Date: 4/25/2023
Amherst homeowners already face paying the ninth highest property tax rate of all 300+ towns in the state. Now the same homeowners are being asked to nearly double their annual property tax rate increase. Really? Homeowners are already struggling financially to keep up with record double-digit inflation on necessities like food and utilities. Meanwhile, town leadership has increased spending on new programs, new personnel and new projects instead of directing funds for a new school. Don’t be fooled by the $5 million transfer from the town’s “reserve” fund to the school construction. You get one guess where most of that money came from. We should not be surprised actually, since setting fiscal priorities is not a strength of our local leadership. What to do? Redirect $30+ million from the library expansion to the new school. Implement a tiered tax rate for business and residences (as other towns have) and tax rental properties as they are; a business. We can also ask the local institutions of higher learning to reach a little deeper into their multi-billion dollar endowment pockets to support the local vibrant community that benefits their own facility, staff and students. Lastly, the Commonwealth had record state budget surplus last year. How about our local state representatives lean on Beacon Hill a bit more?
I strongly urge fellow already tax burdened homeowners to say “enough is enough” and vote ‘no’ on May 2nd.
Andrew Vecchio
Amherst, MA
