To the editor:

In third and fourth grades, I learned multiplication and division...it wasn’t until about the eighth grade when I really noticed the difference between “rich” people and people like my two brothers and I. Our father had a good job; our mother didn’t work. We lived in a perfectly nice, house with four bedrooms (one very small) and one bathroom and had one car.

In eighth grade, I noticed schoolmates who had better clothes and book bags, whose parents picked them up in large cars rather than having them ride the bus. That’s when became obvious to me that some people had a lot of money and some people didn’t.

There are three typical reactions to rich people:
1. Indifference from someone for whom money and lifestyle is not important as long as they have the necessities they need; 2. Jealousy: they want what the wealthy have but are not willing to work hard to get it or are not lucky enough to have inherited money; 3. Motivation: from those who would like a better lifestyle or certain “things” and are
willing to work hard to achieve it.

The “Millionaire’s” tax is motivated by jealousy from people who are/ not willing to work hard, improve their skills and earn more. Either that, or they ignored third and fourth grade math. Look at the math:
“Harry and Hilda” are residents of Florida, but they love our quaint towns and beaches. They buy a $4 million house in Middletown, hire a full time housekeeper for the summer who works 50% the other 8 months to oversee the house, get mail, etc. They employ a full time “estate manager” to landscape, do repairs, plow the driveway with the truck, bought from a Rhode Island dealer and keep here.

The town of Middletown assesses the value of their house today at $4.8 million, 7 years after they bought it and charge them $56,500 in real estate taxes which is about $13,000 more than a full time resident pays. They only occupy the house for 4 months.

During the 4 months a year they live in Rhode Island, they attend about 10 charitable events and last year donated $25,000 to those charities.
Almost 53% of the $94 million Middletown budget covers the Town’s school system. It has about 2,100 students enrolled, a cost of $44,761 per student.

Harry and Hilda’s children don't attend Middletown’s schools.
So, why, since Harry and Hilda contribute enormously to RI charities, employ a housekeeper and a gardener and pay generous salaries and full benefits, pay Middletown $56,000 in taxes, would anyone think they don't contribute substantially to their community as many elected RI politicians claim?

Based on third and fourth grade math, it makes sense for the next governor of Rhode Island to put large sign at the incoming highways and at the airport and the train station:
“Welcome womeowners for whom Rhode Island is a vacation paradise — we love having you as seasonal residents!

Fourth grade math says those part-time Rhode Islanders are the most profitable residents we have!

Georgina Macdonald
Bristol