LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Rethink soak-the-rich strategy

Published 12:12 pm Monday, September 1, 2008

To the editor:

I am responding to your article regarding Andy McRea’s strategy for inducing voters to approve the $15.2 million bond to fund a pool/recreation center. He is quoted as stating that “the reality is that multiple millions of dollars of assessed property value within the taxing district are owned by people who don’t live here and can’t vote. Basically we get to use other people’s money.” What? Someone else is going to pay for it?

I am outraged that he assumes that everyone who lives on the beach is a “waterfront millionaire.” My husband and I live on waterfront property which has been in my family since 1940. It is not our second home. It is our only home and we do indeed vote here.

While our home is relatively modest, the assessment on our property has doubled in the past two years. Living on our fixed retirement income, we are already greatly burdened by the skyrocketing property taxes.

Mr. McRea needs to reevaluate the ethics of his soak-the-rich strategy. Many longtime island residents who have escalating property values but limited incomes will find that it takes more than pocket change to finance this grandiose plan. If he wants to live in a community which has state- of-the-art recreational facilities, perhaps he should consider moving to the mainland where many already exist.

Sharon Vanderslice

Clinton