West Tisbury year-round and seasonal residents continued voicing their opinions about a proposed residential tax exemption at a select board meeting Wednesday in anticipation of a decision later this fall.
West Tisbury year-round and seasonal residents continued voicing their opinions about a proposed residential tax exemption at a select board meeting Wednesday in anticipation of a decision later this fall.
The town is gathering information from the board of assessors and public about the exemption, which would lower property taxes for homeowners who primarily live in West Tisbury and place some of that weight on people with a seasonal residence in the town.
The exemption is allowed under state law and is in use in Tisbury, Oak Bluffs and several towns on the Cape. The exemption is meant to ease the burden for year-round residents in expensive communities.
West Tisbury is currently working on finding out who in town would qualify for an exemption. The select board expects to make a final decision on whether to enact the exemption in November.
While some year-round residents felt the exemption was needed to preserve the town, many seasonal homeowners felt the proposal was unfair.
At Wednesday’s meeting, seasonal resident Geoffrey Beresford said that the presumption that second homeowners “have excess money” is false and urged the boards to consider that when making their decision.
“I would hope that the assessors and the board would find a fairer way to help needy people who should be helped, but this way, I think is unfair,” he said. “I want to commend some of the letter writers who said that in spite of the fact that they would benefit from this, they said we’re against it because it is unfair and divisive.”
In favor of the tax exemption, year-round resident Jo-Ann Taylor voiced her concerns about an “us versus them” mentality.
“I hope that whatever happens, it will be made clear to the non-residents, that this is not something personal,” she said. “Some of my lifelong friends are kids that I grew up with at the beach [are seasonal residents]. They are part of the fabric of our summers and I hope that they don’t think that we’re using them or just discounting their feelings at all.”
Seasonal residents Valerie and John DeWitt recognized the rise of the cost of living on Island and urged for another way to help year-round residents.
“It seems to me that paying for my neighbors’ taxes is a penalty,” they wrote in a letter. “It would create a distinction between me and my neighbors lessening the ‘good feelings’ that I have for this beautiful place, a place we all are entitled to enjoy! If my neighbors are struggling with their finances, I hope there is another way to support them without placing this responsibility on other townspeople.”
People can continue to send in letters of opinion to the board of assessors. Principal assessor MacGregor Anderson is encouraging those with specific questions about their property to contact him directly.
“We work really hard to make sure we qualify everyone we can and do not qualify anybody who doesn’t qualify because they’re trying to make a couple bucks,” he assured.
Comments
I agree with Mr. Hereford -
Mike SomewhereI agree with Mr. Hereford - many seasonal residents do not have excess money. I would like to note that many islanders probably make and have more excess income than many seasonal residents- which makes this proposal even more unfair. Seems like the town would like to tax out the seasonal residents so we would sell to year round residents.
Not cool.
" The exemption is allowed
Jim Island" The exemption is allowed under state law"........want to bet?
No Jim, I do not want to bet.
mike SomewhereNo Jim, I do not want to bet. It may be allowed but that does noes not make it right.
My landscaper and plumber
seasonal homeowner thankfully EdgMost of the tradespeople here make a LOT more money than I do and for that, I am happy for them. Lets not forget that the seasonal taxpayers subsidize the residents. We do not use the schools, and are only here for a few months. I don't expect a 'thank you' note in my tax bill, but I can assure you, the majority of the local residents here make a LOT more money than most of the seasonal homeowners who support this economy.
The real point is that a 2nd
Paul M West TisburyThe real point is that a 2nd home is funded from “discretionary” income or investments, not income to pay day to day living expenses such as housing, taxes, health, food, transportation, education, etc.
The 'real point' is that if
wake up mvThe 'real point' is that if the seasonal homeowners feel a divide, they could simply have one or both spouses register to vote here and declare it as a primary residence and elect representatives that don't care about the year rounders. Without seasonal homeowners who cheerfully pay inflated prices for mediocre goods and services, Dukes County would still be the poorest county in the state as it was years ago. Class warfare never works. Leave well enough alone.
Having attended the meeting,
Retired but not full time resident W.TisHaving attended the meeting, the premise in the discussion was that the extra taxes on seasonal residents was justified as "legal" but the issue of fairness in burden was never addressed. As others have said, assumptions about wealth distribution are just that - assumptions.
Happy to pay our fair share for the privelege of living on the Island, but without a vote in decision making, hard not to see the proposed tax structure as unfair.
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