Muddied waters following annual city election

March 18, 2023  |  By Morgan W. Brown

Although I risk wading into waters that, admittedly, I am not necessarily highly knowledgeable about, nor an expert of, the recent discussion as well as debate entertained on certain online forums concerning the March 7 City Meeting election in Montpelier, which is actually an old and not a new one, appears to me to have been muddied quite a bit because it has been overly as well as unnecessarily focused on the results of the election, how many as well as who participated by voting and those who might not have done so as well as various theories concerning why.

To my way of thinking, the problem as well as situation being discussed and debated has less, if anything whatsoever, to do about those aspects or things (read: issues or matters) per se and has much more to do about the current, rather antiquated as well as regressive, tax structure and system that unfairly overburdens as well as unduly penalizes those who own property as well as those who do not and, most especially, those who do not have the income or wealth that certain others might have as well as the latter might easily take for granted.

The issues or matters being discussed and debated relate to the taxation of property instead of more properly taxing income and wealth as well as about how communities like Montpelier, particularly ones with a huge state presence in terms of land dominance and ownership, are unfairly burdened by both the state as well as neighboring communities. 

Communities like Montpelier play host to the wider area and are largely footing the bill for services that are meeting the needs of other nearby communities and, as a result, are in large part being burdened with more than their fair share compared to neighboring communities at the local and regional level. These neighboring communities are quite dependent on the current system and have no reason nor incentive to change the status quo, because it would not benefit them to consider doing so. Montpelier is, of course, by no means alone in this.

Until the over reliance on local property taxes as well as the current governmental structure is properly addressed as well as changed (i.e., a weak, if virtually nonexistent, county government structure), then communities like Montpelier will continue to struggle as they have over the years in one manner or another in attempting to sufficiently meet its many diverse needs as well as the needs of its business sector and residents. 

The discussion and debate should rather be about changing the status quo and system if it is no longer desirable and doesn't work, not about the outcome and results of the City Meeting elections and who voted, didn't vote or why.

If the current system is not working, mutually enough, then it should be changed in order to make it benefit and work more equitably for everyone as well as one's community and not merely the few who benefit the most from the system currently in place. These are county, regional and statewide issues or matters in need of being resolved at those levels, not necessarily local ones, not solely anyway.

My two cents for what little that it might be worth these days.

Morgan W. Brown is a resident of Montpelier and Justice of the Peace with duties to serve on both the Board of Civil Authority and the Board of Abatement in Montpelier. Brown writes as a concerned citizen and casual political observer.