To the editor:

You know those greeting cards that play music? I was looking for a button to push to hear Kumbaya after reading Jacob Brier’s commentary piece about the tax assessor’s new strategy regarding property values based on Balmuth v. Dolce.  

While the Barrington Tax Assessor is free to interpret this decision in any way he chooses – to his peril, of course - after a thorough reading and re-reading of the decision including the referenced cases and the dissenting views, I do not agree with his way forward. 

However, what I found most interesting about Mr. Brier’s commentary is where he states  "...in essence the entire town would be subsidizing the taxes of people who purchased homes above the assessed value." Not to be Ms. Obvious here but this is exactly what we (the taxpayers) do via the tax subsidy offered to developers of affordable housing. 

Taxpayers (those not living in affordable housing) foot the difference in taxes between the assessed (real) value and the subsidized value. Let’s hear your Kumbaya to that little conundrum, Jacob. No, but wait…the music has started and it isn’t Kumbaya after all. It’s the Snake Charmer song. Taxpayers of Barrington beware!

Ann Strong

Barrington