Reducing taxes on most of the homes in town is not going to reduce real estate values in a way that should concern anyone. It is going to make the town more affordable. My concern is with the families who live and work in town. The police officers, the firefighters, teachers and the people who plow and maintain our roads, the people who work in the shops and restaurants, in the hospital and the nursing homes — without them this town could not function.
In his letter to the editor, Craig Okerstrom-Lang writes: "All of these candidates will continue to keep our Town’s bond rating at a very high-favorable level by being careful about how Town funds are allocated for various improvement projects, staffing, our police department, our fire department, etc."
In her letter to the editor, Dana Dapolito writes: "In a nutshell, this plan shifts the tax burden from lower-priced residential properties to more expensive homes, commercial properties and second-home owners through the use of a “Residential Exemption.” I think this plan is shortsighted and not suited to a small rural town such as Great Barrington."
"We have to find a way to make it possible -- and attractive -- for families with children – young families – to come into town and settle here. That’s my first priority."
-- Bill Cooke, on one of the reasons he is seeking to run for the Great Barrington Selectboard
