In his Aug. 20 editorial (“Kudos for passage of CHIP”) Angelo Lynn acknowledges that even with the CHIP scheme, growth costs money. But Lynn makes an important point: He urges taxpayers to take the long view, meaning apparently beyond the 20 or more years it will take to pay off the CHIP loan and its interest costs. That means a time when there are no additional up-front costs for new infrastructure — a time of population stability “when the town’s potential has been met.”

I hope Mr. Lynn and planners will more clearly define that vision. In doing so, can they make the case that stability at that higher population level is preferable to the stability Vermont enjoys now?

Jerry Shedd
Ripton