Dear Editor,

For the second year in a row, my property taxes have increased secondary to a combined 27 percent increase in my assessed property values. Tax increases occurred two years prior to that time totaling three tax increases out of the five years I have lived here, the most recent increases based upon an unrealistic 2005 bull real estate market.

Facing retirement in the next several years, I have concluded Chesterfield does not want to attract retirees to the community, and so I will probably move to one that does.

What will be the impact on the county if others in the 50+ age group feel as I do and seek a retirement friendly community? It will lose the fastest growing and most affluent population in the country. It will lose a tax base which does not burden the school system or place large demands on road usage for daily job commutes, and most importantly, the county will lose a large volunteer workforce.

School and road costs are creating a huge tax burden on Chesterfield residents. I am willing to pay my fair share of taxes as I have in the past; however, as I face living on a fixed retirement income level and continue to be hit with this form of unreasonable tax hikes, I can only shout, "Enough is enough! I'm out of here."
Sandra S. Mitchell
Chesterfield