Last modified: Saturday, March 29, 2008 12:19 AM EDT Finances, independence key in Rehoboth BY GERRY SCHWALL / In order to govern effectively; it is imperative the board of selectmen be comprised of three independent-minded leaders. Each member of the board must be free to review the options before him, debate the merits, and render a vote that ultimately is in the best interest of the town. Anything less is a failure to the people of Rehoboth. This is why I am asking for your vote for selectman at the April 7 town election. The most critical issue facing our town is a lack of revenue to meet the ever-increasing cost of providing the services that we all depend upon. As a member of the finance committee, I have worked with the department managers, and the school committee, to identify opportunities to streamline budgets and find ways to provide additional services without increasing taxes. Department managers reacted very favorably to this collaborative approach, even though it was very difficult to live within the constraints of the budget realities. As a result, the finance committee recently presented the board of selectmen, and the town, with a balanced budget that prevented any further depletion of the town's stabilization fund.