In his open letter to Finance Committee Chair Michael Wise, Chip Elitzer writes: "Beyond the likely consequence of degrading our town's tax base, the enactment of your [residential exemption] proposal would – in my opinion – degrade the civic spirit of our town by unwittingly emphasizing class distinctions among neighbors and fostering class resentment."
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."
