Hi Everyone,
I've been away for a week and have found this week's email enlightening and
interesting.
Two things before I forget.
Delinquent property taxes on the Homestead portion that the state is charged
with collecting per Act 60, will not effect the monies coming into a town's
school system. Regardless of the delinquencies at the state level, the state
is required to send the entire amount due to a receiving town even if all
the homestead taxes have not been collected. It is their responsibilty to
collect their delinquent taxes.  I suspect that this is an area that will be
revisited soon in the legislature.
And number two:
We have been collecting all taxes at the local level since almost forever,
(well maybe not quite that long), and we have managed to compensate those
who do it within the existing local tax structure.  When we talk about
"doing the state's work, let them compensate us", my first thought was: The
money in question, education taxes, needs to be collected, regardless of
from where (I know, bad English, sorry), the real issue is TO WHERE, and
most of us are the return destination.  In other words, that money is coming
back into our towns to pay for our town's schools.  Just like before. Long
way around getting to the point which is, I think,  that we would not be
doing the "state's work", we would be collecting school taxes, just like
before.
And finally, Hello, Mary Zuber!  Your note has reminded me once again of how
very much I admire and love you!   :-)  patty smith of sudbury.