Who pays?
So, let's suppose Alton decides to rebate the taxes. But, it can't remove its expenses. Does that mean that every other citizen in Alton has to pay for those back taxes? If I was an Alton resident, why would anyone think that I should be forced to pay for someone else? And how much? An extra $100 from me for them? I don't understand the logic, here.
That might sound harsh, but it really isn't. If there's going to be a "community rebate" to a few individuals, that needs to be voted on by all citizens affected. Not decided by a few town selectmen who want to do good for a few at the expense of everyone else. The fire was a tragedy; but hopefully everyone had insurance to help pay for their expense. And certainly, if anyone decided it would be worthwhile to take donations, then everyone could make their own decision regarding their individual contribution.
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