Huge increases in property taxes in the near future
By GuestDear Editor:
Unfortunately, retired seniors on fixed incomes and lower-income citizens will carry a heavy burden to pay for the Galvin Middle School given the recent inflation impact over the past two years!
The Galvin Middle School is a worthy project to pursue, but extensive add-ons, including an 800-seat auditorium ($15 million), a playground field with turf and lights ($5 million), and a second gymnasium for public use ($2.25 million) seem to be nice wishes but extremely expensive.
We haven’t until recently (Canton Citizen 9/26/24) gotten a quote of the projected tax increase of $499 per year for the average residential taxpayer on the 30-year bond for the project. The state grant of $72.8 million will help, but the state also found almost $40 million of the project not eligible for the grant. Please note that Randy Scollins, the town finance director, has used a figure of $198 for the average annual tax increase over the 30 years of paying off the bond. This is a little misleading because, as I explained to my neighbors, we will be paying an additional $499 on average in the first year, and that amount will decrease slowly until about year 16 when it will hit the $198. Here are important meetings for more information and voting:
On November 12 at 1 p.m. at the Senior Center there is a meeting with, I believe, the superintendent of schools and some Select Board members to review the GMS project to clarify the build and cost. Please call Donna at the Senior Center at 781-828-1323 for the required pre-registration. This is our only chance to express our concerns about the financial burden that certain aspects of this project will have on our personal finances!
On November 18 at 7 p.m., there is a Special Town Meeting in the Canton High School auditorium to vote on the new Galvin Middle School project. It would be very helpful if seniors and lower-income citizens participate in the discussion and vote to represent our position!
Bruce Nogueira
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=128085
Posted by Guest
on Nov 7 2024. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
