My wife and I have been residents of Northborough since 1997. We have witnessed the growth and development of our community both commercially and residentially and have been generally pleased with the improvements, and plans for future “beautification”.
Considering the residential and commercial growth in commercial establishments along Route 9, Bartlett Street, and the development of Northborough Crossing, I think it safe to say our select board has attempted to develop a balance in both our residential & commercial real estate.
The issue I and other longer term residents have is that the current single residential/commercial tax rate puts too much of the tax burden for much needed upgrades for our public safety, police & fire expansion, and other such town services such as trash pickup, squarely on the shoulders of residential property taxes and not as equitably as much on commercial real estate taxes…
To expect our residents to support underwriting the $41,000,000+ fire station at the same real estate tax rate of commercial businesses is not only unfair to our residents but unsustainable.
It is time for our Town government, and residents to stand up and commit to a complete and thorough evaluation of establishing the two tier tax rate, one for residential and a higher rate for commercial which would contribute to relieving the current AND future, growing needs and expansion of our community and offer future relief for the residential tax payers.
Let me be clear… I agree that we need a new, updated fire station to dovetail with our future growth plans, and will likely vote “YES” on the question.
Today, a $41,000,000+ fire station… tomorrow a new multi-million dollar police station.
Let’s all remember how the proposed “NEW” Algonquin Regional Highschool proposition failed and learn a much needed lesson from the “NO” vote that residents voted on that ended that proposal. Let’s not let this happen to a “NEW” fire station.
Respectfully,
Richard Holoubek
Northborough
