Tax Hike Coming to Easton

Town Departments Get Special Appropriations Same Day as Budget Vote, Library Needs Costly New AC Unit

 In case you missed it this week, the Board of Finance voted to raise the mill rate by 4.94% – which will, in turn, raise taxes for most all residents. This decision came Tuesday evening, just hours after the polls closed.

The mill rate is now set at 31.00. It's Easton's highest mill rate in four years, and it is happening under the leadership of our Democrat controlled Board of Selectman and Board of Finance. Easton was assured several months ago that taxes would not increase. That prediction was made in conjunction with the EMS Building Project yet nevertheless, here we are.

The Board of Finance also voted on Tuesday to allocate $39,000 in taxpayer funds for the Easton Building Department and Planning & Zoning Department to pay for the first year of a three-year software contract – a contract voters will have to fully fund. In addition, the town faces the full replacement of a cooling tower for the Easton Public Library, estimated to cost $75,000.

The timing of these additional allocations raises questions, particularly in regard to the software contract. These expenditures should have been included in the town’s comprehensive budget planning process. Instead, voters approved a budget and two hours later, the Board of Finance appropriated even more taxpayer funds. This is irregular, at best. Easton deserves better planning with full transparency for its tax dollars.

-The Easton RTC