To the editor:
Last week, I was lucky to see the sun peek through the clouds just before it disappeared behind Monument Mountain. Driving south on Route 7, the orchard of Windy Hill Farm appeared to glow that deep orange of winter sunsets. With dark clouds to the east, it was one of those scenes that reminded me of how lucky I feel to live in Great Barrington.
Then I passed the high school. The same effect that made the apple trees glow, made the rust on the roof of this once proud building scream for immediate attention.
Our kids need a new high school—NOW!
We will once again be voting at Town Meeting in May for the funds to replace the school. Is it the second time, third, fourth—I don’t remember. I know that we need a new school, that the cost keeps increasing, and that our taxes are going to go up. How is this town going to reconcile these facts?
What is the old saying about the definition of insanity—doing the same thing over and over with the same failing results? We are at that point with the high school argument, except this time, we are being told this is our kids’ last chance; this is our town’s last chance. A failed vote turns us into Potterville.
With three bridges to be replaced and a water company to be dealt with, I feel it is imperative that the Selectboard of Great Barrington wake up to the very real possibility that this proposal will be voted down again. The citizens of Great Barrington are afraid of the bills coming due with ever-increasing taxes.
A month ago, concerned citizens stood before the board and offered a new path that would help lower taxes for those of us who live in town year round. The residential tax exemption has been adopted by many communities on the eastern side of the state, those communities where second-home ownership has driven up the price of affordable homes for local, working folks (e.g., Cape Cod).
Simply explained, this tax exemption cuts the taxes on people owning homes valued under $700,000 while increasing those on houses over that amount and houses designated as second homes. There will be arguments from realtors who will have to explain this to out-of-town clients and locals in large homes whose taxes will go up. In communities where the exemption has been adopted, people still buy houses as vacation properties and few people have moved out because they can’t afford the tax increase.
To the Selectboard, I say this: You must do something different this time or the new school will be voted down again. I will vote for the school as I have in past town meetings, but I fear my fellow citizens are looking at all the necessary projects that must be done in the coming years and will vote with their pocketbooks. You must show that you are aware of this concern and will be proactive in trying to help.
Please consider this, because the last thing I want is to live in Potterville.
Bill Meier
Great Barrington
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