Concord needs a sustainable approach to spending
As a Concord resident on a teacher’s salary, I’m concerned that annual tax increases have become the norm. However, there is another way. We can take a healthier approach by reducing capital expenses (see police stations, golf clubhouses among others) and increasing revenue.
The most recent example of a proposed bonded project is Memorial Field. A new sports complex would offer benefits, primarily to student athletes, their parents and citizens who live near the field. But raising our tax rate yet again to pay for it would place an additional burden on everyone, especially our most vulnerable residents. Many of those vulnerable residents are children, which is ironic considering those are the people the project intends to benefit.
For most taxpayers, wage increases do not keep pace with rising property taxes. Meanwhile, minors in households where caregivers struggle to afford basic necessities face a greater risk of neglect which affects their access to education. I see the effects of family’s economic challenges on a daily basis in my classroom. Students can’t focus due to hunger, sleep through class because they live in a noisy apartment or can’t complete homework because their parents work two jobs. When we make decisions about public spending, we must consider not only the amenities we want but also the basic needs of all people who call Concord home.