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03/29/2023 08:00 AM

Reject the Proposed Budget


By my calculations, with revaluation, I will see a greater than 11.5% increase in my property tax bill, if passed. As my modest house has the same footprint as when constructed in 1974, how such a disproportionate increase can be justified is baffling.

Knowing what was likely to happen with revaluation and general price inflation, we may have hoped that we could have at least seen a zero-budget increase this year, this with the seemingly insatiable departments and schools lowering their spending sights for once.

But no, the spending spree goes on! So, if passed, we are facing electrical utility bills doubled, gasoline way up, heating oil the same, plus groceries and everything else, with this property tax increase the cherry on top. And special sympathy goes to those with adjustable-rate loans and mortgages!

It always makes me wonder when the argument is made for increased budgets, that no thought ever seems to be given to the fact that taxpayers face the same pressures, and we cannot just demand ever more.

There is only so much money, and Increasing households' expenses must have real consequences for many of us. The more that is taken by taxes and inflation, the less for discretionary use, and local businesses will feel the effect. When household budgets take a hit, we do what the town and schools should do, find ways to trim our budgets.

But we can do something. I hope Guilford residents will all attend the annual budget meeting at the Community Center on Tuesday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. Here we will have the opportunity to vote to reject the proposed 2023 budget.

Patrizia Di Lonardo

Guilford