Residents decry high taxes and recent water-bill increases at Narrows council meeting

Al Phillips, a resident who signed up to speak during public comment, said Narrows' combined tax burden is high compared with nearby towns and outlined his personal tax math. "When I look at my combined rate, living in Narrows, it's 1.19. It's a dollar 19. That's gotten 68¢ from the county and 51¢ from the town," Phillips said, arguing the higher rates are squeezing households.

Jenny Martin, who identified herself by name at the podium, thanked town workers but asked sharply why the town was borrowing to pay employees and why utility increases were implemented in large jumps. "Why are we borrowing money to pay employees? Where is all the money going that we're having to struggle to pay the employees?" Martin asked.

Council members responded that flood recovery costs, capital projects and prior expenditures had driven short-term borrowing and that some reimbursements remain pending from state and federal sources. The town manager and staff said the town had repaired roughly 41 water leaks in the last year and that the decision to replace aging water lines — rather than repeatedly patch them — had been a deliberate, costlier strategy intended to reduce water loss going forward.

Officials pointed residents to existing bill-relief resources, urging anyone facing disconnection to contact town staff for help. The council did not vote on additional relief measures during the meeting but agreed to continue outreach and to present options at future sessions.