed the cost and tax burden for these major expenditures to be fairly distributed over the useful life of the asset and not be borne by only the current tax payers. We are also now earning higher interest rates on the funds that we did not spend than we are paying on the debt.

I am currently a Principal with the investment firm of Penobscot Investment Management, based in Boston, MA.  I am also President of the Suffield Land Conservancy, Treasurer of the Suffield Library Foundation and a trustee of the Suffield Historical Society.

Members of my family have willingly served the town of Suffield for more than five generations. I am proud to carry on this tradition of public service.  I hope you will support my candidacy for another four year term.