There are needs and then there are needs

The school administration have put forth their needs. The Select Board had the Police Chief and Library Director last week to detail what they see as their needs. The plan is to have the other department heads come before the Board to lay out the needs of their departments as well. Finally all these needs will be rolled up into an override question or questions. There is only one group whose needs will not get a public airing. That group is the taxpayers! And especially the group of taxpayers will suffer the most if the needs of all the departments in the town are met. Some who comment here feel that I just don't understand the needs of the school department or Council on Aging or whoever.
But I have been going around the neighborhoods of the town, knocking on doors to collect nomination signatures, and talking to the people of the town. Some of those residents have been telling me about the burden that property taxes place on them. Elderly on fixed income and people on disability tell me that their property tax bills now amount to their monthly income for 2 or 3 months. They are worried about how they will pay an increase if an override passes. Just as the costs to the town for heat, light, insurance, and fuel have outstripped the town's revenues, so have they increased for those in our community on fixed income. $200 or even $500 more a year in taxes will not cause me undue pain and maybe not you either. But keep in mind that there are many in our community who cannot afford that kind of increase. Who may have to sell their home or go without necessities if an override passes. So when you hear the town departments ask for this many thousand or millions of dollars for their needs, keep in mind the very real needs of your neighbors. They will not get an override to pay their increased tax bills. There are needs and then there are needs.