The average residential property tax bill in Harvard is $8,320 per year. Those tax dollars are spread across a variety of services that we all expect a well-run town to provide.
At Town Meeting last May, the Finance Committee’s state-of-the town report outlined the budget challenges facing the town. In the report we noted, “There is no one, single solution to the town’s budget challenges. There are a variety of strategies…and each of these options has pros and cons. The town will need to choose the mix of strategies that best matches the needs and desires of its residents.”
The Finance Committee wants to make decisions that reflect the priorities and values of the town. To help us do this, we have developed a brief survey, and we ask for residents’ participation. We are seeking their views of the quality of town services, and their views of the priorities those services should reflect. We are also seeking solutions and ideas from all the residents.
This survey is not a vote. Some people have expressed concern that an over-represented group could have a disproportionate influence on the outcome of this survey. No survey, no matter how carefully designed, can be a perfect representation of the interests of everyone in our community. The survey is simply a forum—in addition to other forums such as open meetings—that we as Harvard residents have at their disposal, to participate in and shape the priorities of our town.
Residents can log on to www.harvard.ma.us and take the survey online; or pick up a paper copy at Town Hall, the library, Hildreth House, or the General Store. Paper surveys should be dropped off at Town Hall during regular business hours, or mailed to:
Finance Committee, 13 Ayer Road, Harvard, MA 01451
The deadline for survey responses is Oct. 7.
George McKenna,
on behalf of the Finance Committee
