A reminder that our Annual Meeting is Sunday, June 16 at The Provincetown Theater, 238 Bradford Street, where there is plenty of parking. Coffee and registration begin at 9:30am and our business begins at 10:00am. Join us as we enter our 7th year!
Our agenda includes electing two board seats and a discussion with Selectperson Golden.
BOARD OPENINGS: We have two board seats open. Do you have any PR skills? Social Media experience? Are you keen on local politics? Your skills and experience and willingness to advance our Association are needed to help lead us forward.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION: Dues only cover our operating expenses. You can help us make progress on our mission with a donation -- and we sincerely thank those of you who have already been generous. Please give what you can to our Action Fund and help us give all taxpayers a say!
TOWN FINANCIAL CHALLENGES: You are probably aware of the ongoing funding controversy regarding the Police Station. On June 24th town voters will be asked, yet again, to fund this project. And, another financial challenge just came to light regarding the Harbor Hill Housing Trust. Did you know thatnone of the original finance assumptionsused to rationalize the purchase of this property have proven accurate? Read on: https://provincetown.wickedlocal.com/news/20190529/town-meeting-set-to-vote-on-police-station-again VOTING IN PROVINCETOWN: There are many so-called “full-timers” who actually do what you do: work and live off-Cape a significant portion of the year but call Provincetown home. Members of the Select board, committee members and even former town employees are examples of folks who vote in Provincetown but make their living off-Cape. Unlike you, these folks are registered voters in town. This is especially important for matters like the Police Station and Harbor Hill. Could you register to vote in town too and make yourself heard?
Registering to vote is a declaration of “home.” We are not lawyers and are not giving legal advice, but as we understand it “home” is where you “eat and sleep” at the time you vote and where you intend to make your home, at least for the time being. It does not have to be permanent or forever and there is no time criterion in Massachusetts law. If the Town were to challenge an individual’s voter registration, it would look at evidence of intent to make Provincetown the center of your civil and domestic life. Evidence could include driver’s license, telephone listings, address on tax filings, etc.
As we understand it, a voter may go away for extended periods, for example on sabbatical or rent out his or her home, and not lose the right to vote where registered. In other words, if Provincetown is your home and where you intend to make “home,” you have a right to vote in Provincetown even if you are not always in Provincetown.
Keep in mind that you can only vote where you are a legal resident/domiciled. That is defined as: “Your domicile, or legal residence, is your true home or main residence. You may have multiple residences at one time, but only one domicile. You can't choose to make your home one place for general living purposes and in another for tax purposes. Your legal residence is usually where you maintain your most important family, social, economic, political, and religious ties, and it depends on all the facts and circumstances per case, including good faith.” Obviously this analysis is far easier if you are already a Massachusetts resident.
“One man, one vote” applies in Massachusetts and nationally. You can only vote from one residence even if you own and occasionally occupy more than one property. If you intend to register to vote in Provincetown, please use the State’s online form at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/Welcome.aspx. You can complete the application online, print, sign and return it to the town clerk - a fast, easy way that makes processing by the Town Clerk simpler. If and when you register: please let us know if any member of your Provincetown household has registered to vote by sending an email to us at Ptown.NRTA@gmail.com.
Please make sure to "Like" the Provincetown Part-Time Resident Taxpayer Association on Facebook! It's a great place to connect with other Provincetown part-timers to discuss the issues and challenges that we face.
About the PPRTA:
The Provincetown Part-Time Resident Taxpayers Association works for the betterment of the whole community of the Town of Provincetown by providing a forum and a voice for the interests of Provincetown part-time resident taxpayers, most of whom must make their voting residence elsewhere.
Goals
Maintain and support the unique quality of life that exists in Provincetown.
Advocate for representation on budget-related issues for part-time residents of Provincetown.
Provide a forum for part-time resident taxpayers to communicate with local, regional and state governments.
Encouraging the participation of part-time residents in all aspects of the community.
