Jesse FloydBelmont urgently needs a collaborative plan to grow our commercial tax base.
As older Belmont residents, we’ve grown weary of constant tax overrides and debt exclusions. We’re a prosperous town; we don’t have to operate like this. The obvious answer is to improve our sources of revenue, better allocate our resources and develop bold plans for the future. To do all of this, we need change, and quickly.
We see hope for that change in the candidacy of Matt Taylor for the Select Board. We met Matt when he recently knocked on our Winn Brook door and introduced himself and his vision for Belmont. We were immediately taken with his friendly, soft-spoken demeanor, intelligence and passion for Belmont.
His sensible plan to grow our town’s commercial tax base from (a currently unsustainable) 5% to 10% would shift some of the tax burden to commercial properties, offer lower taxes to residents, help us meet our expenses and obligations, and create more vibrant, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods featuring restaurants, cafes, and other amenities that attract renters and buyers.
You can learn more about Matt’s innovative plan at www.MattForBelmont.com/vision. Matt brings to the table a strong data analysis background in leading and advising startups. He has
completed vast amounts of research looking at other successful towns and how they go about attracting and nourishing businesses to build a stronger tax base and use those revenues to lower property taxes, improve schools and infrastructure, and make their communities desirable places to live. Belmont needs people like Matt Taylor in positions of leadership. His thinking makes good common sense.
We sincerely believe that Matt’s vision for Belmont is our best bet for a more sustainable future. We urge voters to consider Matt Taylor for Select Board on April 2!
Tom Matzell, Hoitt Road