Let’s make sure we know all the facts regarding the proposed property tax.

I feel compelled to respond to Bev Tall’s recent letter to the editor. Her assumptions concern me. She says, “By state law, the property tax can increase every year by 2 percent compounded. In 10 years, the $7 million tax could grow to$8.4 million.”

While possible, the town staff, after considerable study, has indicated that the $7 million would hold us in good stead for many years. Why base the case on an improbable assumption of a 2 percent annual increase? If there was a 2 percent increase on a home where the homeowner was paying $350 per year, it would increase $7 per year!

Also missing from Ms. Tall’s analysis is the fact that bonds retired in 2019 and 2020 will result in a significant reduction in the amount of tax paid by homeowners. And, if our population increases, the tax will be reduced every year because more citizens will be paying into the $7 million per year pool.

Now, let’s look at the only other alternative. Without voter approval the town council can impose a fee for every homeowner in any amount to assure that our roads are kept in good condition, to maintain our current level of public safety and sustain the town’s infrastructure; as they did with the environmental fee.

The contention that the fire station and road replacement should be paid for with bonds might be workable if we are certain the citizens would support that approach. It would still cost the taxpayers money to pay off the bonds. And, if we rely too heavily on our bonding authority, we run the risk of our bond rating declining, thus causing interest rates to climb.

Vote yes on the primary property tax!