DUMMERSTON — Protecting farmland is a good investment. Farmland attracts tourists. The towns that have protected the most land from development have the lowest property taxes. That's according to a study by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.
This kind of investment helps rich and poor Vermonters alike. The state pays almost all of low-income homeowners' property taxes for them. Poor renters are eligible for state money to help pay their rent.
In Dummerston, the Selectboard is proposing an investment of $2,500 in farmland protection this year. This is out of a town budget of about $900,000 and a school budget of about $3.2 million.
Please go to Town Meeting on March 3 and vote to double our investment in farmland protection. If you can't attend the meeting, please call or write the Selectboard.