Following prolonged exploration to remedy the town’s financial shortfall, we are once again back to considering a primary property tax.

There are a few opposed to this solution, implying that the town has a spending problem even when the facts indicate that each year we spend less than the majority of our neighboring towns.

Those critical and opposed have not offered constructive proposals as to how to spend less.

There is unfounded criticism related to how the town acquired many amenities; art work, greening, downtown improvement, Community Garden, tennis court refurbishment and the Preserve trailhead. These projects, that benefited our community, were financed by private donations, grants and voter-directed specific disbursements, and little town funds. The town’s spending on these projects was eliminated or significantly minimized. This is not frivolous spending but strategic and judicious.

Testimony to the commitment to address the shortfall was the recent consideration of a lagoon that an independent study and public pushback sacked. Considering this unconventional venture exemplifies the town’s near desperation to define a new revenue source. This failure may have been an intended outcome. Coupled with the council’s conclusion that increasing sales tax, fees or imposing a public safety district fee will not satisfy the looming deficiency convinced the council to initiate the primary property tax initiative.

The opposed, vague notion to just spend less is not helpful without specific suggestions as to what they want cut in the spending budget. Admittedly, this is a daunting challenge since nearly half the general fund is now consumed by police/fire/court. One fourth for mandatory operational services, leaving the rest for parks and community services.

Cut what? Compared to our neighbors, we already are and have been one of the lowest spending/citizen towns. Protect our town, vote yes for the primary property tax.