That is the kind of ignorant statement that show a lack of understanding. Second home owners and an influx of first home owners from other areas drive up the price of homes and real estate and hence the tax rate. The result is that this drives people from their homes because salaries do not rise at the same rate. As a result families that have been here for generations are being driven from their homes so that second homeowners can have a nice place to come and spend. I have absolutely no sympathy for someone complaining about the taxes on their second or third homes when natives/locals are being driven from their homes. I do think that second homeowners should have a voice on a local level politically, perhaps that would better incorporate them into local life and give them a chance to see their neighbors and how they are being effected.Originally Posted by madhavok
That said I love that we are a mecca for second homeowners and people from across the country and world, but we have to find a way to balance things out. Looking at local businesses that can't keep employees because they can not afford to pay them enough to live in the area, or enough to make the drive here worth while. So some affordable housing is a great option. I think the area should look at Aspen as a model. They did a great job providing locals with stable property values so they have a good base of people who can live where they work. The mountain realized that if they did not provide housing for workers at a rate they could afford then the glitteratti would be loading themselves onto chairs to ski an ungroomed or maintained runs.
jkvt
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