九色视频

Lynn Keefe and Robert Rankin are running for the open seat. In interviews with 九色视频鈥檚 editorial board last week, Keefe and Rankin discussed a need to control growth in Easton.

Keefe said the town鈥檚 pipeline of approved projects 鈥� which recently included around 1,000 housing units 鈥� could negatively impacts schools and infrastructure.

鈥淎partments and apartments and apartments 鈥� lots of them coming, without really taking into consideration schooling, and roads and things like that that are really going to be affected,鈥� Keefe said.

Keefe said it is possible to address housing needs while managing growth. She worries the influx of apartment projects may result in a large number of unoccupied units.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to come back to bite you,鈥� she said.

In regards to the town鈥檚 comprehensive plan, which lays out a vision for how the town should prioritize its growth, Rankin said he prefers 鈥渟lower growth.鈥�

The current plan, which hasn鈥檛 been updated since 2010, calls for 1% year-to-year growth. It is in the draft stages of being revised by the town鈥檚 planning department and commission.

Rankin said he doesn鈥檛 see annexation 鈥� which has been used by the town to facilitate future housing developments 鈥� as an 鈥渁pparent鈥� need.

鈥淚 am pretty comfortable with the footprint of Easton currently, and I think we have enough space within the town for redevelopment purposes, for refurbishing, to meet the needs of immediate future development,鈥� Rankin said.

BUSINESSES

Both candidates offered thoughts on how to support local businesses.

Keefe, who owned a small business in Virginia for 18 years, said Easton has less red tape than where she operated her business. But she says Easton can still reduce some obstacles to help business owners.

鈥淲e need to make it a little bit easier for people. So many hoops,鈥� she said.

Meanwhile, Rankin said it鈥檚 important to improve pedestrian safety and prevent potential accidents in order for residents to feel comfortable walking to downtown businesses.

鈥淚 think there is an opportunity in Easton to have some more pedestrian-friendly interventions to make it easier for folks to feel comfortable walking around, and crossing streets and walking among traffic,鈥� Rankin said.

PROPERTY TAXES

While Easton鈥檚 real property tax rate has remained even at 52 cents per $100 of assessed value since 2008, property values have significantly increased.

Easton Mayor Megan Cook proposed a fiscal year 2026 budget last month that would keep the property tax rate the same. The budget projects $13.6 million in real property tax revenue, slightly up from FY25.

Keefe and Rankin were asked their takes on the property tax dilemma.

Keefe said the town should keep spending under control and be cognizant of the potential impacts of tax hikes.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to tax your people to death where they have to move,鈥� Keefe said. 鈥淚 have an elderly couple at church, they鈥檙e concerned. They鈥檙e living on social security. They鈥檙e concerned about if it gets too much higher, 鈥榃e鈥檙e going to have to move.鈥� And I think that鈥檚 a travesty.鈥�

Rankin said due to this year鈥檚 tight budget, a property tax increase is a 鈥渞eal topic鈥� of conversation.

鈥淲hile we don鈥檛 want to just raise taxes unnecessarily, if we want to deliver the services that residents want and need, that is a serious consideration we鈥檙e going to have to make,鈥� Rankin said.