Skyrocketing cost of living.
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7/19/2007
Wayland does not believe in living within a reasonable budget. This is due to the influx of wealthy two-income white collar families who think that spending money will fix any problem. They've voted to "over-ride" the State's modest 2.5% annual increase in property taxes, EVERY YEAR in the six years I've lived here. My property taxes are now double what they were six years ago. The water rates, recreational and landfill fees increase annually. I now pay $300. year to haul my own trash to the dump, and there are restrictions on what can be dumped. I must hire a private company to to have wood, furniture, and appliances taken away. Yes, the school system is one of the best in Massachusetts, 95% of our taxes go to the schools, but the system has an excessive amount of administrators, principals and vice-principals. However, the school superintendent virtually dictates the Town budget with the annual threat that teachers will be layed off and class sizes will increase if he doesn't get the budget he requests. (By the way, his salary is higher than Boston's superintendent of schools.) Every other Town service has been reduced or cut. Last winter an older man on my street discovered a dead deer on his front lawn. (Killed by coyotoes.) He was upset when he discovered that the Town no longer provided animal removal and he had to pay a private company to have the carcass removed. At Town Hall meetings, anyone who questions annual property tax overides or fee increases as the method of managing the Town's budget is loudly scorned and declared "against the children". The school superintendent has successfully brainwashed this crowd. So, if you don't have to balance your checkbook or live within a monthly budget, Wayland is the town for you.
Victoria | Cochituate, MA