West Tisbury year-round and seasonal residents continued voicing their opinions about a proposed residential tax exemption at a select board meeting Wednesday in anticipation of a decision later this fall. 

The town is gathering information from the board of assessors and public about the exemption, which would lower property taxes for homeowners who primarily live in West Tisbury and place some of that weight on people with a seasonal residence in the town.  

The exemption is allowed under state law and is in use in Tisbury, Oak Bluffs and several towns on the Cape. The exemption is meant to ease the burden for year-round residents in expensive communities. 

West Tisbury is currently working on finding out who in town would qualify for an exemption. The select board expects to make a final decision on whether to enact the exemption in November.

While some year-round residents felt the exemption was needed to preserve the town, many seasonal homeowners felt the proposal was unfair. 

At Wednesday’s meeting, seasonal resident Geoffrey Beresford said that the presumption that second homeowners “have excess money” is false and urged the boards to consider that when making their decision. 

“I would hope that the assessors and the board would find a fairer way to help needy people who should be helped, but this way, I think is unfair,” he said. “I want to commend some of the letter writers who said that in spite of the fact that they would benefit from this, they said we’re against it because it is unfair and divisive.”

In favor of the tax exemption, year-round resident Jo-Ann Taylor voiced her concerns about an “us versus them” mentality. 

“I hope that whatever happens, it will be made clear to the non-residents, that this is not something personal,” she said. “Some of my lifelong friends are kids that I grew up with at the beach [are seasonal residents]. They are part of the fabric of our summers and I hope that they don’t think that we’re using them or just discounting their feelings at all.” 

Seasonal residents Valerie and John DeWitt recognized the rise of the cost of living on Island and urged for another way to help year-round residents.

“It seems to me that paying for my neighbors’ taxes is a penalty,” they wrote in a letter. “It would create a distinction between me and my neighbors lessening the ‘good feelings’ that I have for this beautiful place, a place we all are entitled to enjoy! If my neighbors are struggling with their finances, I hope there is another way to support them without placing this responsibility on other townspeople.” 

People can continue to send in letters of opinion to the board of assessors. Principal assessor MacGregor Anderson is encouraging those with specific questions about their property to contact him directly. 

“We work really hard to make sure we qualify everyone we can and do not qualify anybody who doesn’t qualify because they’re trying to make a couple bucks,” he assured.