Let’s not seek the perfect solution to greater equity and lower taxes by killing the residential tax exemption.
Budget cuts will be controversial, and may not happen. Perhaps there will be interest in non-residential investment, but this is by no means certain.
If we end the residential tax exemption, more Concordians will have trouble paying the higher taxes. Some will sell and move out. We all know what happens then. A developer buys the land, tears down the house, and builds a new house costing $2 million or more. Concord permanently loses a smaller, more affordable home.
If the residential tax exemption prevents a few of these teardowns each year, we will preserve smaller houses that can later become available to those who work with and for us.
Frank Feeley
Lexington Road
