We are voting yes for the override. The mayor is asking us to do something most elected officials would never dream of doing — to say yes to raising our own taxes.
In most states, that would be tantamount to political defeat. Yet Proposition 2½ gives local elected officials little choice but to ask the voters to make the really difficult decision to increase our own property taxes.
Although we’re both in our mid-60s and no longer have children in school, education is still very important to us. Our two grown children went through Northampton Public Schools from Bridge Street to JFK Middle School to Northampton High School, and both graduated with excellent educations. As older adults, we want to stay in Northampton and remain in our own home for as long as we can.
Northampton has always been the kind of place we have wanted to retire in because we feel safe, supported and welcomed here. We also know that we have been blessed and are able to keep working and, most importantly, we can afford this increase. We know this is not the case for everyone so a very important part of this override for those of us who believe in equity is the exemption for seniors.
Under Clause 41c, seniors over 70 had been given an exemption of $650. Recognizing a greater need, the mayor recommended and the City Council amended that clause. For fiscal year 2021, the age has been dropped to those 65 and over and the exemption has been increased to $1,000.
After living here for 30-plus years, we have seen how our mayor, City Council and School Committee make careful decisions to ensure that our tax dollars are spent judiciously. To maintain the quality of life we know and love in Northampton, we hope you will join us in voting yes on March 3.
Joan Tabachnick
Jane Fleishman
Northampton