This is in reference to your recent article, “Study: Maine’s high tax rate stalled recovery.” I am writing to challenge the Maine state officials who question the study analyst’s conclusions.

I am a retiree of the federal government living permanently in northern Maine after a 34-year career in Washington, D.C. Several times in the past seven years of my retirement life here, I have questioned the validity of my decision to adopt my home town for my retirement life. I do so on the basis of economics rather than the long, cold winters. For many reasons, I love life here in nothern Maine. However, the financial cost of living here is certainly not one of those reasons. When I add the fuel and electric bills through the winter plus the high cost of living here otherwise to the high state income taxes I have to pay, I am sorely tempted to use those funds for a year-round rental and establish legal residence in Florida.

The study cites high-income retirees among those who migrate out-of-state. I contend that not only do high-income retirees migrate out, but so do middle and lower income retirees as well. I personally know among close family members and friends a number of retirees who certain would not qualify as high-income but who have either adopted the “snowbird” lifestyle with legal residence in Florida or who have moved there year-round because they believe they cannot afford to do otherwise. Many in the lower income tax brackets settle for mobile or modular housing for their “snowbird” lifestyles.

This past summer here in northern Maine, I attended three school reunions attended by retirees from southern climates. The consensus of those I talked with was that their choice of a southern location was based largely on economics. The escape from the long, cold winters was generally referred to as the icing on the cake rather than a prime factor in their decision making.

In my mail this past holiday season, I received letters from two retired friends living in Maryland. Like Maine, Maryland is another state cited by the study as failing in economic recovery due to higher taxes. Both of my Maryland friends are presently selling their homes and moving permanently to Florida on the basis of economics. The following is quoted from one of those letters.

“Florida offers much relief in housing, living and automobile costs, as well as state and local taxes.” Their comments echo the sentiments I consistently hear from northern Maine natives who have migrated south for retirement. I believe I am among a very small minority who opted for moving back here permanently. Again, I am often tempted, due to the high costs of living here, to flee to where so many of my relatives and friends are located. The attitude of the Maine State Planning Office toward the study results tempts me even further to do so. Instead of questioning the study, I would think the Maine State Planning Office would conduct its own study, perhaps in the form of a simple questionnaire that surveys Maine natives who have migrated out in retirement. Cherry B. Danker Portage