We received an email from a nonresident taxpayer who offers some insight why Chatham is thought of as a rich town. To be sure, because of our nonresident owners the valuations of the town real estate are very high. And since many of them live in free-spending areas, whether it’s Greater Boston, New Jersey or New York, Chatham’s tax bills seem low – to them. For those who propose town spending, it’s a great comfort to know that about half the cost can be shunted onto nonresident owners who are used to big tax bills. That makes so many things seem so much more “affordable.” It seems that whatever is done, Chatham chooses the gold-plated solution, be it a majestic Community Center or an expansive and expensive $17 million PD/Annex project when Harwich was able to build its new police station for half that.

Yet the resident taxpayers by and large aren’t rich and the constantly swelling budgets and rising property taxes take a toll. When suddenly the world financial crisis hits home in Chatham and savings, interest and dividends shrivel, it is no surprise that many are worrying if their money will last their lifetimes. So every dollar becomes more important.

So what does our nonresident taxpayer have to say to us?

Being a non resident taxpayer I have no vote but have been a taxpayer for [many] years and my parents...before that. I feel that it is the non resident taxpayers that have enabled the town to spend as much as they want for years.

Unfortunately, that spending attitude impacts those of you who live there and are voters as well.

We have no children in the schools and put little stress on the infrastructure for most of the year. However, we have been the source that has provided a warped sense of reality when it comes to town spending.

No town body or official can make a decision without a $100,000 study.

In spite of the studies they do stupid things, i.e. the CBI golf course purchase and following lawsuit; the original computer system for the town; the current CBI/golf course management fiasco; the greatly overpriced proposed town hall annex and police station; the years of wasted time, consultants, and expense over the community center; ugly guardrails along the Oyster Pond road which had to be replaced by public demand; numerous frivolous lawsuits; etc, etc

Is there anyone in charge with their head screwed on straight?

A “warped sense of reality when it comes to town spending.”

Is our nonresident taxpayer right? Will it be spending as usual as if the world hasn’t dramatically changed for the worse?