To the Editor:

In response to “Consolidation Needed” (Sound Off, June 15-21): Yes, it is tough for town residents.

Why should we be forced to pay for services we neither need nor want—well, maybe we would like to have our sidewalks plowed and have all our brush picked up once a month, which would result in hiring several more employees to do the entire town—more expenses.

We have lived outside the village limits for about 13 years and so far have had no need for local village police, and at present, we are served by the fire department.

So where are the extra services we need that would create doubling our taxes?

We chose not to pay village taxes, water and sewer fees, by moving to the country.

We have extra expenses like gas usage to travel to town, a drilled well, a pump to bring water to the home, electricity to run the pump.

Oh, also we had to have a sewage system installed that wasn’t inexpensive and have to pay to maintain.

Nobody lowers our taxes our taxes to offset expenses village people don’t have.

We make choices in life and we should live with them—maybe village people who want this dissolution should have chosen to purchase property outside the limits.

Oh, we do have extra land and lack of traffic, pollution and noise. Is that why we should pay higher taxes?

If the village wants to dissolve, why do it at the expense of all the town residents. You will still get your sidewalks plowed, street lights, water and sewer, etc., that you’ve always had, plus lower taxes at the town’s expense.

I can’t think of any village services we have taken advantage of other than the library.

I do hope that town residents have a chance to voice their opinions—but before the vote, not after.

Marlyne Ashley, Potsdam