I am relieved that as a whole the residents of the town of Hadley voted to support the override. Costly though it is, not paying for the increase in fire and police protection, school and other public services would in other ways be more costly: a diminished sense of communal safety and security, and a shoestring educational foundation for our children’s future.
Those of us who bolstered this vote must remember the others who had grave doubts about it. Doubts not necessarily because they didn’t support the services, and education for children, but because it was felt to be too great a financial burden on them. Anger, resentment, and disconnection can be a consequence of such a situation.
Some towns in the commonwealth, like Dartmouth, have set up a fund to be used to lighten the financial weight of extra property taxes for burdened citizens. Those not feeling the greater weight as much could donate to the fund. Guidelines for those who are eligible to ask for and receive funds can be set up beforehand. The donors and recipients do not know each other. A small committee could “blindly“ assess applicants using those guidelines.
This approach is unlikely to meet all the shortfall needs in Hadley, but it could be a step towards strengthening and fostering our community’s expression of generosity, caring, and kindness in stressful and charged times.
Ken Talan
Hadley