To the editor:

At a recent special Tiverton Town Council meeting, there was a position taken by the Town Council president that obtaining a property tax rate in the lower half of the nine cities/towns he listed in comparison to Tiverton was an admirable goal.

Although, if you were to take an average of the stated municipalities’ given tax rates, Tiverton and six entities would be above the average tax rate. What does that mean? What does it prove?

The above reasoning is of little value to the taxpayer. But it may provide for a good feeling and surely makes a spirited political misstatement.

It is no more than playing a numerical game using statistics of unlike values. The ten cities/towns being compared are like adding apples and oranges together and claiming there are all apples or oranges.

There are many factors that have a direct influence as to why these cities and towns are not like entities.

To mention a few would be the overall population variations, commercial base differences, school-aged children to be educated, the property values of the communities and the services that each location renders to their citizens.

One could say that most people would like not to pay taxes. For some, a good reason is that they have a difficult time in paying their other expenses in maintaining a home for themselves. No doubt there are a few that take advantage of the various means of not paying their fair share of taxes. But property taxes have been and are still today the prime source of revenue to support a community.

The tax rate is one factor in determining one's property tax “bill.” The rate is flexible, varying each year to meet the municipality's budget requirements. The other is the value assigned to your property. This assessment is determined and established by law, which is set at certain yearly time frames.

What is really important to the taxpayer is the added value that the taxes provide for the community. The foremost prime responsibilities of a municipalities are the safety, health, and welfare needs of its citizens. If a vibrant community is desired and within the means of the community's affordability, then other enhancements to the “quality of place” of a community should be eagerly pursued for the benefit of its citizens.

As with all monies spent for goods or services, the same goes for taxes that are levied. We should expect and receive the full value from our tax dollars. Tax dollars should not be wasted because of poor performances,superfluous purchases, and squandered, fraudulent activities.

Peter Moniz

Tiverton