For Richmond to be an affordable, attractive place for families, we need to do everything we can to keep the tax burden low. Families are already stressed in these economic times. Their hard earned money needs to stay in their wallets, not in City Hall. We need to lower the tax rate and address the spiraling assessments. We need to maintain and develop special programs for teachers, first responders and other public servants. By increasing the efficiency of services, costs will go down, making the city a more affordable option. We want living in Richmond to be an affordable choice, not only for families, but also for seniors. Our seniors need to be able to stay in their homes for as long as they want and not be forced to surrender them because of high taxes.