george holsten

I and numerous family members have lived on Bear Island in Meredith since the 1940"s. During that period we have shopped in local stores, employed local craftsmen, visited local restaurants and paid ever increasing taxes, Most of that time we were present on Bear Island for six-seven months with severe weather and/or ice preventing longer stays. The putative reason for paying real estate taxes is to cover the cost to the municipality of providing those services. In the case of most island dwellers, rather part time or full time, they receive NO services for their taxes. That is extremely unfair. I am not clear on whether or not these STL bills are intended to apply to second homes that are not rented but if so it would add another level of unfairness to the current situation. If taxes are paid to receive services and the dwelling is not occupied some of the time then those services, if any, would not be required. If anyone is to pay more it should be those who cost the town more.