To the Editor:

There is a sign in the Hopkinton area that continues pop up in varies locations that suggest a 50 percent tax cut if wind turbines are erected. This info, as anyone who has been following the saga knows, is not necessarily true.

I feel the larger less talked about issue is what does 50 percent mean?

Let’s assume the sign is correct, it would be a 50 percent tax cut on the portion of land taxes paid to the town only, not your entire land tax bill. I believe many people are unaware of this.

Using the website: https://www.stlawco.org/Departments/RealProperty/2016TaxRolls -- there are 1385 taxable parcels.

Using information from this website: http://northcountrynow.com/news/residents-who-signed-wind-leases-say-they-are-being-publicly-persecuted-0206444 -- the town budget for last year was $560,000.

Math: 560,000 / 1385 = 404.33$ x 50 percent = $202.16 savings if turbines are erected. This of course is an average, and each parcel would be different.

I believe people should look at their tax bill, and subtract 50 percent of the town tax only. Then decide if that number is really worth it!

Daniel Helfter

Potsdam