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To the Editor:
Recently, there was a LTE published that discussed Reading’s residential property taxes, the impact of the split tax rate on Reading and the Select Board election. The letter stated “For example, this means the Home Depot in Danvers pays a commercial tax rate of $19.98 while the Home Depot in Reading pays $13.21. In effect, residential taxpayers in Reading cover this gap.” This letter, and this statement, is completely disingenuous.
The letter includes not one mention of specific businesses in Reading other than Home Depot. However, Home Depot is not representative of the businesses in Reading and is solely used as a method to distract residents. We need to stop framing the discussion around the split tax rate with reference to Home Depot, and think about the impact on the small businesses in this town, because that is what makes up this town.
Reading is a community made up of small businesses – small businesses that support this community every single day. I urge residents to think of the businesses that support the schools and programs in Reading every day – businesses such as Aine’s, Tin Bucket, Calareso’s, Empower, Cupcake City, Tread, Dynamik, MC Strength & Fitness, Anthony’s Roast Beef, Mandarin, Capri and many many others. Think about the business names on the backs of the Little League or Reading Youth Hockey jerseys, the sponsors listed on websites of Reading organizations, the restaurant nights that are hosted, the fundraisers that are run at these stores, or the beautiful trees donated by the businesses for the Festival of Trees to benefit the Reading Scholarship Foundation. These are just a very few examples of what is done by these businesses, and all are done in support of the Reading schools or organizations. I have been involved in a lot of fundraising over the years for various organizations, and I have never had a business say “no” when asked for a donation.
The leases of these businesses are generally structured in a manner that the increased cost gets passed along to them, and Reading already has empty storefronts in the town. When the small businesses are always supporting the community, the community should also do their best to support the small businesses.
Nobody wants their taxes to increase, but residents also need to understand the impact on Reading as a whole, and consider what the small businesses already do for this community every single day. The last few years have been extremely difficult for all of us, and we need to come together to support the ones that support us.
Melissa Murphy and Carlo Bacci both understand these considerations. They know that Home Depot does not represent the Reading community as a whole, and they support the small businesses that make our community run. Please vote for Melissa and Carlo for the Reading Select Board.
Respectfully,
Casey Moulton
Pasture Rd.
