The idea that newcomers are getting a “free ride” on Milton’s infrastructure paid for by past generations is a myth.
Infrastructure is not a one-time purchase from the past; it is a continuous, ongoing expense funded by the development charges and property taxes of every resident and business calling Milton home today.
Here are the facts: Milton transformed from a rural town of 31,000 in 2001 to over 157,000 today. To support that boom, we rapidly built entire new networks of roads, facilities, and stormwater systems. While 94% of our $3.4 billion infrastructure portfolio is currently in good shape, we are just in a “honeymoon phase.”
Because this massive network was built in a highly compressed 25-year window, it will all reach the end of its lifespan at roughly the same time.
By the time our kids currently going to school are young professionals, Milton will face a massive wave of mandatory rehabilitation and replacement costs.
Potholes and aging water mains don’t care about a taxpayer’s background—they require constant, ongoing funding. If we actually want to protect our children from a crippling financial burden, we need to focus on serious, long-term financial planning, not outdated stereotypes.
No one is getting a free ride; we are all paying to maintain this town together.
Feel free to confirm this information with your current or former elected officials!