Letter: Our tax dollars a gift to ourselves?

I read with interest of the proposed hike in fees for carting in Westerly. I currently pay a company to collect my trash. This will, of course, end if the fees are increased by any amount close to the 90 percent that Amy Grzybowski mentions.

Beyond the loss of revenue to local businesses that will lose customers, I take umbrage at Councilor Chris Duhamel's comment that the rates were kept artificially low, which obviously they were, as a benefit to taxpayers.

He is quoted as saying "this was one of the amenities that the town paid for. The deficit was really a benefit the taxpayers got, but now with the increases, we can't give that same benefit."

Surely Mr. Duhamel is aware that the town is not independently wealthy and busy doing taxpayers a favor? The town paid the bill with our taxpayer dollars and then called it a benefit to the taxpayer. Gee, thanks.

Pam Salimeno

Westerly

Source: Letter: Our tax dollars a gift to ourselves?