I urge our legislators not to support the proposed gas tax increase recommended by the Maine Better Transportation Association. It appears the knee-jerk reaction to all of our financial problems is to increase taxes. The Legislature comes up with enough behind the scene taxes that hit us every day.

You now have to pay the manufacturer’s statement of origin price on new vehicle purchases when you pay your excise tax. You negotiate a price on a new car and purchase the vehicle for less than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, but you pay the full tax regardless of your purchase price. Of course that’s after you pay the sales tax. You then go fill the car up and pay the already inflated gas tax. When does it end?

I question the Maine Department of Transportation and their infinite wisdom to have employees working on bridges all winter. I travel the overpass bridge on Forest Avenue in Orono daily. They have traffic lights set up, and have a crew working with trucks running and enclosed heated work areas to repair a bridge that I am certain could wait until spring when the weather is more conducive to such activity. I site this one example, but I know there are several more. Is this spending our taxpayer dollars wisely?

I am all for good roads, but this problem is not one that just came up. Why not have some long-range planning and more fiscal responsibility? It appears that if you continue to raise the tax burden you will continue to drive existing business away, and also continue to deter any new businesses from entering the state. I don’t have a master plan, but I know when you spend more than you take in you look for ways to get your house in order. You can’t convince me we don’t have alternatives to new taxes.

Howard L. Dunn

Glenburn