The three candidates for two seats on the Board of Selectmen were asked about the town's finances, consolidation of town services, taxes and tax overrides, what the board has accomplished and what they plan to do going forward at the Onset Protective League Candidates Forum on Thursday night.

Incumbents Peter Teitelbaum and Judith Whiteside sat on the dais with the challenger, Wareham resident Michael Frates.

Frates retired in 2002, having previously worked as an assistant manager of quality control at a high-speed rail company. He said he has worked with budgets in excess of $500 million and on 26 different collective bargaining agreements.

The fiscal state of Wareham is on the mind of many residents as Town Meeting approaches. One audience member asked the candidates what they would do to build credibility with voters if they believe a Proposition 2-1/2 override is needed to save the town.

"You have seen more meetings between the Finance Committee, School Committee and the Selectman in the past six months than in the past six years," Whiteside said.

She said the Selectmen have worked to bridge the gap between those groups and that they need to work together because residents don't get different tax bills for different departments.

"We're all in the same fiscal boat," she said. "When I hold up my tax bill, it says Town of Wareham."

She said Town Meeting voters will be provided with a choice between the current proposed balanced budget and one with an override for a to-be-determined amount.

"With today's balanced budget, there will be 45 people in the town who will not have a job on July 1," Whiteside said.

"I think insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. When has an override passed in this town?" said Frates. "Would I support an override? You would have to show me a heck of a plan."

He continued: "People aren't willing to pay more money. They're just not working. We're plugging holes in a sinking ship."

Teitelbaum used a similar analogy to express support for an override.

"I will support an override that makes sense and does more than band-aid our finances for the next year or two," he said. "In order to be credible, you have to have a good plan."

Teitelbaum said wants to show voters how money will be spent five years down the road, that money will be spent on capital planning and that efforts to consolidate town and school services will be made.

Another resident asked about sharing resources with neighboring towns or other agencies to save costs.

Teitelbaum noted that, until August, Wareham shared a town planner with Rochester. But, he added, "a town with our growth potential" would be better off with a full time planner, which is a position the town budgeted for this year.

He also said there is a lot of work to be done fixing the agencies in town before reaching out to other communities to share resources.

As for possible consolidation of the town and the independent Onset and Wareham fire and water districts, he said the town is working on joint purchases and other collaboration with the districts. But, he added, "It'll be a cold day in hell before the citizens of Onset decide to do away with their fire and water district and join with Wareham."

Frates said he has to do more research to fully understand the nature of the water and fire districts but, "on consolidation, using the state bidding process, which I don't see that happening across the board in this town, are cost effective measures that can be costly not to use."

Whiteside agreed with Teitelbaum that work had to be done within the town before any attempts at regionalization. She said those efforts are being made.

"[Town Administrator] Sullivan and [School business manager] MacMillan talk on a regular basis. We are working toward a town-wide grant writer, a town-wide purchasing agent… There are some savings there," she said.

"We have a municipal maintenance garage and school garage right next door. It's nuts to have two buildings serving the same purpose," she said. "There are ways of consolidating personnel so that more is done by fewer,"

Another resident asked about what businesses are doing to alleviate the residential tax burden and the possibility of a spilt tax rate. Currently, residents and businesses in Wareham pay the same tax rate.

"I don't believe in a split tax rate. It discourages business, and they can go to other towns. It's that simple," Frates said. "Why punish a business owner just because he's doing business in town?"

He said local businesses should "step up to the plate" and voluntarily put more money into the community.

Whiteside said a lot of local businesses donate to the schools and support the town in many ways.

"The better way to have them support, however, is to have Selectman change the ratio on the tax split, which we can do," she said, "That ultimately is a solution that is not a bad idea."

"We've been advised you don't want to do this until your tax base is 80 percent residential to 20 commercial," Teitelbaum said. "We're coming up close. We're within a percentage point or two of getting there and, at that point, it's going to have to be a serious discussion."

He explained the tax rates should be the same until the 80/20 ratio is hit, to not discourage business.

The town election is on Tuesday, April 1.