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Residents confront council over alleged tax misinformation and ask for tax-assistance workshops
Summary
Multiple residents accused councilors of misstating property-tax increases, urged better assessing, and requested workshops to help seniors, veterans, and homebound residents apply for exemptions and deferrals.
Several residents used the town's open-forum time to press the council on property assessments and outreach about relief programs. At the microphone, a resident urged the council to offer workshops and even in-home assistance to help people apply for the homestead exemption and the property-tax deferral program, saying many residents do not know these options exist. "One of them is the homestead exemption, and quite a few people know about that," the commenter said, urging the town to publicize and assist with paperwork.
Other speakers directly challenged statements by council members about tax increases. One commenter said a councilor had "incorrectly stated his taxes increased by $4,000 in 1 year," citing a local investigative report that found no such increase. A business owner said a social-media post by a councilor led to a customer confronting him in his place of business and urged the council to focus on resolving assessing, hiring a permanent town manager, and stabilizing town operations. The council did not resolve those claims during the meeting; requests for clearer public outreach and better assessing procedures were made.
