GMS project: There but by the grace of God go I

By Guest

Dear Editor:

In 1995 our house cost $148,500; now it’s worth $750,000. A great thing if we plan to sell it for retirement income or you’re the kids that stand to inherit.

Extra equity doesn’t help people who want to stay in their homes and in this community. Many situations are similar. A significant increase in cost of goods lately has been very stressful. Maybe someone’s retired on a fixed income; maybe income hasn’t kept up with expenses; maybe their situation changed unexpectedly and they are struggling. Maybe they’re seniors volunteering to reduce their current tax burden; this would wipe that out. Maybe someone has a new illness, and their medication isn’t completely covered by insurance. There are any number of reasons why people struggle but it’s the reality they live in. Remember the saying: There but by the grace of God go I.

Maybe it’s affordable for you; it’s not a matter of choice for everybody, but they’re still your neighbors and they want to be able to stay in their home. A substantial tax increase will make that difficult; there may not be ways for them to increase their income to absorb this. It might be pennies for you, but to some it’s significant. We know it won’t be the last one either.

That doesn’t mean they don’t want a new school, just a way for it to be affordable so they can survive in their home. They may not have had the same opportunities as others or aren’t young with a long future of increasing income potential. They may not be able to add schooling to increase their income potential or be physically able to work multiple jobs to cover expenses.

They’re our neighbors who want the best for kids in town but need affordability. This town is beautiful, and a lot of people love it and want to stay here. Can we work together and make that happen while also helping the kids thrive? The world isn’t black and white; our decisions shouldn’t be either.

There’s room for improvement, but do we need another 800-seat auditorium? Do we need astroturf to play ball? We can improve their environment, but that shouldn’t be a blank check for lots of other amenities. Can we compromise? A $600 annual tax increase isn’t the best way for all the citizens to move forward. Is 1860 Washington Street an option to lighten this new tax burden?

Fiscal responsibility is important; getting everything we want isn’t always how life works. Making choices involves considering the impact on the whole community, not just the middle schoolers. We live in a community; the middle school is not an island. Step back and appreciate your neighbors for five minutes, what their situation is, what this would do to them, and what’s best for everybody. We need to find a path forward with that in mind. Let’s look for ways to make this happen that’s sensible for everyone.

Sincerely,

Brenda Sweeney

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