The five-year forecast on page 18 of the 2025 Town Meeting warrant booklet projects a $1.7 million deficit in fiscal 2027—the very budget residents will be asked to approve this coming spring. Yet the town continues to pursue costly new projects, such as land purchases and recreational facilities, while many essential needs remain unmet.
Our tax dollars should first support critical priorities—maintaining infrastructure, fixing and upgrading schools, and sustaining core services—not optional projects like soccer fields. Roads, public safety, education, and fiscal stability are necessities. Luxuries must come later.
At Town Meetings, funding requests are often presented with the claim that spending “will not increase taxes.” This is misleading. According to the Department of Revenue, the average property tax on a single-family home in Harvard rose from $9,301 in 2015 to $13,680 in 2025—a 47% increase. Residents deserve transparency and the opportunity to understand the real impact of new spending.
Both current and past members of the Select Board share responsibility for failing to address these urgent budget challenges. For too long, leaders have deferred difficult choices, allowing costs to rise while essential services lag behind. Fiscal discipline and accountability must come first. Leaders must make transparent decisions, prioritize essential spending, and ensure residents know how taxpayer dollars are allocated.
Harvard’s affordability, quality of life, and long-term financial stability depend on leadership that puts essentials over extras. As the upcoming election approaches, residents should remain engaged, demand transparency, and insist on responsible stewardship of public funds
Haofang Yu
Old Mill Road
