Tax abatement and PILOT programs have been used successfully to bring commercial projects to localities that provided local benefits.  However these programs for mixed use and residential projects put a large burden on existing tax payers as residential properties send children to school while not paying their fair share of education taxes.  

The Township Committee should consult with the Board of Education prior to granting any tax abatement programs for commercial projects to assess impacts to our school system.  We support providing quality education for our children and believe everyone should benefit from development to town.  We oppose subsidies to for profit developers at the expense of the tax payer.