VOTER TRANSPARENCY
Who pays, who is exempt, and why the wording of 2A matters.
A tax that applies to some homes and not others lives or dies on its definitions. Those definitions weren't solidified before deciding to put 2A on the ballot, and the implementation details really matter here.
The longevity exemption
A proposed longevity exemption would exclude owners who have held their homes for a long period. By the estimates circulating publicly, that would remove roughly one third of non-primary homes from the tax.
That raises a straightforward question. If a third of the affected homes are carved out, the projected revenue decreases, and the remaining owners carry a heavier share for reasons that have nothing to do with how they use the town.
We are not arguing that there is real financial need from the town. We are arguing that a tax needing this kind of carve-out will not be sufficient to meet the needs stated.
The legal challenge
Community members challenged the ballot language
Ballot titles are supposed to state plainly what a yes vote will do for the community. A legal challenge was filed over the misleading wording of the 2A ballot measure due to its lack of clarity for the actual amount collected and anticipated exemptions. Instead of providing answers to voters, town council chose to move forward in placing 2A on the ballot without clarity around these items.
One town, one conversation
Full-time residents and second homeowners want the same things here. Vote NO on 2A in November, and let's build a better budget together.