Undecided about a property tax?

Ever since the community voted down a $4.5 million property tax 10 years ago, records show the community was denied $27.8 million in revenues. Now voters must decide on a $7 million tax and, should it not be approved, can you imagine how much it might be a few years from now?

Less than two years ago, during a volunteer-led, communitywide visioning process, nearly 2,000 residents said the following “quality of life” amenities were most important: the fountain, street and park maintenance and youth recreation programs.

Along with fire, emergency medical and police services, in most cases these amenities are now paid for by sales tax revenues. The fact is the costs of public safety services are consuming more and more of our sales tax revenues each year and the forecast is they will continue to do so. With fewer sales tax dollars being available to operate the fountain, maintain streets and parks, and to sustain youth programs, how should we pay for everything?

With ‘fees,’ where each property pays the same amount, like the existing environmental fee?

With a deductible ‘primary property tax’ that is assessed to every property based on its own value?

Or, should the town continue to cut services?

After considering the options, 94 percent of the workshop attendees concluded the best solution was to implement a primary property tax.

If you’re undecided, hopefully you can side with those who have carefully examined all funding alternatives because, most likely, the need for a property tax will never go away; we’re back to where we were in 2008.

How much more deterioration can we really afford to ignore?