I was recently asked my position on property taxes and if I saw the property tax rate going up in Wendell during the next 4 years. It’s a good question and one that deserves explanation. Fundamentally, I believe that property taxes are essential to ensuring a sound and safe community. But to what extent should that perspective be controlled? It’s imperative that the citizens see the use of their tax dollars to benefit their lives through community enhancement and maintenance. That is demonstrated best by the Town Staff developing an annual budget that reflects only valid needs and a Town Board that will both analyze and scrutinize those projected expenditures. The budget should be clearly defendable as an “investment” in the community and not as a mechanism to fund programs and projects that don’t have broad impact and appeal. The Board should serve as the check valve to ensure programs and projects achieve their objective but do so in a fiduciarily responsible manner. Whether it be for expansion of staff in departments where the need is clear or upgrades to an existing town facility (such as a park), these justifications should see plenty of sunlight so that the taxpayers understand not only what they are funding, but why it is essential that it be funded. The needs of a growing community require investment to maintain or attain the desired quality of life of the citizens, and this can result in a tax rate increase. Conversely, a growing community will generate additional tax revenue that can help to offset any potential rate hike. Finding a balance with a rate that both tolerable and defendable to the citizens is the responsibility of your elected officials and is why you should look at candidates with such experience to represent you. In the next few weeks, I’ll dive into two topics directly related to the future of taxation in Wendell: the proposed municipal bond and reevaluation of property values by the County. Thank you to the citizen that asked the question. Conversations start the path to consensus and consensus is what makes for a vibrant, cohesive community.