Topics on Harpswell Information
How the Money should be spent!
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Topic 1. If Fairwinds passes on January 20, a
lot of money will come to the town of Harpswell. Please tell me your
idea(s) on how it should be spent.
Click here to
make a suggestion about spending the money. I am including some of the ideas that I have heard. |
2. I would like to know Mr. Ed Sparks thought process for
the following statement he made in response to "Tax Relief for all".
"Are the fishermen scared about losing some
bottom? Sure they are but how long before they are forced out by rising
property values that consume a big piece of their income just to be able to
live here?" (the bold is my addition))
Also, while the volunteer fire department members are forced
to "work more" and "volunteer less just to keep ahead of the tax man" Mr.
Sparks thinks that the fishermen should take a big hit in their income so that
they can maybe get a few dollars off of their property
taxes. [Dee Williamson]
1. Burr I don't believe that across the board property tax
relief is the correct formula as it will only encourage people looking
for coastal property on which to build "trophy homes " more incentive to
come to Harpswell and drive up real estate prices at an even faster rate
than we have witnessed over the last ten years. Selected relief to long
term residents or increased homestead exemptions would work much better
at allowing our elderly and working class residents from being forced to
sell to the highest bidder. The biggest problems we have in town today
are fresh potable water supplies and the lack of access to the
waterfront for the fishing community. Why ? because any piece of
shorefront property is a valued site for the trophy home and weekend
home buying market. These new homes are being built with 3 or 4
bathrooms whirlpool tubs ,wet bars , and even underground sprinkler
systems . They use more water in a month than a lot of us use in a year
and are responsible for many neighbors previously good wells going bad
or dry. These homes are being built without regard to the sensitive
nature of our ever decreasing water supply. Where are the local children
going to be able to afford to settle when they look to start a family,
certainly not on shore property in Harpswell. They can't compete with
the big money from "away" The lowest priced home on the market in the
town of Harpswell today is a small house on a small lot with a failed
septic system, and it's priced at $125,000. 00. Not affordable by most
peoples standards.
Another aspect of town services Fire and Rescue protection,
With the continually rising property values many of the volunteers are being
squeezed to the limits by tax increases and have to work more and volunteer
less just to keep ahead of the tax man. this does not bode well for the
citizens of this town. Where are we going to be in the future? I wish I knew.
The current controversy has reared an ugly them or us attitude around town but
it's been going on for a long time. Are the fishermen scared about losing some
bottom? sure they are but how long before they are forced out by rising
property values that consume a big piece of their income just to be able to
live here? If the Fairwinds proposal passes in January we will have the
ability at town meeting to control the expenditure of every penny of the
revenues through our vote. Thank you for providing this site for information
at a crucial time in town history Ed Sparks
- Tax relief particularly for those that need it most.
- Buy land to protect Harpswell's open space from development
- Set up a scholarship fund for needy Harpswell students to go to
college.
- Buy land for affordable housing.
- Expand the town office building.
- Put it all in the bank and only spend the interest.
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