Do the right thing and vote yes to save our town.

Recently, I read a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the proposed primary property tax. I will address a few of the FAQs.

What is the proposed tax amount? The amount for a home assessed at $250,000 (market value $300,000/$400,000) will be $31 per month, about $1.03 per day. That’s less than a cup of coffee.

How will the tax revenue be spent? Over half of the $7 million collected annually will be spent on road maintenance. Check out the streets in your neighborhood. I bet they are in desperate need of repair.

Does the town have ample reserve money? No! Even in our personal lives we need to have an emergency fund, back-up fund, mad money, rainy day fund or whatever you call that pot of money you keep in reserve to pay for emergencies. We taught our children a basic rule to have an emergency fund. Our town should also have the means to address emergencies.

Is there a cost to not supporting a local primary property tax? Yes, reduced property values. This is a major concern for me and should be for all homeowners. Poorly maintained roads, parks, town infrastructure, or inadequate investment in public safety will have a negative impact on property values. If this does not convince you to vote yes, then maybe you should consider putting your property on the market before its value plummets.

Don’t be part of the problem that will cause our town to deteriorate. Instead, be part of the solution that will give our town the means to retain its beauty. Vote yes on May 15 to save our town.