2-7-05

Interesting day. I went to the Public Hearing on accepting a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreement between the Town and the nuclear plant. Interestingly no one spoke up. There were two questions asked. One was about the PILOT's effect on taxes. The other was whether capital improvements would be additional to the agreement. The answer to the first was that if other revenues and costs remain the same as this year, then taxes would not increase. The answer to the second question was that all improvements to the nuclear generating facility will not be additional, all other improvements will be. I find it interesting that people are not interested in paying more taxes, but they rarely want a decrease in services they use. The corollary is if they don't use it, it isn't necessary for anyone. Must be that good morality that says to look out for number one and let all others do the same. Maybe there is a lesson that can be learned from the New England Patriots about looking out for the whole and the parts will take care of themselves...