Letters to the editor Dec. 31

Welfare program

Our county commissioners have been under a lot of public pressure to accept money that could be used to help people who would otherwise not be able to attain home ownership. While it may seem like a slam dunk decision, especially when you hear the argument that the money will go to another county if we don’t accept it, I think it’s totally illogical.

If I understand it correctly, the recipients of this program will have their ROI capped to an amount much lower than market rate future capital gains. So why would they ever sell their homes? They’d be in no better position to buy another house (I’m assuming the cost of housing will continue to increase) than they currently are. Furthermore, what motivation would they have to make home improvements, or even maintain it, knowing that the ROI will be almost nothing?