Trust The Finance Committee On Our Island Home

To the editor: While many residents and voters have made convincing emotional arguments for spending an enormous sum to build a new Our Island Home, I look to the recommendations of the Capital Program Committee and Finance Committee who each recommend against this expenditure. I am not insensitive to the need to take care of our seniors, and have had experience with parents and grandparents in long-term care facilities, nursing homes and hospice.

The Nantucket residents on these committees have been selected for their financial acumen and experience, have had access to far more detailed information about this expenditure than each individual voter, have reviewed the extraordinary differential in cost per bed for Our Island Home vs. similar facilities on both the mainland and islands, and are aware of other vital upcoming capital requirements. We entrust them as our stewards of our local taxes. I trust their judgement in advising us to vote No on Our Island Home and encourage all other taxpayers to do the same.

Michael Leavitt