While the growing income gap is undeniable - and quite troubling - it is highly simplistic to present these income trends in terms of townwide averages ("Following the money," Globe NorthWest, April 13).
First off, a nit: The 02478 ZIP code covers all of Belmont, not just Belmont Hill. Despite (mostly outside) perceptions, Belmont is far from a uniformly affluent town. A significant portion of the town's housing stock consists of two- or three-family houses and other not-so-fancy abodes. Focusing on average income masks the fact that the same income gap that exists between Belmont and Lawrence also exists within Belmont, between its most and least affluent residents.
This leads me to the more critical flaw in your analysis: An increase in average income in a town does not translate into a proportionate increase in ability to fund schools and services, for the simple reason that towns get their funds from property, not income, taxes.
When it comes time to pass a Proposition 2 1/2 override to support the town's schools or services, it takes a majority of the voters, not simply the assent of those representing 51 percent of the town's aggregate income, to prevail.
Deriving a larger portion of state and local funding from income rather than real estate taxes would help to address this problem for all towns.
HELEN GOLDING
Belmont
