Taxes

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by tis

Although a SB2 town doesn't have a "town meeting" at which they vote on many of the articles, they do have a "deliberative session" before voting day where the taxpayers can become more informed and can propose changes to amendments if they want to. So this is where you have your "exchange of ideas". I agree, it's not easy to find out information, you have to work for it.

I was aware of this and absolutely agree that you COULD go to the "deliberative session" if they wanted to. However, people pushing SB2 were emphasizing the problem of sitting through the long combined deliberative session and voting. They emphasized the ease of just voting (cluelessly) under SB2.

I don't think SB2 encourages responsible citizenship. "Easy" citizenship, yup.

[John Mercier]

In the modern world, where much of the population doesn't have a standard schedule, ease means something.

It does make it a bit more difficult for those that support a spending line to make their case in a differing format.

[jeffk]

If you seek easy solutions, you deserve the results that you get.

[John Mercier]

I've been fairly happy with our results.

SB2 allows me to vote on the issue, even if I can't make the schedule due to work/etc.

Very few things are emergencies, and the basic items we generally understand.

[tis]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

In the modern world, where much of the population doesn't have a standard schedule, ease means something.

It does make it a bit more difficult for those that support a spending line to make their case in a differing format.

Are you saying you think the deliberate session is more difficult than the town meeting? Not sure what you mean.

[Diver1111]

As I sell Long Term Care Insurance and have for 25 years, in my experience, the whole Down Payment question is only associated with Continuing Care Retirement Communities aka CCRCs.

CCRCs allow for "aging in place" meaning while you may reside in an "Independent" area on the grounds at first, as your needs increase you can move to the Assisted Living Facility/ALF area on the same grounds, perhaps a Nursing Facility also on the same grounds and the most expensive-the Memory Care unit or wing. Bottom line is that you don't have to move-the CCRC theoretically can provide soup-to-nuts services in one location.

While I have not read an Application to a CCRC in a long time, all have some sort of sum of money you must produce as part of the move to a CCRC. Some give some of back at death, some I have read give perhaps 90% back at death etc.. While they are similar contractually, no CCRC I have encountered is the same. Read everything they give you.

CCRCs may not look like one especially if you only focus on say, the ALF part.

No ALF any of my Clients have ever moved to required any Down Payment of any kind. You choose and pay for any services you need above what is included in the Contract w/the montlhy rent according to any Plan-of-Care/POC you may have.

Contrary to popular opinion Long Term Care Policies pay for all sorts of things provided at a CCRC as long as you meet the claims criteria. Where you live is for the most part not even relevant.

Some folks cancel their LTC Insurance coverage because-for whatever reason-they were under the impression that because they paid money upfront to move into a CCRC that the coverage was redundant-not so and generally a big mistake.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by tis

Are you saying you think the deliberate session is more difficult than the town meeting? Not sure what you mean.

Probably about the same...
But the schedule is harder.

SB2, I have all day to vote and it only takes a couple minutes.
The deliberate session, I can choose to attend or not depending on if I have an issue I want to address.

In town meeting, you have to sit through the whole thing and watch issues hashed out that sometimes are more a pet peeve than serious savings/spending.

[tis]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Probably about the same...
But the schedule is harder.

SB2, I have all day to vote and it only takes a couple minutes.
The deliberate session, I can choose to attend or not depending on if I have an issue I want to address.

In town meeting, you have to sit through the whole thing and watch issues hashed out that sometimes are more a pet peeve than serious savings/spending.

So you're saying the town meeting is harder because you can't vote without sitting through the meeting right? I agree and the town meeting is often at night and runs very late so that sometimes people leave and then a vote can be brought up again and revoted.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by tis

So you're saying the town meeting is harder because you can't vote without sitting through the meeting right? I agree and the town meeting is often at night and runs very late so that sometimes people leave and then a vote can be brought up again and revoted.

Correct.
The process is not timely for those with certain schedules, and we no longer live in a society were communication is limited.