To the editor: About two years about my family purchased a small house in the Wilmington area primarily to use as a gathering place that would enable us to take advantage of the winter and summer activities in Southern Vermont. We try spend at least a weekend a month there and have enjoyed what the area has to offer.
During our last visit we happened to pick up a copy of SO Vermont Arts & Living. It was with interest that we read “How to get people to move to Vermont: Listen to the insiders” and “Branding Southern Vermont.” The articles made some very good points.
One reason the articles are of interest to us is that we are looking for a place to retire to in the next couple of years. Based on our research to this point, and despite our investment in the Wilmington area, it is unlikely that we will move to and retire in Vermont. A primary reason is the amount of taxes (income, property, and sales taxes) in Vermont, especially compared to surrounding states. Vermont taxes both Social Security and government pensions, making it unattractive for retirees to move to the state. This is unfortunate, since retirees could add an important component to the culture and economy of Southern Vermont.
So, while your article about getting people to move to Vermont had some good points, I would suggest that the “insiders” add an activity — namely, lobbying the state of Vermont to reconsider how it taxes the incomes of retirees so that it will become more attractive for them to move to Vermont. That would likely be the only additional inspiration we would need to move to Southern Vermont and contribute to the community. — Ken Johnson, Setauket, N.Y.
