Vote Yes For the Middlesex County 2018 Budget

Encourage our Board of Supervisors to vote yes to the proposed 2018 Budget. The vote is tonight.

Here is why!

Our property values have gone down. Some say they are static, which is different from going up every year. But, I know properties that have or would only be sold for 30% less than a few years ago. Some properties have been taken off the market because of no offers. Demand is lower because our properties are less attractive compared to other places. So prices go down. With the lowest property taxes around wouldn’t you think demand for our property would be better? Perhaps the lowest tax is not the answer.

Some believe that in order to stabilize and hopefully enhance our property values, we need to make our county as attractive as we can for those who might buy property, for those to visit, for those to have boats, and for those who might want to keep or bring businesses here.

So how do we do all that? We need to:

· Foster infrastructure, like water and sewer, so as to enhance the quality of life, encourage businesses stay, businesses to expand and businesses to come.

· Help our businesses to be competitive so as to attract customers.

· Encourage people to come stimulate a thriving business environment. More jobs would do this.

· Stimulate Broadband for improved information flow and communication.

· Support our services.

o Families want to be in places where their kids can get good educations. That does not just happen because we now have good teachers and administration. We will have to pay them a competitive wage to keep them, to attract new ones in a time of teacher shortages and to provide educational services required in today’s environment.

o Our YMCA is not just a gym. It is the largest day care provider in the county. With its after school programs and summer camps, it supports our resident families’ ability to work in or out of the county.

Would you believe that our Board of Supervisors has been thinking about all of this?

Well they have….and…good for them because much of what we need to start with is in this budget.