Pittsfield candidates night participants oppose tax cap plan

PITTSFIELD – The coming referendum vote on the Palesky tax cap was the hot topic Monday night at the ARTS Club annual candidates night.

Every one of the 10 candidates participating united in bipartisan opposition to the Palesky referendum. The Palesky initiative would roll back assessments to those in use in 1996-97 and cap property taxes at $10 per $1,000 of valuation.

From school board members to county commissioners to state senators, each one said the cap would devastate Maine communities.

“This community would be one of the hardest hit,” said Sen. Kenneth Gagnon, D-Winslow, referring to Pittsfield’s possible loss of more than 55 percent of its revenue under the cap. “Ultimately it will mean a loss of local control. If the state will be paying the bill, the state will set the rules.”

While admitting that the cap wouldn’t affect county government, Somerset County commissioner candidate Sumner “Bud” Jones, a Republican from Pittsfield, said he was opposed for the same reason as Gagnon – the loss of local control. “I don’t want folks in Augusta telling Pittsfield whether we can build a community center or buy a new firetruck or build a swimming pool.”

“We need to do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t pass,” agreed his opponent, Rep. Paul Hatch, D-Skowhegan.

The only candidate who appeared to be riding the fence on Palesky was Bruce Stafford, a Republican from Winslow vying for Senate District 25. “I have mixed emotions,” he said. “When the state voted in June to require the state to fund education at 55 percent, they were disillusioned when a deal was struck to phase that in over a period of time.”

Other topics discussed by the candidates included downsizing state government, creating a state environment that will attract more business, construction of a new county jail, and voter apathy.