To the editor:
We taxpayers should be infuriated at the 13 percent increase in sewer rates this year, capping an 89 percent increase since 2006.
We're among the highest in the state and, as of last year, believed among the highest in the nation.
Congratulations!
We will pay $22 per 1,000 gallons in water and sewer rates combined.
The current error causing a 13 percent increase in our rates was blamed on bond counsel — which seems to suggest it was collected in general funds, instead of sewer rates.
Now the town will collect it on our sewer rates and cannot or will not guarantee rates will go back down after the two quarterly bills to correct the error is completed.
What a surprise!
When the government finds a way of extracting more dollars out of our pockets because of a previous error, it stays, and we pay forever, without a word of this from our ruling selectmen.
My real estate tax increased 14 percent in addition to the water and sewer rates. My Social Security increased 0 percent, and my pension increased only 2 percent.
Foreclosures are up, and some are moving to try to survive. Many working stiffs with families have told me that their wages have been frozen, and many more had salary increases of only 1 percent. They all felt fortunate to even have jobs.
Who do the town fathers think can afford these increased taxes, rates and fees? Or do they want the common folk gone, to make way for a bedroom community of commuting millionaires?
Proposition 21รขÑ2 is a joke, as there are so many ways to get around it. In this time of severe recession, our town seems intent on finding new ways of spending money out of our pockets. The town speaks of overrides, buying buildings and property, when many of us can barely afford necessities.
I suspect the old Granite Savings Bank property will be thrust upon us again this year, so we can have more property to let deteriorate, as we did with the Community House, Boy Scouts Hall, the firehouse, Dock Square, Sea Scout Hall, Carnegie Library, American Legion and the house on Pleasant Street's old Department of Public Works land, to mention just a few.
I hope the taxpayers will rise up and say, "No more! We cannot afford it!"
william h. parsons
Oakland Avenue, Rockport
