All this talk about high taxes got me curious, so I looked into my own. I was a joint-owner on my mother’s house and I paid her property taxes for the last 10 years. My mother died in June last year and our home was sold in 2018.

• Our 2008 property assessment was $305,700
• Our 2018 property assessment was $313,600 (View it here yourself)

• Our 2008 gross tax was $3,284
• Our 2018 gross tax was $3,747

Our gross tax increased by 14%

Policing costs increased when the town’s population exceeded 5,000 people, so I looked at our police tax.

• Our 2008 police tax was $83
• Our 2018 police tax was $393

Police tax increased by 373% ($310)

If I don’t include the police tax increase because the town had little to no control over that.

• Our 2008 gross tax was $3,284
• Our 2018 gross tax was $3,437

That is a tax increase of 5%

I would be curious as to what you get if you do the same.

The following social media post was shared with me. While not all issues voiced warrant a response, this particular one does. Town Staff works hard to ensure the best interests of our citizens are looked after through effective budgeting.

Here is the post in question followed by my response.

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Holding the title of Town Mayor, as well as any other public office comes with its fair share of criticism from those we serve. The most recent allegation to come to my attention is in regard to Town expenditures for cell phones.

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