To the editor:

“Burden” is one of those words that no matter how you spin it, its burden is that it carries a negative shading. No one ever speaks positively of their burdens.

In a recent feature article in these pages looking at the different tax rates of East Bay towns, those taxes were frequently referred to as “tax burdens.” Granted, that may be an accepted economics term for speaking of taxes. Still, it burdens taxes with a certain stink: burdens are onerous; does that mean taxes are as well? Burdens should be avoided; taxes, too?

Obviously, there are a good number of people who answer yes to both questions, and perhaps a good number more who would happily be persuaded of the burdensome nature of taxes if there was a chance they would be taxed less or taxed not at all.

But before we throw out the burden with the bath water, consider what taxes actually pay for. I was curious myself about the particulars, and so I went to Town Hall and got a copy of last year’s budget.

From it, here is just a partial list of town expenses covered, in whole or in part, by the taxes we pay:

First responders — police, fire, EMS — including salaries, vehicles, safety equipment, medical equipment & supplies, dispatch, communications equipment, training, fuel, and more.

Public works, such as trash collection, the transfer station, engineering services, lamp post lighting/restoration, tree management, the salaries for all those who perform those services, as well as all their service vehicles, equipment, maintenance, fuel, and more.

Wastewater management (the wastewater treatment facility on Water Street). Total operating expenses.

Capital improvement: roads, curbs & sidewalks, bike paths; the Town Wharf, the Town Beach; storm water/drainage infrastructure/improvements, and more.

All the various offices that administer to the Town’s running: Town Manager, Town Planner, Town Clerk, Building Official; Recreation, Senior, and Social Services; and more.

The list goes on.

And the bottom line: taxes make Warren livable.

So, do I like paying taxes? Of course not. But I don’t consider them a burden. Rather I consider them an acceptable bargain, in both senses of the word: I receive goods or services more valuable than what I pay for them; and as a taxpayer I have a bargain with the town that they will provide those goods and services capably and dependably.

Some goods and services are apparent. My weekly trash pickup. The books and DVDs I check out of the library. Plowed streets. Fixed potholes. All things my taxes go to pay for.

Other services and goods are less apparent, such as planning for the town’s future while preserving its essence (hence, the value of my residence and property). And some I doubt I will ever even avail myself of. But I am glad to know that if I find myself in circumstances where I need to, I can call on the town to assist me. I hope my health doesn’t collapse, but I am fortunate to have health insurance if it does.

And when looked at from the perspective beyond the individual, those goods and services taxes we pay for benefit us, the entire community, the whole town. They help keep our community safe, orderly, comfortable and clean – a nice place to live and to call home.

So, taxes: yes. Burden: no.

Jerry Blitefield
Beach St.