Susan Seidner’s concern (Monitor letters, May 1) is not about reducing property taxes but rather about raising more money for legislators to spend.
History is clear: In every state where taxpayers were promised tax relief through a broad-based tax, property taxes increased again to the same level. Look south to Massachusetts or west to California to see what progressive property tax reform really looks like.
In Massachusetts, taxpayers passed Proposition 2½; every year, progressives do everything possible to override it. Californians enjoy the unenviable status as the state with the highest local income and sales taxes, not to mention some of the highest property taxes in the nation.
By the way, we had a Secure Psychiatric Unit at New Hampshire Hospital, as well as general psychiatric care and services, until the patients’ rights movement of the late 1970s. Today we have outpatient, for-profit clinics providing minimal care.
Seidner’s point that 30 to 40 people are in hospital waiting rooms seeking help makes me think of the promises from progressives that if Obamacare was passed it would result in reduced emergency room use for all health issues.
Funding by the state or communities of any program or service needs to come with statistical analysis of outcomes and success. Government spending most often treats the symptoms, failing to identify and address the underlying cause.
Property taxes are too high and education funding should be a priority, but smart fiscal policy and legislative restraint in funding more and more services for the latest social “cause du jour” should be the first priority.
BILL BUNKER
Barnstead